MMO Updates |
- Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser
- Seven Souls Online open beta brings open PvP, new zones
- XLGAMES' Jake Song not interested in consoles
- EverQuest's massive 13th anniversary and free-to-play celebration events revealed
- The Repopulation releases second pre-alpha trailer
- The Daily Grind: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive?
- Rise of Dragonian Era launches with special in-game events
- Champions Online previews the new Specialization system
- DC Universe Online kicks off the Battle for Earth today
- GDC 2012: RIFT's Adam Gershowitz talks raiding, mentoring, and housing
- GDC 2012: A look at Fighters Club Online
- Delve deeper into RIFT's Infernal Dawn raid with new details, screenshots
- The Skyshrine's the limit: EverQuest II delivering new update April 17th
- GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade
- Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action
- Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready
- Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future
- Flameseeker Chronicles: Quest education
- The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy
- Hyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy
| Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser Posted: 14 Mar 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Interviews, MMO industry, Chronicles of Spellborn, Wizard101, Miscellaneous  Now imagine that right after you read that article there was a single button or link. Clicking on it, a Java window opens up on top of your screen and tells you that you're now playing a trial of the game. There's no wait, no download, no lengthy form to fill out -- just click and play, right away. You go from interested to inside the game within mere seconds, your computer specs (mostly) aren't an issue, and your curiosity is immediately sated. This isn't a far-fetched dream but the here-and-now reality. This is cloud-streaming MMOs brought to you by Gaikai. And it just might be the future of MMOs as we know it. Continue reading Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser
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| Seven Souls Online open beta brings open PvP, new zones Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons  The NEOWIZ title is heavy on martial arts action, and the new beta will raise the level cap to 40 as well as introduce the new Dragonscale Valley zone, the Inferno dungeon, and open-world PvP combat. Said PvP becomes available at level 31, and you can learn more about Seven Souls -- as well as sign up for beta -- on the game's official website. [Source: NEOWIZ Games press release]
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| XLGAMES' Jake Song not interested in consoles Posted: 14 Mar 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items, Mobile, Consoles, Miscellaneous  "[The Korean gaming industry] was able to set up such [a] wonderful environment for online games 15 years ago. So why should we go into the outdated market while so many overseas developers are suffering from learning our online games development experience," he said. Song explained that the console business model relies on selling third-party software, and he also hinted at the fact that mobile software is both cheaper and comparable to its console counterpart in terms of quality.
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| EverQuest's massive 13th anniversary and free-to-play celebration events revealed Posted: 14 Mar 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Business models, Events, in-game, Free-to-play  The fun begins on the Plane of Knowledge, where players can enjoy 13 special quests that harken back to the greatest hits of EverQuest's history. There's also a new raid and the return of 40 events from previous anniversaries to keep everyone busy. The update has a new feature called the Hero's Journey, which is a guidebook that will lead players through a path in EverQuest. To make things even more user-friendly, EverQuest's map system will see a major overhaul that includes the ability to show you paths to your destination. Finally, SOE has an absolutely gigantic F2P conversion FAQ that covers nearly every conceivable question about the transition, including payment options and previous status in the game. EverQuest will go F2P starting at 3:01 am EDT on Friday, March 16th.
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| The Repopulation releases second pre-alpha trailer Posted: 14 Mar 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Trailers, News items, Sandbox  Coming in at just under two minutes, the video gives players a peek at a number of the features discussed in our interview plus much more. In accelerated time-lapse format, it displays a bit of the landscape, shows off some nation building, demonstrates a few combat moves (everyone loves a good roundhouse kick, right?), reveals player swimming, and showcases character customization. Sadly for fans eager to really sink their teeth into The Repolulation, the video ends all too soon. In the immortal words of Oliver Twist, "Please, sir, I want some more." [Source: ABT press release]
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| The Daily Grind: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive? Posted: 14 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  Yet these communities can also be one of the worst aspects of MMOs. They've been known to turn forums into pits of decomposing humanity, trolling and ranting with no end in sight. They can turn on an individual who doesn't know all of the mores and unwritten rules of how things are said and done. They can certainly rank a person's importance based on how long and how involved he or she's been with the game, relegating newbies to an eternal kiddie's table of condescension. So which of these do you find to be true more often? Are MMO communities -- especially ones surrounding your current games -- accepting and inclusive to newcomers, or are they elitist and exclusive?  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!
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| Rise of Dragonian Era launches with special in-game events Posted: 13 Mar 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Launches, Free-to-play  RODE, a free-to-play fantasy MMO, is quite big on our dragon brothers and sisters. The title has two factions, six races, and four classes from which to choose. Players will begin their journey through the game with a freshly hatched dragon pet who will accompany them through thick and thin. If that's not enough Dragonheart for you, you can also get the opportunity to fly one of these majestic beasts later on and engage in aerial warfare. To promote RODE's launch, Mgame is handing out rewards left and right through various means. Players can earn in-game items, gift cards, and big-ticket prizes like a PS Vita just by playing for 30 minutes or more, submitting winning screenshots, leveling up, and attending special events.
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| Champions Online previews the new Specialization system Posted: 13 Mar 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online  Each character will gain access to three different trees to spend Specialization points; the first tree at level 10 based off of your primary Super Stat. The two subsequent trees are unlocked at level 20 and 30; these trees are predetermined for Archetypes and can be freely selected for freeform characters. Each tree offers a number of benefits for given roles, allowing a great deal of flexibility in creating a character build that suits what you like to do best.
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| DC Universe Online kicks off the Battle for Earth today Posted: 13 Mar 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online  Of course, this means a lot of new elements, such as a new powerset and a new raid. If you're not one of the Legendary players and have to choose whether or not to buy the pack, there's a new trailer available just after the cut meant to show off all the niftiness therein. And besides, can you really opt out of taking part in the battle for Earth? Your character probably lives there. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release] Continue reading DC Universe Online kicks off the Battle for Earth today
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| GDC 2012: RIFT's Adam Gershowitz talks raiding, mentoring, and housing Posted: 13 Mar 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, MMO industry, Previews, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, RIFT  Continue reading GDC 2012: RIFT's Adam Gershowitz talks raiding, mentoring, and housing
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| GDC 2012: A look at Fighters Club Online Posted: 13 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Galleries, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage  Continue reading GDC 2012: A look at Fighters Club Online
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| Delve deeper into RIFT's Infernal Dawn raid with new details, screenshots Posted: 13 Mar 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, News items, RIFT, Dungeons  If you've ever looked at an MMO and said something like "this would be a lot better if there was lava-surfing pirate ship helmed by an amazonian captain" or "dragons would be so much cooler if they were made of gold," then you have some very particular and rather peculiar thoughts. Moreover, though, RIFT has just the instance for you. Last week we took a video tour through the Earth Wing of RIFT's upcoming raid, Infernal Dawn. Now PC Gamer has got some more screenshots and details on the new dungeon, which pits players up against the Golden Maw, the Wanton, and their decidedly daft dragon leaders, Maelforge and Laethys. Laethys, in case we haven't mentioned it yet, is the dragon of earth whose form is composed entirely of delicious gold and precious gems. It's also worth mentioning that this is a dragon whose sacrifice of choice is a pretty boy or girl who has had his or her eyes removed and replaced with rubies. So yeah, may want to take her down ASAP, guys. Unfortunately, we've still yet to get a look at Maelforge himself, but we're sure Mr. I-want-to-sow-the-seeds-of-discord-and-chaos-everywhere will show his face as the release of Infernal Dawn draws ever closer.
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| The Skyshrine's the limit: EverQuest II delivering new update April 17th Posted: 13 Mar 2012 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play  Skyshrine is a dragon citadel where good and evil dragons dwell, and as of the update's release, it will be coming under siege by mysterious forces. Only the most daring players will be brave enough to explore the nooks and crannies of this city -- and plunder it for its tempting treasure. If Skyshrine isn't enough for excitement, the Withered Lands offer plenty of challenges (over 100 quests) for those who can navigate the formerly glorious region that's been twisted by dark corruption. Game Update 63 will also include many additional features for players. For those who have the Destiny of Velious expansion, the level cap will be raised to 92, the Skyshrine and Withered Lands areas opened for adventuring, prestige class talents added, and an awesome Drake mount dangled as a major reward. Age of Discovery expansion holders can also get their hands on a new dungeon maker theme and adventurers, tradeskill apprentices, and an elite mercenary for hire. [Source: SOE press release]
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| GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade Posted: 13 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Allods Online, Aika, Dungeons  Continue reading GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade
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| Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action Posted: 13 Mar 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play, MechWarrior Online, MOBA  Piranha Games just released its first public video showing in-game footage of MechWarrior Online. In it, three 'Mechs -- an Atlas, a Jenner, and a Hunchback -- are duking it out in one of the game's wilderness arenas. While the video is short, there's plenty of sweet details to pick out, such as a barrage of missiles arcing toward a foe, battle-damage on enemy 'Mechs, and serious-looking warnings that pop up on the player's HUD. MechWarrior Online is slated for a summer 2012 release. You can check out the gameplay video after the jump! Continue reading Scope out MechWarrior Online's high-octane action
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| Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready Posted: 13 Mar 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Massively Meta, Massively Event Coverage, Massively Speaking, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Final Fantasy XIV, Miscellaneous, Diablo III  Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready
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| Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, Interviews, Patches, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Massively Interviews, Star Wars: The Old Republic  Ohlen touches nearly every aspect of the game's development. It was important to me to find out why this game is as popular as it is and what BioWare was going to do to retain its current playerbase. The first stop was the latest game update, which should hit test servers really soon. Continue reading Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future
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| Flameseeker Chronicles: Quest education Posted: 13 Mar 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, PvE, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles  With the pretty aggressive abandonment of traditional questing in Guild Wars 2's PvE, there seems to be some misinformation about what directed content will look like. It's relatively accurate to say that there are three main types: personal story quests, renown hearts, and dynamic events. Dungeons, another type of PvE content, are kind of a world unto themselves; they're approached by way of the personal storyline but evidently aren't actually necessary for progress along that line (in an effort to not force people to team up in an MMO unless they jolly well feel like it). They contain events but also static objectives. However, since they're cordoned off by way of instances, it seems pretty safe to leave them out of this conversation. Let's dig in, shall we? Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Quest education
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| The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy Posted: 13 Mar 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, MMO industry, Warhammer Online, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous  Last week we met two enterprising designers, Kelton Flinn and John Taylor, who recognized that multiplayer was the name of the future and put their careers on the line to see an idea through to completion. That idea was Island of Kesmai, an ancestor of the modern MMO that used crude ASCII graphics and CompuServe's network to provide an interactive, cooperative online roleplaying experience. It wasn't the first MMO, but it was the first one published commercially, and sometimes that makes all the difference. Flinn and Taylor's Kesmai didn't stop with being the first to bring MMOs to the big time, however. Flush with cash and success, Kesmai turned its attention to the next big multiplayer challenge: 3-D graphics and real-time combat. Unlike the fantasy land of Island of Kesmai, this title would take to the skies in aerial dogfighting and prove even more popular than the team's previous project. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy Posted: 13 Mar 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon  The Legacy leveling system begins when one of your characters completes chapter one. Without revealing too many spoilers, I can say that chapter one ends in a non-planetary quest just after the main Alderaan quest line. Based on the average, your character should be level 32 when this happens (or if you're like me, you were level 30 and a friend helped you pass the final stage). At this point, you begin to gain legacy levels, which Lead Systems Designer Damion Schubert says cap at level 50 currently (that's 50 legacy levels, not 50 combat levels). Until last week, we were uncertain what the legacy levels would actually give us. Thanks to the latest SWTOR video, we now know that the Legacy System provides rewards ranging from ship customization items to species unlocks. I won't be able to talk about all the Legacy additions in this article, but I can hit the highlights. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy
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