| Massively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond Posted: 12 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Classes, Game mechanics, Launches, Lore, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Massively Meta, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Dungeons, Crafting A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, we first heard mention of a new Star Wars MMO set in the popular Knights of the Old Republic era. Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare named it, and we've waited patiently impatiently through months years of hope and hype, fanboys and haters, and at least eight million articles about the fourth pillar of story. This week, The Old Republic is the new hotness, and the Massively staffers are right there with you, champing at the bit to get in the head start already! But what if you're not an expert on Star Wars lore or TOR's gameplay? What if you don't know the first thing about purple lightsabers, astromechs, and the Kessel Run? What if you can't decide which class to play? When do you get a starship? Can you really romance your companions? How do flashpoints work? And why are there no bathrooms on Coruscant?! Relax, young Padawan. Put your blast-shield down and let Massively be your guide... literally. We've rounded up a massive collection of helpful introductory guides for each of the eight classes, along with overviews of gameplay mechanics like companions, starships, flashpoints, warzones, and crafting. We've also curated the most illuminating lore essays from our regular SWTOR column, Hyperspace Beacon, in addition to our extensive hands-on previews from the last few years. Take your first step into a larger world... Continue reading Massively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond  Massively's guide to SWTOR's launch and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Garriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima Posted: 12 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Ultima Online, Sandbox The Richard Garriott crazy train is heading toward a section of track that long-time fans of the gaming god might actually appreciate. In a new interview with Eurogamer, the man behind Ultima Online talks a little less about his recent foray into social casino games and a little more about what might be Ultima Online 2. Yes, we've seen the UO sequel smoke before. This time, though, there may be fire. "We've actually talked to Electronic Arts about [Garriott leading Ultima Online again]. I would love to have access to the Ultima property. We've had discussions at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property," he explained. Regardless of any EA deals, Garriott says that his new Ultimate RPG is "clearly the spiritual successor of the Ultima series." Garriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Leaderboard: Level-based vs. skill-based Posted: 12 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard When you think about it, the concept of "levels" in MMOs is downright strange -- and contrary to how we live life. I mean, do you suddenly "ding" to a new, arbitrary level after gaining a whole bunch of generic XP for killing spiders because your spouse/roommate/sibling is too scared to do so? Or do you increase your skills and abilities separately through training, learning and practice? And yet level-based gameplay continues to dominate the MMORPG field, since along the way game designers thought we were too dumb to comprehend anything other than "Big number good. Small number bad." Although, to be fair, level-based gameplay has widespread recognition going for it, a quick and simple way to gauge your status versus an enemy's, and a long and storied tradition in video game history. Then again, there are a few MMOs that have said, no, we're going to give skill-based gameplay a try. These are the titles that allow you to focus on some abilities above others, deepening your character's growth at the cost of increased complexity (not to mention increased difficulty for devs to balance!). Whether it's accumulating a collection of skills or simply choosing which ones to improve, this type of system allows for more individual choice. Ultimately, the choice is yours as it is today. Which do you prefer: MMOs that go the level-based route or the skill-based one? Vote after the jump! Continue reading Leaderboard: Level-based vs. skill-based Leaderboard: Level-based vs. skill-based originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| LotRO's Update 5: Armies of Isengard storms servers today Posted: 12 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Free-to-play It's Big Honkin' Patch Day for Lord of the Rings Online as a platoon of content is double-timing it to a server near you. Update 5: Armies of Isengard is the game's first post- Rise of Isengard release, and it's been highly anticipated as it will finally add the long-awaited instance cluster to the endgame. This cluster contains five new dungeons: three three-person, one six-person, and one twelve-person. In addition to the cluster, Update 5 is including the next book in the epic storyline, The Prince of Rohan. Through it, players will gain a nifty set of Ranger cosmetic armor and participate in an epic battle at the gates of Orthanc. The update also will add an instance finder, unified currency, a LUA plugin manager, a reputation update, and far, far more. Oh, and there's finally coffee in the game. Mmm... coffee. Turbine has posted the official patch notes for Armies of Isengard on the site, so you can read up on all of the changes while you're patching the game! LotRO's Update 5: Armies of Isengard storms servers today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MV Guide: December 12-18, 2011 Posted: 12 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide 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 our streamed 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, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.) You'll notice a hefty lineup, some new faces, and some special events in this week's MV Guide. Joining us will be some brand-new members of the MV TV livestream team, so make sure you stop in while they're live and give them a welcome! Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule. Continue reading MV Guide: December 12-18, 2011 MV Guide: December 12-18, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Should MMOs offer respecs? Posted: 12 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous MMOs last for so long that you're almost guaranteed to get bored or make a mistake at some point during character development. Most games know this and allow you a do-over, be it through unlearning skills in sandboxes like Glitch and Ultima Online or respecing talent point choices in World of Warcraft. Lest your choices be trivialized, certain games insist on making respecs prohibitively expensive; City of Heroes and Champions Online even charge real money for respecs should you deplete your in-game allotment. But other MMOs simply provide no outlet for a do-over at all, like Star Wars: The Old Republic, which currently locks you into your advanced class choice at level 10, long before you're really capable of making that kind of decision. While the devs are still debating respecs as a post-launch addition, a surprising number of players are vehemently opposed to the entire concept on the grounds that it makes character choices irrelevant. What say you -- should all games have respecs, or are do-overs just another form of "easymode"?  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: Should MMOs offer respecs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMO Week in Review: Almost... there... Posted: 11 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous 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. Oh, George Lucas. Did you know in 1977 that a game based on your silly space opera napkin-scratch was going to take over our blog so handily in the here and now? Consider our end of beta impressions, the pre-load anticipation, the two-million served number, the Inquisitor vid, the Walmart fiasco, and some cheerful rivalry -- your pageviews and comments tell us just how huge Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to be. Check out this week's other top MMO stories behind the break. Yes, there are other games! Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Almost... there... MMO Week in Review: Almost... there... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Game of Thrones producer digs Kingdom of Loathing Posted: 11 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Miscellaneous Chalk this one up to eagle-eyed nerds with too much free time on their hands, but apparently Game of Thrones producer D.B. Weiss is a fan of online RPGs. The Wonderland blog snapped a pic of the writer and HBO show-runner wearing a Kingdom of Loathing t-shirt during a recent promotional reel for the fantasy drama's second season (which is currently in production). Kingdom of Loathing is a browser-based quasi-MMO that launched in 2003 and is known for its acerbic wit, pop culture references, and stick-figure graphics. You can see Weiss's t-shirt -- as well as the rest of the GoT season two trailer -- on HBO's website, and don't forget to check out the Kingdom of Loathing site while you're at it. Game of Thrones producer digs Kingdom of Loathing originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn Posted: 11 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, EVE Online, Culture, Expansions, Game mechanics, Wallpapers, Hands-on, EVE Evolved, Sandbox EVE Online recently celebrated the release of its incredible Crucible expansion, noted as one of the most feature-heavy expansions in the game's history despite the majority of its features being produced in a period of just a few weeks. Two years' worth of graphical upgrades, features, balance upgrades and quality-of-life fixes hit Tranquility all at once, and the response from players has been incredibly positive. Last week I rounded up all the information there is to know about the Crucible expansion, but reading articles and news posts is no substitute for hands-on experience. This week I took a tour around parts of New Eden to explore the incredible new graphics Crucible delivered. As I have a background in graphics programming, the graphical upgrades are obviously the most exciting change for me. The astounding background nebulae are even more impressive when you know just how difficult it would be to build a nebula system that looks this incredible from any location. In this week's EVE Evolved, I explore a reborn galaxy and catalogue my adventures in a massive HD gallery. Continue reading EVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn EVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Rise and Shiny recap: Fantasy Online Posted: 11 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Rise and Shiny, Livestream This week I decided to check out Fantasy Online, an extremely indie browser-based MMORPG by Pixelated Games. I've had my eye on it for a while but hadn't yet taken a chance on it. I liked the 8bit style of the game, but to be honest there are so many 8bit stylings going on right now (could it be more hip?) that it sort of all blends together into one pixelated mess. I have a buddy who makes 8bit music, t-shirts have featured 8bit designs for a while, and entire generations of gamers who never played the original games that the style is based on are diving head-first into the world of primitive graphics. Let's just say it's very popular. What are the advantages of making a game that looks like it came from 1985? Someone once pointed out to me that an indie developer might have an easier time making a game that doesn't require state-of-the-art graphics. Good point. 8bit is sort of instant indie cred, as well. Just ask Notch of Minecraft fame. Fantasy Online is more than just 8bit graphics, though, so allow me to fill you in on the details. Click past the cut! Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Fantasy Online Rise and Shiny recap: Fantasy Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| League of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch Posted: 11 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, MOBA Riot Games has revealed that the long-awaited League of Legends champion Ahri the Nine Tailed Fox will be coming in the very next patch. In addition to heralding the arrival of the new champion, the Ahri patch will introduce some major gameplay changes. In a new patch preview video, lead champion designer Morello and spotlight announcer Phreak discuss the biggest balance and gameplay changes coming in the next patch. Twisted Fate's attack range will be increased, and he'll now be able to manually pick a target for his attack once he locks a card. This should prevent cards hitting the wrong target and make him better able to harass in a lane without leaving himself exposed. Tryndamere receives a much-needed nerf to his self-heal as he tends to have a full rage bar when he's doing well in a lane and the heal ends up being much too powerful. The "perseverence" mastery in the utility tree is being removed and replaced with an old "strength of spirit" mastery that converts maximum mana into bonus health regeneration. With the removal of dodge runes, Phreak and Morello also discuss some new ones being added to make the game a bit more interesting. Skip past the cut to watch the full patch preview video, and stay tuned to our weekly Not So Massively column every Monday for more LoL news and updates. Continue reading League of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch League of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Diablo III's opening cinematic revealed Posted: 11 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lore, New titles, Previews, News items If your jaw hit the floor when you saw Diablo III's Black Soulstone cinematic, then you'll definitely want to check out Blizzard's latest offering. Revealed during the Spike TV video game awards, Diablo III's official opening cinematic slots another piece of the lore puzzle into place. Set before the Black Soulstone video that saw an overwhelmed Leah confronted by demon lord Asmodan's impending apocalypse, the opening cinematic introduces a familiar face as the girl's uncle: Deckard Cain himself. The video sets the scene for the very beginning of the game and is the first thing players will see on launching the game, so thankfully it can't really spoil anything. If this video and the Black Soulstone cinematic are any indication of the cinematic quality we can expect throughout Diablo III, then the game has certainly held onto its roots. For news and updates Skip past the cut to watch the full video, and stay tuned to our weekly Not So Massively column every Monday for news and updates as the game nears release. Continue reading Diablo III's opening cinematic revealed Diablo III's opening cinematic revealed originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent Posted: 11 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, MMO industry, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Anvil of Crom Well, winter isn't just coming, folks -- it's here. And it's not one of those balmy south Florida winters when the temperature rarely drops below 50 degrees. No, this is a blustering Cimmerian winter, complete with hard freezes, winds of change, and dare I say a little Hoth-like chill in the air. Age of Conan's 3.1 patch rolled out to the live servers a few days ago, and along with all the Dreamworld tweaks, it also brought a decent helping of bugs and general discontent. Join me after the cut for a deeper look. Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent The Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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