MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Leaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops

Posted: 07 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Gaming platforms
I have both a desktop and laptop computer that I use regularly. My desktop is my mainstay; a gaming fortress with loads of power and storage space with a 22" screen. My laptop is the best portable gaming machine that $650 could buy, which was surprisingly quite a lot. While it doesn't have the muscle of my desktop, it will run most everything just fine -- and let me do so while I'm reclining on the couch, in bed, or in line at the DMV (their wifi is awesome).

It strikes me that there's no gold standard when it comes to gaming platforms for MMOs. Excluding mobile and console devices for the moment, I'm vastly curious how many of you prefer to game on a desktop or a laptop. Do you enjoy the extra bang for the buck that desktop machines give you, or is your trusty laptop with its size and portability all the technology you'll ever need?

Let's hash it out on the Leaderboard today: Is it better to go with a gaming desktop or laptop? Vote after the jump and then back up your opinion in the comments!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops

MassivelyLeaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ClassRealm MMO rewards kids for being good students

    Posted: 07 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT

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    ClassRealm - cast of characters
    Who says video games are bad for you? Not Ben Bertoli, a sixth grade teacher from Indiana who has built an MMO called ClassRealm that has students, teachers, and administrators singing his praises.

    Kotaku reports that the game is basically an experience point system that rewards kids for being studious and helping their classmates. There's also an achievement system and classes and races that include wizards, zombies, ninjas, and vampires. Bertoli initially started with something approximating a Google document, but has since moved on to full-blown graphics and an app that works on mobile devices as well as laptops and PCs.

    Bertoli has partnered with a computer engineer, a graphic designer, and an illustrator to fully flesh out the project, and there's also a Kickstarter campaign in case you want to contribute. Bertoli and company are currently slaving away on ClassRealm in their spare time, but the rewards are well worth it. "If [kids are] struggling in a certain thing, but they are pushing hard because they want the XP, or an achievement, and then suddenly it clicks, seeing that happen is really rewarding. The student feels like, 'I was going for XP, but now I am happy that I learned something,'" Bertoli explains.

    MassivelyClassRealm MMO rewards kids for being good students originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Wargaming.net looking to conquer Korea

    Posted: 07 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    World of Tanks - French destroyer
    One of these days we're going to write a story about how Wargaming.net has colonized another planet and is busy converting its indigenous population into fiendishly addicted action MMO players. Today, though, the company is settling for Korea.

    The month of May brings the latest territorial expansion for the firm's ubiquitous World of Tanks brand as well as a new Korean office. "We are proud to announce that Wargaming.net is just a couple of steps away from establishing its Korean presence," says CEO Victor Kislyi. "Now that we're fully prepared to meet [the] high expectations of the Korean gaming community, I don't see any reasons for World of Tanks not to become a success."

    Wargaming.net launched World of Tanks in 2011. The company is currently conducting global alpha tests for its World of Warplanes followup as well as developing World of Battleships.

    [Source: Wargaming.net press release]

    MassivelyWargaming.net looking to conquer Korea originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Looking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online

      Posted: 07 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT

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      LotRO
      Does Lord of the Rings Online's Moria benefit from a brighter night-light? The folks over at A Casual Stroll to Mordor went on the test server to investigate just how different the underground zones look now that Turbine's gone back to give the area additional lighting effects.

      The fansite examines four different locales on both the live and test server, and took screenshots to document the changes. The Great Delving, Silvertine Lodes, The Waterworks, and Durin's Way are the stops on the tour, and out of all of them, Silvertine is the most noticeably brighter.

      "While playing, I can say that I do feel like it's easier to see," Goldenstar writes. "I don't know if I would fall into 'it's too bright' category. It still feels like Moria to me."

      A revamp to half of Moria is planned with Update 7. Head on over and check out the differences for yourself!

      MassivelyLooking at the brighter Moria in Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Phantasy Star Online 2 producer reveals new planet, open beta details

      Posted: 07 May 2012 08:15 AM PDT

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      Phantasy Star Online 2 - desert planet
      Phantasy Star Online 2's closed beta has caused a fair bit of excitement in the game's fan community. As open beta draws near, Sega is unveiling more of the MMO sequel's features.

      The next testing phase will feature a new desert planet called Liliipa, not to mention new story quests, new costumes, and something called a time attack quest. Fan site Bumped.org has the details on these and other reveals from last week's live event in Tokyo.

      PSO2 producer Satoshi Sakai also showed off a new snow zone on the planet Naberius. He told fans that the upcoming open beta will be level-capped at 30, while players at level 20 and above will have access to hard mode quests and encounters.

      PSO2 is currently in development for Windows, Android, and iOS platforms. The open beta is tentatively scheduled for "early summer 2012."

      [Thanks to Kassandra for the tip!]

      MassivelyPhantasy Star Online 2 producer reveals new planet, open beta details originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      City of Steam goes into alpha testing this July

      Posted: 07 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      City of Steam
      City of Steam's been building up some strong word-of-mouth in the community, and we've been quite eager to get our hands on this steampunk MMO. The good news is that we just may have that chance come July, when City of Steam enters alpha testing.

      Mechanist Games recently announced that work on the game is progressing to the point where it's ready to undergo player testing. While there isn't an exact date yet, it's certainly enough to know that July will be a special month.

      "We're actually quite pleased that quite a few of those who participated in the sneak peek test told us that the game was already looking like an alpha build," the team writes. "Thanks and we would like to say we're quite proud of that fact."

      MassivelyCity of Steam goes into alpha testing this July originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 fan compares new game map to original

      Posted: 07 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2
      Enterprising Guild Wars 2 player and Reddit member that_shaman went above and beyond the call of duty by providing a useful tool for the growing beta community: a giant, fleshed-out map of the new Tyria. In it, he fits the current explored player regions of Guild Wars 2 on top of the preexisting Guild Wars 1 world map to show just how faithful ArenaNet has been in staying true to its landscape and outposts.

      The full Guild Wars 2 map encompasses around 25 zones, six cities, and some odds and ends. Of course, not all of Guild Wars 1 areas are revisited in GW2 (at least, not yet), and Guild Wars 2 has a few areas that were never explored in its predecessor.

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 fan compares new game map to original originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      MV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012

      Posted: 07 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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      EVE Online
      MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

      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.)

      Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

      Continue reading MV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012

      MassivelyMV Guide: May 7 - 13, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?

        Posted: 07 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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        WoW
        Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

        But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

        So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

        Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

        MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?

          Posted: 06 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          Any excuse for an Oblivion screenshot!
          At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

          This week, all those terrible/wonderful rumors about The Elder Scrolls Online were proved true, thanks to a series of leaks and an official trailer that promises the world of Tamriel will soon be headed to an MMO near you. Even if you're one of those fans whose immediate reaction was terror and dread, you still have to be thinking that the genre could use another three-faction PvP game. Personally, I just feel sorry for the dev who has to design terrains for the province of Morrowind. Hope you like brown, bro!

          Follow on for the rest of the week's top MMO stories.

          Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?

          MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Seen any elves? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online

            Posted: 06 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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            EVE Evolved title image
            Last week I celebrated the fourth anniversary of the EVE Evolved column with a competition to win one of two 30-day pilot's licenses. Congratulations to winners Dong Yi and Atrameides Denard, whose prizes have been contracted in-game. Today EVE Online itself turns nine years old, and so this week's EVE Evolved column takes a look back at the top EVE stories of the year. It's been a rollercoaster of a year for CCP, with the infamous monoclegate scandal hitting subscriptions hard during the summer and only recently starting to recover.

            The drama kicked off as the much-touted Incarna expansion drew close and CCP revealed that it would contain no multiplayer elements and would introduce a microtransaction store for vanity items. Players didn't seem to mind the cash shop as long as it contained only vanity items, and CCP had previously promised that microtransactions would be limited to those types of items. When the Incarna expansion finally launched and players got a first-hand look at the cash shop, however, it became apparent that something was fundamentally wrong.

            In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the top EVE stories of the year, from the incredible videos and scams to the story of how CCP brought EVE Online back from the brink of disaster.

            Continue reading EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online

            MassivelyEVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              One Shots: Sequelizin'

              Posted: 06 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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              One Shots
              Massively reader Sharvis, a familiar name throughout our comment section, landed today's One Shots feature with a screenshot from the most recent Guild Wars 2 beta event for pre-purchasers. And it looks like he managed to figure out a way to see the Asura and Sylvari in NPC form, in spite of their absence from the test as playable characters. He writes in,
              My Ranger, Leander Delmanos, overlooks the water beyond Lion's Arch in Guild Wars 2. He's accompanied by Snoots, his faithful bear companion, and two NPCs.
              We've got more GW2 pics for this special One Shots edition after the cut!

              Continue reading One Shots: Sequelizin'

              MassivelyOne Shots: Sequelizin' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Design your own robots with upcoming MMO Panzer Pets

                Posted: 06 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                Panzer Pets image
                If you've been desperately hoping for a Pokémon MMO all these years but have been disappointed by Nintendo's unwillingness to release one or let anyone else develop one, you might be interested in upcoming MMO Panzer Pets. Panzer Pets is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which robots have taken over, but robot builders have found a way to build their own pets to fight back. In Panzer Pets, rather than capture creatures, you'll hunt for robot parts and design your own customisable 3-D pet robots.

                The game focuses on the exploration opportunities that a post-apocalyptic setting delivers, with a world filled with randomly generated zones, dungeons and towns to explore, and robot parts to collect. Players will be able to trade parts with each other, challenge other players to battles, form guilds, and embark on quests together. As it uses the Unity 3-D engine, the game will be released on iOS, Android, and both PC and Mac web browsers.

                New studio Gamundo has been working on Panzer Pets for free so far but now needs support to work on the game full-time and complete it. If you're interested in exploring a post-apocalyptic world with a customised pet robot in tow, you can help Gamundo finish the game by pledging money to its Kickstarter campaign, which launched last night. The estimated date for completion of the game is October 2012, and the team needs to raise $85,000 to make it that far without giving a publisher or investor a controlling interest in the game.

                MassivelyDesign your own robots with upcoming MMO Panzer Pets originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                League of Legends runs Make-A-Wish charity campaign

                Posted: 06 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                League of Legends title image
                The Make-A-Wish foundation is a charity that helps make seriously ill children's dreams come true. Several months ago, Riot Games worked with the foundation to bring 17-year-old League of Legends fan and cancer sufferer Joe up to the studio where his favourite game is made. Riot was so inspired by Joe's visit that developers decided to give back to the Make-A-Wish in any way they could to make more children's dreams come true.

                Following on from the success of community donations to the Red Cross during Japan's earthquake and tsunami, this week Riot announced a new donation drive in support of the Make-A-Wish foundation.

                "From now, May 4, until 10:30 a.m. PT on May 18, 2012, Riot Games will donate 100 percent of the RP sale price for Joe's favorite champion, Jax, and his Jaximus skin to Make-A-Wish. To make it easier to help, we'll also be lowering the price of both the champion and skin by 50% during this period."

                MassivelyLeague of Legends runs Make-A-Wish charity campaign originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

                Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


                CEO of major Korean MMO company arrested

                Posted: 06 May 2012 03:22 PM PDT



                According to reports from Korea, the CEO of CJ Games, Kwon Young-shik, was arrested last week on 2nd May. CJ Games is the gaming branch of CJ Entertainment Media (EM), which in turn is one of the 4 major departments of the CJ group. What was he arrested for?



                Well, he actually sold in-game currency for real cash, although the prosecutors stated that happened back in 2008, when Kwon was a director in CJ Internet (previous name for EM before restructure) overseeing game operations. Along with him, another CJ employee involved was arrested as well, who apparently is just a normal non-executive staff. The illegal scheme came to light when the 3rd party trader was caught
                just recently, although it was not reported why he was arrested in the
                first place.



                The alleged total haul of Kwon’s activity of selling in-game currency for cash back then is reportedly near the USD 800,000 mark.  Following Kwon’s arrest, the authorities raided CJ Games’ Netmarble (the MMO portal’s name) offices for evidence the very next day on 3rd May. Netmarble has said that the company will give its full support and aid for the ongoing investigation.

                Similar Article can be found at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/05/ceo-of-major-korean-mmo-company.html

                Monster Hunter Frontier (JP)

                Posted: 06 May 2012 11:57 AM PDT

                (Benchmark download) So, Monster Hunter Frontier Japan will be having a huge update which will apparently change the game to “Monster Hunter Frontier 2″, adding in tons of new content, including monsters, areas, weapons, character actions and more. Seeing that it is a Pay to Play game, getting into the server is not really that easy.

                Capcom and Japan’s biggest gaming website, 4Gamer, released a benchmark program which I thought I should share with you guys. I recorded the video, made using in-game graphics, which you can see above.

                Do note that my final benchmark score is actually much higher (screenshot below), as taking the video ate up over half of my score points…Once again, the download link can be found here (link).


                Monster Hunter Frontier, sadly, does not seem bound for the English market. The Korean server closed recently (link) and the publisher went as far as to declare never to publish a foreign title again. If you are having fits reading this, head on and try out a China-developed clone, Hunter Blade (link), which is available in English now.

                Similar Article can be found at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2011/09/monster-hunter-frontier-jp-benchmark.html

                MMOGaming News

                MMOGaming News


                Salem Unleashed: Looking Death in the Eye

                Posted:

                Salem Unleashed: Looking Death in the Eye


                Bringing you this guide is very exciting as I see many people struggle with the beginning of the game and have trouble later on, which in most cases makes people very angry so they quit playing.

                New Video Explains the Open World of Squad Wars

                Posted:

                New Video Explains the Open World of Squad Wars


                Squad Wars, the new team-based space combat game built from the ground up by END Games Entertainment. Form a squad and fly into harrowing dogfights and zero-G furballs as you vie for dominance of the stars against competing Squads.

                CEO of MMO Company Arrested for Illegal Gold Trading

                Posted:

                CEO of MMO Company Arrested for Illegal Gold Trading


                It's reported that Kwon Young-shik begun selling in-game currency for real money in 2008 when he was Director of CJ Internet and in charge of game operations.

                Dragon Sword Released Massive Scenes

                Posted:

                Dragon Sword Released Massive Scenes


                A piece of "small" news, Dragon Blade has officially changed its name to Dragon Sword instead. Developed internally by China's number 2 MMO company, NetEase, Dragon Sword is one of the few upcoming games aiming to provide competition for Blade & Soul China. In a new trailer, various different environments players will get to visit are showcased. No date is set for Closed Beta yet, although registration is currently ongoing.

                WoW 5.0 Beta: Account-wide Mounts and Pandaren Voices

                Posted:

                WoW 5.0 Beta: Account-wide Mounts and Pandaren Voices


                It was announced during the Mists of Pandaria Press Tour that mounts would become account-wide on release or in a patch shortly after. It looks like it will be release after all, and the feature is now available on beta (but heavily bugged).

                Why Does TERA Attract MMO Veterans?

                Posted:

                Why Does TERA Attract MMO Veterans?


                TERA has mechanics and systems that familiar to other MMO games, but it also make some changes to surprise MMO veterans. These few helpful tips will help you explore the world of TERA effectively.

                Guild Wars 2: Gem Store Is Partially Online

                Posted:

                Guild Wars 2: Gem Store Is Partially Online


                Microtransaction system has been a controversial topic in ArenaNet's hot MMO Guild Wars 2. Earlier in March, we had a post talking about some of the leaked items sold in the cash shop. Now after the first NDA-free beta weekend event, ArenaNet has brought its current gem store out for players to have a look.

                TERA Journal: Levels 10-20

                Posted:

                TERA Journal: Levels 10-20


                Since writing that article, I've pushed my Lancer even further into TERA's early content and have reached level 20. Now that my experience with the game is a bit deeper, I felt it would be nice to check in again with you readers to let you know how (or if) my first impressions have changed.

                Continue reading TERA Journal: Levels 10-20.

                Dragonica SEA Closing Down soon

                Posted:

                Dragonica SEA Closing Down soon


                Dragonica SEA publisher IAH Games announced that they will end the game's service and close Singapore and Malaysia Server on May 30, 2012.

                My Thoughts On An Elder Scrolls MMO

                Posted:

                My Thoughts On An Elder Scrolls MMO


                Some people are for it and others are against it. I am actually for it because in an MMO it would probably be very different than in the games.

                Guild Wars 2 - Complete Beginner Crafting Guide

                Posted:

                Guild Wars 2 - Complete Beginner Crafting Guide


                Everything you need to know to get a strong start with crafting in Guild Wars 2. Covering everything from gathering tools to maximizing xp gains with the Discovery pane, this is a great place for new crafters to learn the basics.

                WoW 5.0 Lv90 Dungeon: Siege of Niuzao Temple

                Posted:

                WoW 5.0 Lv90 Dungeon: Siege of Niuzao Temple


                Siege of Niuzao Temple is a Level 90 Dungeon located in Townlong Steppes, in which you fight against the Mantid.

                Countdown Timer Shows up in Earthrise Website, Is Earthrise Coming Back?

                Posted:

                Countdown Timer Shows up in Earthrise Website, Is Earthrise Coming Back?


                Still remember Earthrise, the sci-fi, open-world sandbox MMORPG developed by Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios? The game was announced to shut down in February but it seems to come back again.

                WoW 5.0: New Character Creation Screen

                Posted:

                WoW 5.0: New Character Creation Screen


                Each faction now uses the same background when creating a character, with Horde and Pandaren being updated so far. Alliance is currently using the default generic background, but you can expect an update for them in the future.

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