MMO News

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• Hellgate announces December event line-up
• Netgame announces R.O.D.E.
• Pirates to invade Conquer Online
• SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online launches
• Closed beta launches for Mythos Global
• War of the Immortals now in open beta
• Holiday hot-time in Dragon Nest
• Tribes: Ascend adds Team Deathmatch
• SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online Gameplay – First Look HD

Hellgate announces December event line-up Posted: 02 Dec 2011 03:24 PM PST The events for December in Hellgate Global have been announced. The holiday season for hunters include: - 12 Days of Christmas, where players hunt down a specific item each of the twelve days for a chance at a special reward; - Jump Start, granting experience boosts for new characters and accounts in Hellgate; - Rookie Challenge, granting rewards to players who reach a specific level challenge; - More Lucky Coupons, with rewards including more than armor. Several system events, including Daily Supplies, Level and be Rewarded, and Condition EXP Bonus, will also return for the holidays. Hellgate Global is published by T3Fun, which also publishes AIKA Online Global and Mythos Global. Hellgate Global Gameplay Screenshot Source: Hellgate Global Celebrates the Spirit of Christmas this December Hellgate Global brings the best of the best with its highly rewarding events this Christmas Season LOS ANGELES – November 30, 2011 T3Fun has announced today its series of events for December. Hellgate Global presents four new events that will surely keep players busy this Christmas season. As Christmas slowly approaches, players will find themselves stuffed and satisfied with the fun, challenges, and rewards these events bring: 12 Days of Christmas In this event, players are tasked with hunting a specific item for each day of the "12 Days of Christmas." The quantity and type of items to be hunted will differ each day. Players can expect big rewards for each task they complete. Jump Start Hellgate Global jumpstarts new players by giving out massive experience boosts for every new account created. New characters can now easily catch up with all the action in Hellgate Global! The Rookie Challenge Players will be challenged to level characters up to a specific level. If they can reach the assigned level during the event period, they will be rewarded. Lucky Coupons Lucky Coupons will make a return this December. This time around, rewards will not just be restricted to armor—the item list has now been improved and expanded! Hunt, loot, and gather this Christmas for these exciting new prizes! Immediately after the Halloween season, Hellgate Global jumps right to the Christmas season with even bigger and better events. In addition to these new events, players can expect the return of Hellgate Global's system events: "The Daily Supplies," "Level and be Rewarded," and "Condition EXP Bonus." There is no time for rest as the fun never stops in Hellgate Global! Hellgate Global gets hotter and hotter as Christmas slowly approaches!

Netgame announces R.O.D.E. Posted: 02 Dec 2011 03:09 PM PST Rise of the Dragonian Era (R.O.D.E.) has been announced by Netgame, publisher of Hero Online and Cloud Nine. The star feature of R.O.D.E. is its dragon riding system, where players can ride their dragons into battle, competing in aerial combat on their prized scaly mounts. Set in a mythical world split between East and West, players can choose one of four classes: Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage. The game will feature three types of mounts (Ground, Aerial, and Dragon), Castle Siege, Devilo, quests, auction houses, region wars, a complex class system, and more. R.O.D.E. Screenshots: Source: Netgame releases their newest game called Rise of Dragonian Era, also known as R.O.D.E. R.O.D.E. is a fantasy game of mystical characters and creatures where dragons hold the symbol of great power. It takes place in a world separated by two lord dragons, Firean (representing the West) and Azurian (representing the East). Both nations have four distinct classes; Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage. Warriors are skillful in using melee weapons like one or two handed swords. Rogues are built for the strength of range attacks using bows. Clerics in the other hand, cast spell using their books. They use elements of earth and air to both attack and shield themselves during chaos. Lastly, the classes of Mage are worshipers of the dark side. They are skilled in summoning spells using their crystal ball. They use dark magic to create continuous damage which effectively leaves enemies with endless pain. R.O.D.E. also features significant mounts throughout the game. These mounts are both crawling and winged creatures made with 3 different types; Ground, Aerial, and Dragon type. With specific mounts and/or levels, players may enjoy various systems within the game. One specially designed system is called the Dragon Riding System where players can take part in aerial combat as they ride their dragons in the sky.(See Attached screen shots) Flying a dragon is controlled by players and dragon has the highest travel speed in game which makes them the most popular. Other systems include, Castle Siege, Devilo System, Complex Class System, Quests, Auction House, Region War (PvP battling between the two nations), and many more exciting plays. The world of R.O.D.E. delivers pain, agony, and destruction.  But adversity brings perseverance and unity to those who stand on a common ground and suffer the same fate. This marks the beginning of a new era.

Pirates to invade Conquer Online Posted: 02 Dec 2011 02:38 PM PST Conquer Online has announced its next major expansion – “Invasion of Pirates.” Scheduled to launch in January 2012, the update will introduce pirate-themed content to the MMORPG. The game will earn the new Pirate class, complete with its own set of unique weapons (guns and pistols) and skills. Also coming in the update will be a new map, complete with new quests, new monsters, and of course, new loot. Conquer Online is published by TQ Digital, which also publishes Eudemons Online and Crazy Tao. Conquer Online: Pirates Concept Art Source: Conquer Online's "Invasion of Pirates" Expansion Introduces New Class, New Skills, a New Map, and Much More! HONG KONG – December 1, 2011 NetDragon WebSoft Inc. announces a new expansion for its popular free to play MMORPG, Conquer Online. Coming soon in January 2012, "Invasion of Pirates" will introduce a brand new map, new monsters, new quests and most importantly, the new Pirate class, which offers an entirely new play style with an all-new set of weapons and powerful pirate skills. A piece of mysterious land has been recently discovered by Conquer's adventurers, with countless treasures long buried by the ancestors deep down in the dark sea. Bands of pirates have moored their ships at the shore, threatening to disturb the peace and take what they claim is theirs. They have said that they are here for the ancient treasure, guarded by monsters only spoken of in myths and tales that children fear. The land has been thrown into panic. No one knows where these pirates have come from, or where they learned of this hidden treasure, but they seem to have a deep connection with the land, especially with the strange monks from the mountains. There must be a darker secret hidden beneath all this… Said to be the most devastating force that's ever appeared on the shores of Conquer, pirates are strong enough to destroy whatever stands in the way of making their fortune. Guns and pistols are their tools, looting and pillaging is their nature! Although they can easily take down the enemies from a distance without being hurt, they are not indestructible. Will the holy powers be able stop this evil force's invasion? The time is coming for you to choose your side. Will you fight for treasure or will you defend against aggression? The time to make your decision is now! Prepare yourself for the arrival of this scourge from the high seas! Expect more details soon about the "Invasion of Pirates" expansion for Conquer Online.

SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online launches Posted: 02 Dec 2011 01:57 PM PST The wait is over – SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online has officially launched for Gundam fans. The launch includes new maps and units not previously seen in beta. SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online features over 350 Gundam units, each with a unique set of stats, weapons, movement, style, and customizable options. Players can also create their own gundams with blueprints. PvP also supports up to 12 players in four modes (Points, Tag, Stock, or Grid) across over 30 maps with varying terrains. SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online is published by OGPlanet, which also publishes La Tale and Lost Saga. SD Gundam Gameplay Screenshot Source: OGPlanet Launches SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online Fast-Paced Mobile Suit Action Blazes Across North America Torrance, Calif.–December 1, 2011–OGPlanet, an innovative provider of multiplayer online games, announced the popular multiplayer third-person shooter game, SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online will go live across North America today at 2:00 p.m. PST. With its fast-paced, SDGO Dreadnoughteasy-to-learn gameplay, gamers and Gundam fans alike will collect a wide variety of customizable units and battle in locales and missions based on events from the series. “Following a highly-successful closed beta test, we are very excited to be launching SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online to a wonderfully receptive and growing community of gamers,” said Ross, senior project manager for OGPlanet. “The feedback we received over the extended test period clearly defined the desire for a Gundam game of this magnitude to be released in North America.” With over 350 units spanning the Gundam universe, players will have loads of mobile units to collect right from the start. Each unit has unique stats, weapons, movement and style, as well as a bevy of customizable options, including decals, paint, and skillsets so players can really stand out on the battlefield. Should they wish to take it one step further; players also have the option to create their own mobile suits using blueprints! SDGO Heavy ArmsEach battlefield supports up to 12 players in PvP combat where players can put their units to the test in four modes of play: Points, Tag, Stock or Grid. SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online features over 30 maps that vary in size and difficulty, and offer a wide range of challenge and excitement. Players will improve their ranking by mastering all the different fighting styles and conquering land, sea, air…and space! In addition to the massive list of content currently available for SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, OGPlanet will release new mobile units and maps, giving players greater options for customization while adding a higher level or replayability and strategy to the game.

Closed beta launches for Mythos Global Posted: 02 Dec 2011 01:30 PM PST Mythos Global has begun its four-day long closed beta test, lasting from December 2 until December 5. The beta test will feature all three classes (Bloodletter, Pyromancer, and Gadgeteer), five new dungeons, and guilds that allow over 10 players to join together for special bonuses. Mythos was previously published in Europe by Frogster. Mythos Global is published by T3Fun, which also publishes Hellgate Global and AIKA Online Global. Mythos Global Gameplay Screenshot Source: Become the King of Dungeons: Mythos Global Closed Beta Begins Today Join a Guild and Power Through Five Never-Before-Seen Dungeons in this Long-Awaited MMORPG LOS ANGELES – December 2, 2011 Today Mythos Global, Hanbitsoft and T3Fun's upcoming dungeon crawler, begins its four-day closed beta testing period. Beginning December 2nd and ending December 5th, players with beta keys will have exclusive early access to the fantasy world of Uld, a planet where gods strive to gain power and influence their followers. During the beta test, players will have the chance to band together with new friends to form guilds of over 10 members! Joining up with a guild will ensure safer travels in the five never-before-seen dungeons available to crawl and loot their way through. In Mythos Global, players can choose from three unique classes to mix up the action. Let the blood be your guide as a Bloodletter, raise flesh-burning flames as a Pyromancer or arm traps, bombs and mysterious machinery as a Gadgeteer. To join the beta, visit one of the partner sites currently distributing access keys: http://mythosforum.t3fun.com/index.php?topic=17.0

War of the Immortals now in open beta Posted: 02 Dec 2011 01:02 PM PST War of the Immortals, “sequel” to Battle of the Immortals, has launched into open beta. Two new servers have been launched with open beta (Gaia and Midgard). New pets, new upgradable skills, new Soul and Golden Gear, and more wait along with a level 115 cap. Players who register and log in to play by December 31 will have a chance to earn prizes in a special giveaway to celebrate the open beta, including gaming hardware, game-related collectibles, in-game currency, and a computer. Players can reach one of three prize tiers for a chance to win. War of the Immortals is published by Perfect World Entertainment, which also publishes Forsaken World and Rusty Hearts. War of the Immortals Gameplay Screenshot Source: WAR OF THE IMMORTALS OPEN BETA NOW LIVE Free-to-Play Action MMORPG Releases New Features for Testing (Foster City, CA) December 1, 2011 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), today successfully launched open beta testing for its classic action MMORPG, War of the Immortals . In addition to interactive environments, and classic action-RPG gameplay, players worldwide are now exploring new content including two new zones with vivid landscapes, high-level instances, and new events. In War of the Immortals’ open beta, two new servers – Gaia and Midgard – have been opened to accommodate an influx of players. On a quest to hit the level 115 cap, parties solve challenging puzzles, uncover valuable treasure and battle fierce monsters and bosses from the desolate underworld. As players level up, they may also fight alongside new pets, earn new upgradable skills, and access the most powerful gear available in the game — Soul and Golden Gear. “We’d like to thank everyone, especially our players, who supported War of the Immortals during closed beta testing,” said Jonathan Belliss, Executive Producer, Perfect World Entertainment Inc. “Our players provided us with valuable feedback, which helped us balance and improve many in-game features. Although we still have a few tweaks left before we go live, we hope that players enjoy the exciting new features in open beta.” To celebrate the open beta launch, Perfect World Entertainment is giving away more than $2,500 worth of prizes, including a computer, gaming hardware, War of the Immortals limited edition collectible items, and in-game currency. Various prizes will be available as players reach each of the three tiers beginning at Tier 1. All players who register for a free War of the Immortals account and login to play between now and December 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific will automatically be entered for a chance to win prizes at Tier 1.

Holiday hot-time in Dragon Nest Posted: 02 Dec 2011 12:44 PM PST As part of a holiday celebration, Nexon is launching two special events in Dragon Nest. Until December 14, players can check in at 5-7pm Pacific (weekdays) and 3-5pm Pacific (weekends) for a special “hot time” event. During this event, players logged in will earn different rewards, including bonus experience and drop rates, crafting materials, and Dragon Vault items. December 7 will bring a special all-day event as well, granting anyone who logs in that day a +12 Rare Weapon Enhancement, Small Blue Devil Wings, 30 Goddess Teardrops, and a Scroll of Unlearning. Four special players on each server will also randomly be chosen to earn a +9 Epic Weapon Enhancement. Nexon also publishes Vindictus and MapleStory. Dragon Nest Gameplay Screenshot Source: Dragon Nest Editors' Choice Trailer Now Available Nexon spreads holiday cheer with special hot time events to reward players To celebrate the critical success of Dragon Nest, Nexon America released a new trailer today featuring highlights from the game's cinematics and high-level action gameplay. And to help fans celebrate the holiday season, Nexon is also running an extended hot time event. From now through December 14, players logged in to the game from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (PT) during the week, or from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (PT) on the weekends, will receive a bevy of daily awards. Awards can include increased EXP, drop rates, party bonuses, crafting materials, jewels and even Dragon Vault items. A different item will be awarded each day. Additionally, Nexon is calling for all Dragon Nest adventurers to assemble on Wednesday, Dec. 7 for an extra special one day log-in event. Players who log-in anytime on Dec. 7 will receive a king's bounty of in-game rewards the following day, including: A +12 Rare Weapon Enhancement Small Blue Devil Wings (30 days) 30 Goddess Teardrops A Scroll of Unlearning Four lucky players per world will also be randomly selected to receive a +9 Epic Weapon Enhancement, one of the most valuable item enhancements in the game.

Tribes: Ascend adds Team Deathmatch Posted: 02 Dec 2011 12:31 PM PST Tribes: Ascend is still in closed beta, but new gameplay has launched for its gunners. Team Deathmatch is now available in the game, currently on two maps: Drydock Night and Crossfire. After the first death in the match, a flag spawns, and teams earn bonuses for each kill made while the team holds that flag. A new challenge, “First Win of the Day,” grants additional XP and token bonuses for players’ first victory each day, and a new call in, “Orbital Strike,” has been introduced. Several balance changes and bug fixes were also implemented. Tribes: Ascend is published by Hi-Rez Studios, which also publishes Global Agenda. Tribes: Ascend Gameplay Screenshot Source: Patch Notes for December 1, 2011 Tribes Closed Beta Version 0.1.585.0 Server downtime: The Tribes Servers are expected to be down for several hours on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 while the patch is deployed. Watch the Server Status in Hi-Command for latest availability information. Major Highlights since Version 0.1.562 The Team Deathmatch gametype is now available for play on two maps (Drydock Night and Crossfire).   Upon the first death in the match, a flag will spawn. Your team earns a bonus for each kill made while the team holds the flag. Added a "First Win of the Day" Challenge that rewards additional XP and tokens upon your first victory in a day. The “day” begins at 09:00 UTC time. Added the "Orbital Strike" call-in (default bound to “3″).   It is similar to the Tactical Strike, with a much wider radius and higher credit cost. Reduced the token amounts required to unlock classes. Settings: "Reduce Weapon Size" option has been added along with many others, including an option to disable help messages and an option to disable framerate smoothing. Matchmaking: Very basic match-making segmentation to help lower ranked players play with lower-ranked players. Fixed a number of bugs that caused sudden speed drops when skiing or jetting uphill. Other issues may remain. Please report as you find them. By default, objective icons for all major elements on a map (generators, vehicle stations, equipment stations, etc) are now shown when you first enter a map. Hit “O” to turn off the markers. Balance Changes General: Increased both the time before health regeneration begins and the duration of the regeneration. General: The credit reward for a kill assist has been increased. Brute: The Fractal Grenade is now available for testing. Brute: The Heavy Spinfusor now does more damage to vehicles and base turrets. Doombringer: Minor improvements have been made to the missile tracking on the Saber Launcher. Juggernaut: The Heavy AP Grenade's damage to players has been increased. Juggernaut: The Heavy AP Grenade's damage to generators has been reduced. Raider: The Grenade Launcher's damage has been slightly reduced. Ranger: The AP Grenade's damage to players and generators has been reduced. Survivalist Perk: Reduced the health and ammo gain to 20%, down from 35%. Additional Items Several crash fixes Variety of modifications to existing CTF maps for balance and visuals. Code was added to fix/prevent the "godmode" damage bug that sometimes occurs. The loading screen has been updated to include map name, game rules, and various gameplay tips. The Rabbit scoreboard has been improved. The class screen now highlights the Pathfinder and Juggernaut classes (the least expensive) if you have not unlocked them. Summary window may be closed at match end to allow for chatting and VGS use.

SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 02 Dec 2011 07:01 AM PST To Learn More About the Game Check out our Wind Slayer 2 Page. SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online is a 3D third person MMO shooter published by OGPlanet – the same company behind LaTale, Lost Saga, Rumble Fighter, and several other F2P titles. The game originally launched in South Korea back in 2007 and eventually made its way to the U.S. and Europe on December 1, 2011. Gameplay wise – SD Gundam Capsule looks and plays like a mix between Cosmic Break from CyberStep and the now defunct Exteel from NCSoft. The game features tons of different mobile suits from the popular Gundam universe as well as a good deal of appearance customization. Play either 4 player cooperative missions of versus matches with up to 12 players in a single game. To learn more about SD Gundam Capsule Fighter check out the official MMOHut SD Gundam Capsule Fighter page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

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MMO Updates

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• EA-BioWare acquires KlickNation, rebrands it BioWare Social
• This Week in MMO: The Crucible Edition
• EverQuest II drops Age of Discovery's NDA
• Marvel Universe Online assembles Iron Man
• The Firing Line: Getting into Global Agenda
• The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year?
• The MMO Report: Schreinercraft edition
• Star Wars Galaxies updates players on the end
• Bethesda and Interplay continue to sling stones over Fallout Online
• Dan Stahl beams back aboard Cryptic Studios
• New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay
• Conquer Online's upcoming expansion introduces new zone, Pirate class
• The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick
• End of Nations kicks off the Warfront series with beta signups
• Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam?
• Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs
• Fallen Earth's December State of the Game talks F2P transition, new features
• May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated]
• The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders
• CCP expands EVE's asset search functionality
• We've got your key to the Rosh Online closed beta!

EA-BioWare acquires KlickNation, rebrands it BioWare Social Posted: 02 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items, Casual, Miscellaneous All the cool kids are into social gaming these days, so it should come as no surprise when some of the bigger gaming firms start testing the waters. BioWare looks to be next on that list according to a report at GamesIndustry.biz that details Electronic Arts' acquisition of KlickNation. KlickNation operates social games including SuperHero City and Six Gun Galaxy, and while the company's monthly active user base has declined from 1.3 million to 400,000, EA and BioWare see it as a growth opportunity. KlickNation's expertise in building innovative and compelling RPGs for social platforms makes them a seamless tuck-in with the BioWare team at EA," says Ray Muzyka. The new unit has been renamed BioWare Social, and thus far the company has not announced any concrete plans relating to new or existing titles. EA-BioWare acquires KlickNation, rebrands it BioWare Social originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

This Week in MMO: The Crucible Edition Posted: 02 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, The Secret World, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Sandbox Gamebreaker.TV is back to bring you roundtable discussion of the week's hottest MMO news. In the latest episode, host Gary Gannon is joined by Mint Chip and Mike B., and the trio have a lot to cover in a week that saw Funcom interviewed at length regarding The Secret World as well as the release of EVE Online's new Crucible expansion. The gang also examines Neverwinter's latest story trailer and comes away feeling somewhat underwhelmed. Finally, Bigpoint's controversial microtransactions also merit some discussion, and you can watch the full show by clicking past the cut. Continue reading This Week in MMO: The Crucible Edition This Week in MMO: The Crucible Edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: TWIMMO #72

EverQuest II drops Age of Discovery's NDA Posted: 02 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Free-to-play Here's the invisible key: You can unlock and unzip your lips to finally talk freely about the next EverQuest II expansion, Age of Discovery. Sony Online Entertainment has released us from our pinky swear promising to keep mum on the project, and now everyone is free to share their experiences. There are a couple exceptions to the NDA dropping, however. Testers still may not share anything that's being posted in the beta forums, and no screenshots taken during the testing period may be made public. Age of Discovery is launching on December 6th. and includes many new features to the game, including the Beastmaster class, the Freeport revamp, and the dungeon maker tool. Oh, and there's also a small matter of the entire game going free-to-play, but you knew that already. Because you didn't zip your ears closed. EverQuest II drops Age of Discovery's NDA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Marvel Universe Online assembles Iron Man Posted: 02 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Previews, Free-to-play, Marvel Universe Online He's snarky, he's tough, he's got a tank-busting missile, and apparently he's got thigh-high red go-go boots. Seriously, look at that picture above and tell us that Iron Man's not getting his fashion tips from the runway. In any case, Marvel Universe Online is proud to reveal its next major superhero in the game's line-up, and Tony Stark is proud that you're giving him your full attention right now. MUO's Iron Man looks similar to the latest movie version, with the triangle chestpiece and ribbed design. If you're a fan of the character, comics, or movies, then this should be a thrill for you! Just try not to think about how small his waist must be to fit into that techno-armor. This marks the latest reveal of the Marvel lineup for the game by Gazillion, which has been slowly rolling out the classic characters for a couple months now. Marvel Universe Online assembles Iron Man originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMMSociety

The Firing Line: Getting into Global Agenda Posted: 02 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Global Agenda, The Firing Line OK, so you've heard about this whole Global Agenda thing, and you've talked yourself into giving it a shot. It's completely free-to-play from start to finish these days, and the Unreal graphics, sci-fi setting, and strange mixture of hyper-competitive PvP and ultra-accessible PvE have always held a certain appeal. You're not sure, but you think it's kind of an MMO, given that it has persistent territory control, lots of quests, and plenty of progression-based gameplay. Maybe you're a pro skillz baller, or maybe the extent of your shooter knowledge is which end of the gun gets pointed at the bad guys. Either way, you'll likely have a good time in Hi-Rez's spy-fi action title, and you'll have an even better time if you understand a few key points about the game prior to diving in. Continue reading The Firing Line: Getting into Global Agenda The Firing Line: Getting into Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year? Posted: 02 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous If you've got a gamer on your Christmas list, congratulations. With the proliferation of digital download titles and services like Steam and Good Old Games, it's never been easier to put a smile on the face of your favorite geek. Digital gifting does have a dark side, though, or at least a hmm-that's-kind-of-impersonal side. While most of us would never turn down a virtual copy of Skyrim or a few funny bucks to spend in an MMO cash shop, it is nice to get (and give) an actual present that someone's taken the time to wrap and deliver. What about you, Massively crew? Are you giving the gift of digital gaming this year? 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! The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The MMO Report: Schreinercraft edition Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, MMO industry, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous This week on The MMO Report, Casey covers South Korea's Cinderella Law, Firefall's attempts at class balance, and World of Warcraft's 4.3 patch. He also suggests that "it's beginning to look a lot like riftmas" in RIFT (groan) before announcing that in honor of Minecon and Minecraft's 240 million logins per month, he will soon begin work on "Schreinercraft, a graphically minimalist, open-source game where players build, create, and customize virtual beards for their avatars." He notes that he doesn't "have any programming experience, start-up capital, or a business plan," but he "love[s] money and would enjoy having more of it." Don't we all! Finally, he dives into Uncle Casey's Mailbag and asks readers to mail him the story of their first MMO experience for possible inclusion in a future show. All this and more in the full HD video behind the break! Continue reading The MMO Report: Schreinercraft edition The MMO Report: Schreinercraft edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The MMO Report

Star Wars Galaxies updates players on the end Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, News items, Star Wars Galaxies December 15th. That's not the end of the world -- it's the end of multiple worlds because it's the day that Star Wars Galaxies will have its last hurrah followed by silence. But there are still a couple of weeks left, and considering that one of the game's big pushes has been the Galactic Civil War, we think it's only fair for the ending of the game's service to be accompanied by the ending of the war with a decisive victory. On December 14th, at 9:00 p.m. PST (midnight EST), the Civil War scoreboards will close, with a final winner declared overall. This will be accompanied by server restarts, followed by a number of optional battles and skirmishes in the 15th. So spend the next two weeks getting ready for the last push to grab all the marbles because when the shutdown comes on December 15th, the war will be over... for good. Star Wars Galaxies updates players on the end originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: End of the GCW

Bethesda and Interplay continue to sling stones over Fallout Online Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Legal, Fallout Online, Miscellaneous There's exciting news about Fallout Online today, assuming that you think that the latest installment of the ongoing legal battle between Interplay and Bethesda qualifies as exciting news. Yes, the two companies are still at it, with Bethesda filing a new complaint against Interplay after the last victory. And as usual, depending on which company you want in charge of the game's future development, one of the companies is completely out of its mind and the other is trying to defend what it rightfully owns. Bethesda's complaint, in essence, argues that Interplay's complaint blocked testimony that would have established Bethesda as being the party in the right beyond a shadow of a doubt. Whether or not this is accurate will be established when the companies have their date in court on December 5th, which should put an end to this mess once and for all... although if previous events show anything, it's that both Bethesda and Interplay will fight this out to the bitter end. Bethesda and Interplay continue to sling stones over Fallout Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: TenTonHammer

Dan Stahl beams back aboard Cryptic Studios Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play Dan Stahl couldn't stay away from Star Trek Online for long, and now the former executive producer is back in the fold to head up the Foundry team for Cryptic Studios and parent company Perfect World Entertainment. Stahl, who left STO for Zynga in September, posted on the o-boards earlier this evening announcing his return. "There is something magical going on at Cryptic these days and I'm very happy to be back working on the MMOs that I personally love to play," he said. The Foundry is Cryptic's suite of user-generated content tools that is currently available in Star Trek Online and slated to appear in the company's upcoming Neverwinter title. Dan Stahl beams back aboard Cryptic Studios originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: STO forums

New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play If you're a fan of the Gundam franchise, you can definitely argue that the heart of the franchise has nothing to do with giant robots blowing one another up -- it focuses instead on the human impact of large-scale war. But if you're playing SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, then yeah, it's all about giant robots blowing one another up. And the new gameplay trailer embedded just past the break is meant to show off that focus to full effect. The game is quite fittingly action-based, and the trailer shows off several of the franchise's more iconic mecha in their SD form. Also shown off in full detail are the many, many ways for players to unleash rocket-powered death upon the poor cannon fodder Zakus wandering through the map, which is somewhere between endearing and almost mean. If you're looking forward to the game when it fully launches later this month, click on past the break to check out the trailer. [Source: OGPlanet press release] Continue reading New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Conquer Online's upcoming expansion introduces new zone, Pirate class Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play Watch yer booty, mateys! No, I meant your treasure, you freaks. Jeeze. NetDragon WebSoft has announced a new expansion for its free-to-play MMORPG, Conquer Online. This update does what it says on the tin: Invasion of Pirates. Players will find themselves on a brand-new map, facing off against new monsters, discovering new quests, and playing the Pirate class. The new class brings an entirely new playstyle with new weapons and abilities to use. And players will need every bit of firepower they can get, as bands of evil pirates arrive upon a newly discovered island in search of a dark and mysterious treasure. Of course, it's up to players to ensure that the pirates do not succeed in their mission. The expansion will go live in January 2012, so you've got plenty of time to head over to the game's official site and sign up. [Source: NetDragon WebSoft press release] Conquer Online's upcoming expansion introduces new zone, Pirate class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous Over the past year, we've touched on several tricky topics regarding guild management, yet we've never waded into the topic of actually removing someone from the guild. Granted, some of the issues we have discussed can lead to lots of frustration for guildmates, and understandably, the comments section usually contains at least one reply suggesting that a swift guild kick is the best solution. But removing someone from the guild is a pretty big decision, and it can have a ripple effect throughout your roster that might lead to further unhappiness and drama. When is the right time to boot someone from the guild? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at what to do when you think it might be time for a guild removal. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

End of Nations kicks off the Warfront series with beta signups Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, New titles, News items, MMORTS Trion Worlds is currently known first and foremost for RIFT, but that's not the only game the studio is working at. End of Nations, the upcoming MMORTS, has been quiet for a while, but the development team is kicking things back into motion with the launch of the "Warfront" webcast, designed to highlight news and updates about the game. And it kicks off with an appropriately exciting piece of news for fans of the game -- beta signups are now available. Fans will need to sign up for the End of Nations newsletter before being eligible to sign up for beta testing, but that likely won't deter anyone who's followed the game this far. There's also an announcement of new previews to be found on the game's official Facebook page, with the usual social media request that you head over and throw out a "Like." While the video is fairly short, most fans have probably absconded as soon as they heard they could sign up for beta -- but if you'd like to see the full webcast first, jump on past the break. [Source: Trion Worlds press release] Continue reading End of Nations kicks off the Warfront series with beta signups End of Nations kicks off the Warfront series with beta signups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam? Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask Everyone's heard of the "gift box" phenomenon. It's a common theme in F2P MMOs to release an item that doesn't have guaranteed contents and instead has a random selection from a pool of items. Sometimes there are rare bonus items inside; other times there are things the buyer didn't really want. Champions Online has taken its second foray into this territory with the Service and Cursed Grab Bags, a pair of C-Store items that grant a chance at a variety of tradable goodies. Gift box items sell to a variety of people. Some find the idea of chance more fun, and others absolutely must have the rare items and will spend lots of money trying to get them. Are the grab bags a scam, though? After the jump, we'll look at just why that is and hopefully give you enough information to come to your own conclusion. Continue reading Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam? Behind the Mask: Are grab bags a scam? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous If you're looking for a reasonably short video primer on the history of MMOs, look no further than a series of clips recently uploaded to YouTube. According to some genre heavyweights, though, you shouldn't take all the info presented at face value. Former sandbox (and current social games) developer Raph Koster weighs in on the clips at his personal blog, and he offers up a laundry list of "oddities, errors, and omissions." MUD pioneer Richard Bartle shows up in Koster's comment thread, and he's even more direct. "I wonder why so few of those who make this kind of documentary actually ask the people they're talking about whether what they're saying about them is factually correct? It's not like we're dead or anything," Bartle muses. Why watch the vids, then? Mainly for the exposure to pre-2004 MMORPGs, according to Koster. The clips are "worth a look, even if only to get a rare glimpse of actual video footage from some of the older games that many folks today don't even know existed," he says. Check out all three installments after the break. Continue reading Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Koster's blog

Fallen Earth's December State of the Game talks F2P transition, new features Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Bugs, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Dev Diaries, Sandbox It's finally December, which means that I can go into a store and not fly into a rage when I discover that it's already playing Christmas music. It also means that it's time for Fallen Earth's December State of the Game letter. This is the first State of the Game since the title's change to F2P last month, so can you bet your hide there's a lot to cover. Marie Croall begins by talking about some of the "less sexy but ultimately critical things" that the team has been working on since the transition. Lots of bug-fixing has taken place as the Fallen Earth team works to iron out some of the kinks that arose during the F2P transition. Meanwhile, the town of Embry got a bit of a makeover. The art team went into the city and "replaced high-poly, high-batch buildings with newer ones that will improve performance and the overall aesthetic appeal of the town." The team is also working hard at developing new content and features, such as world events, farms, and the upcoming augmentation system. Croall closes out the post with some dates: Territory control, the revamped map, new world events, and New Embry will be added to the game in mid-December, while everything else will have to wait until next year. For the full details, head on to the game's official blog. Fallen Earth's December State of the Game talks F2P transition, new features originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Fallen Earth December State of the Game

May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated] Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Previews, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Giveaways A long time ago in a boombox far, far away... your MP3 folder was growing dusty from disuse and laughable with its lack of coolness. The IMPERIAL COMPOSERS of BioWare stepped in to quash your pitiful musical rebellion by offering you a FREE soundtrack piece every day until launch. Also, the evil gangster JABBA THE HUTT is immune to Jedi mind tricks, FYI. This is true: As a special treat to its fans, BioWare is doling out one music track from its Star Wars: The Old Republic score every day, starting today and going until the December 20th launch. These tracks are available on both on the SWTOR Facebook page and official YouTube channel. The first track is called The Mandalorian Blockade and is composed by Mark Griskey, Wilbert Roget II, Gordy Haab & Lennie Moore. Give it a listen after the jump! [Update: It looks like music is not the only thing the BioWare folks have in store for you in the lead up until launch. Apparently, the team is doing at least one more round of beta testing starting tomorrow, so check your inboxes!] Continue reading May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated] May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWTOR YouTube, SWTOR Facebook

The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders Posted: 01 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Marvel Universe Online, The Secret World, Warhammer 40k, DUST 514, TERA, EverQuest Next, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous, ArcheAge, WildStar While I'm on board the Star Wars: The Old Republic train (at least until SOE's Star Wars: The New Republic comes out in 2014 and forces SWTOR to shut down), I can certainly sympathize with the frustration that non-fans are feeling right about now. There are few things more annoying than not being into the latest craze -- or hating it outright -- and yet being unable to escape it. So I'm here to say to you today that, like World of Warcraft, SWTOR isn't the be-all, end-all of the MMO field. It's a part of it, but just one part, and there are many, many others in the works as we speak. Mama always told me never to put all your eggs in one basket anyway, so I'm spreading my eggcitement across many cyber-nests. This is the bone I'm throwing to all of you this week: a list of 10 Midichlorian-free MMOs that have me -- and should have you -- extremely buzzed about their development. In putting together this list, I realized that there are so many promising prospects that I divided them into two groups. This week I'm presenting the strongest contenders that should make it to launch with a solid product, while next time I'll list promising prospects that may be more of a long shot. I'm 47% confident that I will not forget your most-anticipated title. Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

CCP expands EVE's asset search functionality Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Sandbox If EVE Online is truly spreadsheets in space as some of its detractors (and even fans) have surmised, thus far it's been a spreadsheet with fairly limited search capabilities. Now thanks to the efforts of CCP developers, finding your random crap spread across the cosmos in various New Eden station storage facilities just got a lot easier. The latest EVE Online dev blog has the details on the asset search functionality updates, and they include new keyword searches and a complete listing of keyword values. "There [is] definitely more we can do with this in the future but we started this rather late and [we] didn't want to add lots of broken functionality, but rather a few simple options that work and cover the basics and a bit more," the dev blog explains. CCP expands EVE's asset search functionality originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Dev blog

We've got your key to the Rosh Online closed beta! Posted: 01 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Contests, Giveaways Rosh Online may be a new title, but it'll have a familiar feeling to a lot of gamers thanks to its secondary title: The Return of Karos. A new game with familiar overtones will be attractive to those already familiar with Karos Online, but even if you didn't play in the first round, Ignited Games promises plenty of fun in this one. Rosh Online has entered closed beta and will finish off this round of testing in the middle of next week, so if you want to check it out, Massively's here for you. We've got 500 closed beta keys for the game, so head to our giveaway page to pick up your key. Register at Rosh Online, enter your key at the "redeem beta key" page, and you're all set! Have fun, and join us in thanking Ignited Games for the keys! We've got your key to the Rosh Online closed beta! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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