| Join the fight to reclaim Atlantica Online Posted: 10 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Atlantica Online Atlantica Online has become a much more dangerous place to visit as of late, ever since a horde of monsters led by the evil Riederan invaded the place. But you won't let a little thing such as XP-filled loot piñatas keep you from fighting back, right? We didn't think so. Starting tomorrow and continuing through January 8th, Atlantica Online players will rise to meet the challenge of these invaders during a massive in-game event. When Riederan's Invasion is triggered, players have a scant half-hour to slaughter 10,000 monsters per town before the town's defenses fail. The event is programmed to scale so that mobs will match the players' levels. Participate in the event and precious rewards and buffs will drop into your lap. Bet that's the best news your lap's heard all day! To help players out with the invasion, Atlantica Online has introduced a new hero, the sorceress Mwindo. Mwindo can use her primal monsoon magic and staff to bring the pain to the baddies. [Source: Nexon press release]  Join the fight to reclaim Atlantica Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition Posted: 10 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous It's going to be easy to miss it next week amidst launch news, but Star Wars Galaxies is shutting down. And so we say farewell to one of the greats of the genre, for whether or not the game was your cup of tea, it was unique. It was an ambitious project, aiming for all sorts of clever features and deserving no little credit for its many successes. We'll have more memorial pieces as the final shutdown approaches, but for now, let's just respect the sunset on a game that did a lot for the genre as a whole and provided so many players with so many memories. Of course, first and foremost, this is an installment of WRUP, and that means we're talking about what we're playing over the weekend. We're also talking, rather appropriately, about games that we regret not having time to play. So see what the Massively staff is up to after the break, and let us know what you'll be doing in the comments. Continue reading WRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition WRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Do you favor random quests? Posted: 10 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous One of Star Wars Galaxies' content quirks, borrowed heavily from Anarchy Online, is the random quest. If you tire of themepark questlines, you can trek over to a mission terminal and ask it to generate a random kill-10-rats quest for you. In SWG's prime, these quests were terribly annoying; no one really wants to spend all of his time leveling up by taking missions to destroy a gubbur lair over and over and over. Thank goodness for this new era of individual, scripted quests brought on by World of Warcraft, right? Well, not necessarily. More than once, I (and some our our forum-goers) have been irked at hand-written quests in WoW-esque games. They're usually trite and transparent, and the quest-givers rarely have good reason to entrust me with their tasks. We're still getting kill-10-rats quests -- we just have to click through a bunch of lame dialogue first. What do you think? Do you prefer pre-scripted, one-off, linear quests, or do you long for the simplicity and honesty of random quest generation?  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: Do you favor random quests? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Starlight Celebration approaches for Final Fantasy XI Posted: 09 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events, in-game, News items, Consoles The end of the year quickly approaches, and if you're a veteran of Final Fantasy XI, you know that means it's time for the Starlight Celebration. The music changes in Jeuno, the snow falls, and players get to enjoy a bit of Christmas cheer in the game as well as out of it. And like most events, this one has a new wrinkle for its newest outing: it seems a handful of Goblins have decided to get involved in the celebration, taking some presents that weren't intended for them and leaving adventurers to recover the missing gifts. Missed a previous year? That's all right -- you can still obtain one of the many cozy furnishings or festive costume pieces through a variety of event merchants and packages scattered throughout Vana'diel. The event will start on the live servers on December 16th and run through December 31st, plenty of time for everyone in Final Fantasy XI to get a solid dose of some holiday cheer. The Starlight Celebration approaches for Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Betawatch: December 3 - 9, 2011 Posted: 09 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous This week in Betawatch, we learned that Dawntide will shuttering its beta to prep for yet another game-wide revamp, while both The Secret World and ArcheAge offered glimpses of fresh beta zones. APB: Reloaded graduates from the open beta list (again) as it heads into launch and lands on retail shelves. F2P Rosh Online likewise opened its doors officially (check out our first impressions!). Finally, we bid farewell to Star Wars: The Old Republic, whose beta test attracted a staggering two million testers. The game begins its preorder headstart next week. The full Betawatch roundup lies just beyond the break. Continue reading Betawatch: December 3 - 9, 2011 Betawatch: December 3 - 9, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Lord of the Rings Online overhauling currencies into a single standard Posted: 09 Dec 2011 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Endgame, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons The great thing about token-based currencies, such as those found in Lord of the Rings Online, is that they allow players to acquire rewards based on steady progress rather than on the whims of a random drop. The awful thing is that you can wind up with huge vaults covered in several dozen different currency types, which is also found in Lord of the Rings Online. Fortunately, as the newest developer diary outlines, the currency is being consolidated down and shifted to a very straightforward system with just three reward types: Marks, Medallions, and Seals. Marks are being used in a manner functionally similar to Skirmish Marks at the moment, while Medallions take the place of higher-end dungeon content and Seals are the best of the best. Players will have most of their currencies automatically converted based on the currency type, although Superior Fourth Marks will need to be manually exchanged for Medallions or Seals at the player's discretion. Players will ultimately have an easier time getting the rewards they need in a straightforward fashion with this update, and that's to the benefit of everyone. Lord of the Rings Online overhauling currencies into a single standard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex Posted: 09 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Screenshots, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, MMObility Jagex, maker of the very popular browser-based MMO RuneScape, has branched out into the world of the MMORTS. I call this a good thing, especially since I am such a fan of the genre. There are literally scores and scores of the strategy-based city builders out there. Many of them not only are similar to each other but offer nothing new, not even a slight twist in design. I have a few favorites like Illyriad, Golden Age, and Aloriah, so I was eager to jump into this new one, given that it is made by one of my favorite design studios. 8realms seems to sport a unique design. Players are asked to build up their cities and advance through different ages, from ancient times all the way up to the modern day. A trailer on the front page of the official website shows a commander admiring his army of sword- and spearmen, until suddenly a modern-day jet fighter nukes them to smithereens. All I could think was, "Is this game balanced?" If you would like to join in on the fun along with me, you can join in VIP access by going to the official site and using the code MASSIVELY15 when prompted. Then come back and click past the cut to hear all about my experience! Continue reading MMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex MMObility: Checking out 8Realms from Jagex originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Crytek team lead Ury Zhilinsky joins Red 5 Studios Posted: 09 Dec 2011 03:30 PM PST Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS Red 5 Studios announced today that former Crytek lead, Ury Zhilinsky, has been hired by the studio as Senior Graphics Programmer. Ury brings over 10 years of industry experience to the Firefall developer and has worked on projects such as Crysis 2 and the ever-impressive CryENGINE3. Of the addition, Red 5 CEO Mark Kern said, "Ury's skill and experience make him an asset that any team would be happy to have, but it's his development philosophy that makes him a fit for the 'tribe'." Things seem to be looking up for Firefall, but we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. Crytek team lead Ury Zhilinsky joins Red 5 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| APB: Reloaded unveils a boatload of new screenshots Posted: 09 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Real life, Galleries, Screenshots, News items, Free-to-play, All Points Bulletin, Crime Are you excited about the release of the APB: Reloaded retail box? Ambivalent about the release but fond of screenshots? Either way, there's a whole lot of new screenshots from the game to coincide with said release, showing off two of the new maps for the game's new Fight Club battle mode and new SWAT gear for Enforcer players who like to take down crime in style. And heavy armor, which seems practical. There's also a new revelation about the retail pack itself, as it seems that GamersFirst has sweetened the pot slightly. In addition to all of the bonuses listed in our post on the release yesterday, GamersFirst has confirmed that there are extra weapons in the package for those who purchase the pack within the first 30 days. So if you're curious about what you could do on the streets and have the $30 to check it out, now might be the time to do so. APB: Reloaded unveils a boatload of new screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| BioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated] Posted: 09 Dec 2011 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Classes, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  Star Wars: The Old Republic is just a matter of days from beginning its early start program, but BioWare is continuing the news drip right up to the last minute. Today, the studio released a new video detailing the progression of the wicked Sith Inquisitor. For a lovely display of Force Lightning and other neat Inquisitor tricks, click on past the cut for the full video. But first, we have some interesting launch-time statistics for you folks, courtesy of a massive thread over on the official SWTOR forums. In The Poll to end all Polls, over one million players have reported on the factions, races, and classes they plan to play at launch. Faction balance is surprisingly even, with a slight slant (53.82%) in favor of the Empire. Classes are almost evenly quartered (though the survey doesn't take advanced class into account). For the full statistics, click on over to Disdain Gaming. And one more thing! Don't forget that BioWare will be hosting launch events in New York City, Austin, TX, London, and Paris. So if you're nearby, head on over and join up with your fellow fans to celebrate the launch of The Old Republic. [Update: Continuing its deluge of Friday info, BioWare has also just released a forum post explaining why the Unify Color to Chestpiece system will not make it in for launch. But on a happier note, the SWTOR team just Tweeted that Guild HQ updates are coming Monday!] Continue reading BioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated] BioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Three Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans Posted: 09 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Casual Three Rings is making some interesting changes to its Puzzle Pirates MMO. A new post on the game's official forums outlines what's in store for the new year, and in a nutshell, players will be able to sail between many of the game's oceans (which, in regular MMO-speak, are actually the game's servers). "We've been working on a way to consolidate the game's oceans for quite some time now, and after much deliberation, we determined that the fairest way to go about this is to combine the geographies of two oceans on one server," Three Rings explains. The post hints at massive new explorable areas and also reassures players that their existing properties will be unaffected in spite of the mergers. There's a large FAQ in the thread as well, so head over to the Puzzle Pirates board for all the details. Three Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SOE makes EQII veteran rewards available to F2P players Posted: 09 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play Sony Online Entertainment is pulling out all the stops when it comes to the courtship of EverQuest II's new free-to-play constituency. In a post on the game's official boards, producer Dave " Smokejumper" Georgeson has announced that both free and silver-level players are now eligible for the fantasy title's extensive veteran rewards program. Georgeson's post is short and to the point as he briefly outlines SOE's approach. " There are a lot more [payment] options available to folks, and it just doesn't make sense that a free or silver player shouldn't be able to accumulate veteran rewards," he explains. You can view both the announcement post and a feedback thread on the official EQII forums.SOE makes EQII veteran rewards available to F2P players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business Posted: 09 Dec 2011 12:30 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Economy  Choo choo -- the Blizzard Micotransactrain is leaving the station! Whether or not you're aboard with Blizzard's increasing fixation on monetizing all aspects of its games, this train is certainly picking up steam. Its next station is called Battle.net Balance, and with it comes a whole new paradigm for the Blizzard empire. (Many apologies for using the word "paradigm.") In effect, Battle.net Balance is a virtual wallet where players can purchase -- or "charge up" according to Blizzard's parlance -- points to then spend on items and services in World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and elsewhere. Diablo III players who earn Battle.net currency in-game can save those points through the service to spend later. The system can also be used to pay for WoW gametime. However, the system comes with an important caveat: Once you've converted real-world money into Battle.net Balance, there's no getting it back as cash. So if you've got plans to make a living playing Diablo III, you might want to think again (although "certain regions" will be able to cash out via PayPal). Battle.net Balance is heading our way in the near future, and if this affects your game, you might be interested to read the informative FAQ that goes into more detail. Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Waaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers Posted: 09 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Warhammer Online, News items Saddle up, rough riders: It's time to head to more fertile lands! Starting next week, select Warhammer Online players will be given the option to transfer between servers for free. The decision is Mythic's attempt to merge underpopulated servers, and the company hopes that this move will drive up the action in RvR for previously quiet locations. Players on the Gorfang (North America) and Karak Azgal (Europe) will be able to move house to Badlands and Karak Norn, respectively, starting December 14th. Once this happens, Gorfang and Karak Azgal will be marked as "Legacy" servers, keeping new players from rolling on them, and then after three weeks, the two servers will be shut down completely. Any characters left on those servers will not be playable until they transfer to their new homes. Mythic is also paving the way for guilds to move wholesale to new servers, with more information about this coming next week. Waaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition Posted: 09 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Patches, PvP, News items, Opinion, All Points Bulletin, MMOFPS, DUST 514, The Firing Line Hullo shooter fans, and welcome back to Massively's weekly dose of pew pew news and views. The past seven days were quiet ones for three of the The Firing Line's "big four" MMO shooters, as newsmakers on the PlanetSide 2, Global Agenda, and Firefall dev teams were all silent. Thankfully there were a couple of cool DUST 514 tidbits to chew on, but before we get to those, I'd like to call your attention to some interesting Tribes: Ascend, APB: Reloaded, and CrimeCraft news that you may have missed. Continue reading The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Storyboard: From beyond the boundaries Posted: 09 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous Every game world has a basic setting premise. Your character in Guild Wars can come from all over Tyria, but he certainly doesn't come from Alderaan. Even though your captain in Star Trek Online is proficient in unarmed combat, she cannot bend the Matrix to her will. And no matter how similar the settings might seem, when WildStar finally comes out, you will not be able to claim that your character used to smuggle cargo on a Firefly-class vessel out in the black. People do these things anyway. People gleefully import characters wholesale from other settings and expect it to be accepted that they come from another time and place, often bringing with them plenty of baggage. It's flagrant disregard for the rules of the setting and the game as it exists, and it's a hallmark of bad roleplaying... And yet it doesn't have to be. This is an element of fiction that's always been very popular, and in some games (such as most superheroic ones), the idea of slipping from one world to another doesn't seem that far-fetched. So let's talk about why it tends to be done and how you can actually do this without being obnoxious. Continue reading Storyboard: From beyond the boundaries Storyboard: From beyond the boundaries originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AMD and Nvidia driver teams have been putting in some pretty serious overtime trying to keep up with the flood of new titles hitting the market just before the holidays, and a third profile update just went live for AMD's less than one month old Catalyst 11.11. Just in-case you'd lost count, in addition to the three profile updates, AMD has also released three separate beta drivers to fix various other issues with specific titles. If you like to be on the bleeding edge, make sure you have
Intel is 
Browser vendors are constantly on the lookout for things to brag about. While just about any type of bragging rights are welcome, vendors are mostly found crowing about either speed, security or HTML5 compliance. This time it's Google's turn to break into a victory lap, for 
Its many detractors think it is regressive, but Google is pretty sure of Native Client (NaCl), a technology that allows Chrome to run native compiled code across different OSes, being "the ideal way of putting rich content and game engines in the browser." To prove its point, Google hosted a special event at its Mountain View headquarters on December 8.
