MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Spirit Tales open beta starts today, new features abound

Posted: 10 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Spirit Tales - open beta event header
If you haven't played Spirit Tales yet, you've officially run out of excuses. The game's open beta kicks off today, according to publisher KoramGame Ltd.

The devs have added guild islands, sigil stones, and a sweetheart system to the current build, so there are plenty of things to do even if you get tired of fighting fantasy mobs in Spirit Tales' whimsical 3-D world.

There's also an enhanced pet system, new legendary gear and instanced dungeons, and a level 45 cap (beyond which lies "exclusive new content," according to KoramGame). More info, including signup details, is available at the official Spirit Tales website.

[Source: KoramGame press release]

MassivelySpirit Tales open beta starts today, new features abound originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition

    Posted: 10 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    Hopefully I'll get some time to play, but I'm not expecting any miracles.
    So for those of you wondering, the move went quite well. The expected problems occurred at times of minimal inconvenience, and we almost completely finished unpacking at the new place in one weekend. But we still have to finish up at the old apartment, so of course the first beta for The Secret World is scheduled to be this weekend when we're slotted to head down there. Just like how Guild Wars 2 scheduled a beta weekend for our last pre-move weekend. So that's awesome.

    This week's Ask Massively does not discuss this particular state of awesome. Instead, it discusses the deferred awesomeness of switching combat styles on the fly and what games feature something similar. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it in the comments below or send it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

    Continue reading Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition

    MassivelyAsk Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Aeria launches Waren Story website, offers beta signups

      Posted: 10 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      Waren Story mount
      Waren Story's got a new website as of this morning. What's Waren Story? It's a new PvP-centric free-to-play MMO from Aeria.

      The site features bits about the fantasy title's story, its customizable weapons and gear, and plenty of info on skills and character classes. There's also a section devoted to Waren Story's mercenary mechanics, which allow players to hire a wide variety of powerful combat allies. Elf archers, dwarf warriors, and Dryad queens are all yours for the taking, Aeria says.

      Head to the game's new web destination for further details, and don't forget to sign up for the closed beta while you're there.

      [Source: Aeria Games press release]

      MassivelyAeria launches Waren Story website, offers beta signups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Secret World reaches one million beta signups

        Posted: 10 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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        The Secret World
        It's hard to fathom how you can have "secret" societies when over a million new people know about them, but somehow we don't think Funcom's sweating the security breach. In fact, the studio seems quite proud of the fact that a million players have signed up to test The Secret World. The Facebook tie-in is also getting record views, with almost two million visits over the past few weeks.

        Senior Vice President Morten Larssen sees this as a shining omen for a dark world: "Shattering our previous beta records gives us great hope for The Secret World's launch and its future. Combining this positive number with the excellent feedback we have received from both beta testers and the press that have played the game, make us very optimistic for a successful launch of The Secret World."

        Anyone who's pre-ordered The Secret World can get in on tomorrow's beta weekend, the first of several that Funcom's planning as it leads up to release. This beta weekend will be focused on the Templar starting experience and the area of Solomon Island.

        MassivelyThe Secret World reaches one million beta signups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: What's your preferred camera distance?

        Posted: 10 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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        EverQuest II - tiny ratonga in the Commonlands
        While optional first-person perspectives are pretty common in MMORPGs, I'd be willing to bet that most of us spend our game time looking at the arse-end of our avatars.

        Some games limit you to intimate over-the-shoulder shots, while others give you such a huge range on your camera that you can pull it waaaay back and effectively grant yourself the equivalent of a top-down strategy-game view.

        For today's Daily Grind, we want to know where you fall on the camera placement spectrum. Do you zoom way out, way in, or are you one of those odd first-person ducks? In a nutshell, what's your preferred camera distance?

        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: What's your preferred camera distance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Guild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday

          Posted: 09 May 2012 10:00 PM PDT

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          IThat monster does not represent performance issues.  Probably.
          Are you in withdrawal after the last Guild Wars 2 testing weekend? Feeling the need to get back in the game, even if it's just for one night? If so, you're in luck, as the team has just recently announced that the game will be performing a surprise stress test on Monday, May 14th between 2:00 p.m. EDT until 9:00 p.m. EDT. It's a chance to log back in, play for a bit, and get more of a taste for the game over those seven hours.

          Worth noting is that the stress test is only for pre-purchasers, but beyond that there are no specific test requirements -- you can continue using the characters you created during the beta weekend. Players may experience some slight performance issues, since the purpose is to try and alleviate issues before the next beta weekend rolls around. So if you've pre-purchased the game, get ready to head back to Tyria in less than a week's time.

          MassivelyGuild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Why I Play: Global Agenda

          Posted: 09 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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          Global Agenda screenshot
          Among the Massively staff, I'm known as the obsessive competitor who plays every game in a hardcore fashion. It's no surprise that I gravitate toward high-skill, difficult games that test skill instead of the typical MMO grinds. But it should be a bit of a surprise that I don't really like competitive shooters. Shooters take a lot of the elements I really love about competition such as mindgames and positioning and marginalize them in favor of raw aiming and twitch reflexes. I'm fond of saying "You must be this tall to ride this ride" when it comes to shooters that are very twitch-based.

          Global Agenda is a different beast than other shooters, though. The competitive shooter market is saturated with class-based shooters whose emphasis is more on teamwork than on aiming, and Global Agenda really takes it to eleven. Aiming is still important, but it's hardly the most important skill in the game, and every class has a way of minimizing the need for aiming skill. In fact, most of the more effective builds in GA don't require aiming. The emphasis in GA is on teamwork, mobility, and good decision-making. Even though it's a shooter, I find it really easy to spend far too much of my time playing it. It's just great fun.

          Continue reading Why I Play: Global Agenda

          MassivelyWhy I Play: Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains

            Posted: 09 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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            My Vanguard main
            I felt a little nostalgic this week. Heck, at my age, I feel nostalgic every time I smell chimney smoke or hear Christmas music. I suspect it will only grow more common with age. MMOs have been such a huge part of my life for well over a decade now that I feel nostalgic about many of the things that happened during that time, and for many of the characters I have grown -- and lost.

            I'm not overly sentimental about it, but it is interesting how we feel about the pixelated versions of ourselves, the ones we control while sitting at a keyboard or while touching a tablet. I don't want to downplay how important gaming can be for many of us, either. Once, years ago, I met a fellow player in a social game called There. She was a wonderful person who had over time lost the ability to walk. She loved the freedom that the avatar gave her. Needless to say, she was very connected to her character.

            I made a short list of some of my favorite characters from the years. As I think about it, this list says a lot about me as a gamer and about the types of games I love.

            Continue reading Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains

            MassivelyFree for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              EVE Online overhauls factional warfare for cleaner systems and bigger consequences

              Posted: 09 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT

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              It's more fun to read about this stuff than... um... well, I guess playing it still looks like reading about it.
              Factional warfare isn't a part of EVE Online you hear about very often, and according to the latest design blog, that's partly because the system itself was a mess. The developers are hard at work overhauling the warfare system so that it will be easier to understand, will be more intuitive to use, and will have more substantial bonuses and penalties for factions actively participating in the war. The usability changes are small but significant, mostly centering around consolidating the system's important details under a unified naming schematic.

              Turnaround time for system control is being lengthened to roughly 30 hours, but the penalties for enemy factions are also becoming more severe. Enemy factions cannot dock at stations in occupied systems, and the faction in control will be able to spend Loyalty Points to gain special upgrades so long as the system is controlled. If you like going to war in your internet spaceship but aren't really a fan of the wild frontier devoid of security, it might be worth taking a look at the newest design entry.

              MassivelyEVE Online overhauls factional warfare for cleaner systems and bigger consequences originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Salem sandbox MMO not for the faint of heart

              Posted: 09 May 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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              Salem gameplay screenshot
              Twenty minutes of gameplay doesn't seem like a lot when it comes to previewing an MMO, but PC Gamer is giving it the ol' college try with a look at Seatribe's new Salem sandbox. You know the Salem we mean. The one with... permadeath. Ooooh. Scary.

              Anyhow, the piece offers up a few interesting insights, like when creative lead Bjorn Johannessen admits that the devs "have almost nothing to do with what happens" outside the game's only safe area (a colonial-era Boston). Another noteworthy tidbit is the fact that Salem doesn't display avatar names. Instead, it prompts you to name other characters for yourself (or trust that someone is who he says he is).

              For more on Salem, check out the source below as well as our permadeath-flavored interview with Johannessen in Some Assembly Required.

              MassivelySalem sandbox MMO not for the faint of heart originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              City of Heroes announces Paragon Market Freebie Fridays

              Posted: 09 May 2012 04:30 PM PDT

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              City of Heroes Freebie Fridays
              Everyone loves free things, and the folks at Paragon Studios know it. That's why the studio has announced a new treat for City of Heroes players: Paragon Market Freebie Fridays. The program is exactly as it sounds: Every week, the studio will choose a new item to be that week's freebie. Players then simply have to log on during the specified time frame, claim their free items, and enjoy! That's all there is to it, folks.

              The premiere Freebie Friday will be taking place this week, beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ending at the same time Friday, giving players 24 hours to claim their free stuff. The announcement states that the freebies "could be almost anything currently available in the Paragon Market," so be sure to log in each week and get your goodies!

              MassivelyCity of Heroes announces Paragon Market Freebie Fridays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Analyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee

              Posted: 09 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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              We're a bit of a ways out from getting dynamic screenshots here.
              Are you hoping that The Elder Scrolls Online will be part of the classic subscription model rather than go the free-to-play route? According to analyst Nicholas Lovell, founder of Gamesbrief, the odds are good that you'll get your wish. Lovell notes that since the game began development in 2007, when subscription games were at their apex, Bethesda is likely to launch using the more familiar business model. Whether or not it will remain as a subscription game is another matter.

              Of course, the price of play is far from the minds of most fans -- the real question is what the game will look like when it's actually playable. Director Matt Firor recently sat down to discuss the game's earliest stages of development, the relationship between ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda, and working within the lore of the established IP. It's an interesting look behind the scenes of development, and if you're interested in the game, watching the video is certain to be six minutes well spent.

              MassivelyAnalyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              New End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution

              Posted: 09 May 2012 03:30 PM PDT

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              End of Nations -- Shadow Revolution
              Last month, we got a look at the Liberation Front faction of Trion Worlds' upcoming MMORTS, End of Nations. Today, the company released a trailer highlighting the Liberation Front's enemy of war, the forebodingly named Shadow Revolution.

              Players of the Shadow Revolution faction have their choice of two classes: the Wraith class, which focuses on utilizing guerrilla tactics to strike quickly and retreat before counterattacks can be made, and the Phantom class, which takes advantage of cloaking devices in order to launch devastating surprise attacks that can cripple enemy forces before they know what hit them. To get a look at the Shadow Revolution's units in action, just check out the official trailer below.

              Continue reading New End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution

              MassivelyNew End of Nations trailer shines some light on the Shadow Revolution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              World of Warcraft holding steady at 10.2 million subscribers

              Posted: 09 May 2012 03:23 PM PDT

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              Attack of the corporate logo!
              World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers had been falling at the end of last year, but they appear to have stabilized once again. According to president Michael Morhaime, the game continues to remain steady at 10.2 million subscribers through the end of March, the same as the number seen in February during the previous conference call for Activision Blizzard. Morhaime went on to confirm that the agreement with NetEase regarding World of Warcraft in China has been renewed, with the companies planning to continue their agreement for another three years at least.

              The studio is also seeing definite success with Diablo III; although the game has yet to release, it's currently surpassed all of the studio's previous high-water marks regarding pre-orders. This includes units sold as part of the Annual Pass promotion, which saw 1.2 million copies purchased in total. While WoW may not have reached its previous peak, it's certainly holding on to a stalwart base for the time being.

              MassivelyWorld of Warcraft holding steady at 10.2 million subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

              Posted: 09 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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              A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
              If it hasn't become clear over the past two and a half years, I really enjoy speculation. I like crazy theories, I like exploring possibilities, I like thought exercises, and so forth. There's some speculation that I find particularly ill-informed or lacking in some fundamental point of logic, but that doesn't mean I don't learn about them first.

              Why am I making a point out of this? Because I've developed a theory about the state of City of Heroes, and I want to make it clear before I launch into this somewhat grim theory that I'm basing this entirely on outside observations. I want it to be clear that I could, in fact, be totally wrong, and when I say that City of Heroes nearly committed unintentional suicide a couple of years ago, I don't want that to be seen as some grand behind-the-scenes revelation.

              And if it weren't obvious from that line, yes, that's where I'm going. I think Going Rogue nearly gutted City of Heroes and burned the whole game to the ground. And I think everything the game has done since can be directly traced back to that expansion.

              Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

              MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Vanguard update brings new loyalty rewards for subscribers

                Posted: 09 May 2012 02:30 PM PDT

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                Vanguard
                As Vanguard straddles the line between its old subscriber-only business model and this summer's free-to-play transition, the team is still plugging away at minor updates to the game. Today's patch brings a smattering of updates and fixes as well as the May loyalty rewards for current subscribers.

                Active players will get to haul away five goodies from SOE, including a brown sloop ship, unique tack and barding, and a "Kamelott Overland Onslaught Life-Sustaining Exo-Skeleton" mount. Players can also pick up free supply crates and veteran's caches (the latter are available only for level 50+ characters) every 44 hours.

                The update also fixed a few small issues with quests, retweaked some skills for Rogues and Bards, and changed a couple of items to make them work properly.

                SOE will continue to dish out loyalty rewards until Vanguard goes F2P.

                MassivelyVanguard update brings new loyalty rewards for subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                RIFT adds streaming client

                Posted: 09 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                RIFT
                The barrier between interest and hands-on play was knocked down today as Trion Worlds introduced a streaming client for RIFT. The new client will allow players to jump into the game without fully downloading it first.

                Players with a faster connection are invited to start the streaming client and then log into the game soon thereafter. The new client will continue to download the remainder of the game even while the player is logged in. However, Trion said that slower connection speed computers should wait for the full client to finish downloading first.

                RIFT's launcher will automatically convert to the new system. Players experiencing background downloading while in-game will see a symbol on the screen to indicate the fact.

                MassivelyRIFT adds streaming client originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Neverwinter releasing Q4 2012, opens French and German websites

                Posted: 09 May 2012 01:30 PM PDT

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                Neverwinter
                Neverwinter was the unexpected surprise of PAX East for us, which is why we're psyched that it should be in all our hot little hands by the end of the year. Perfect World announced that its upcoming Dungeons and Dragons MMO will launch globally in the fourth quarter of 2012.

                As part of the global efforts, Perfect World has opened up French and German websites to cater to the diverse European playerbase. Each localized website is just as informative and media-packed as its English counterpart.

                Cryptic
                Lead Producer Andy Velasquez is quite excited to be working on the project and anticipates players' delight when the game finally arrives: "As a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, it's a rewarding experience to develop Neverwinter and contribute to the lore of the franchise. We're taking calculated steps to ensure Neverwinter will captivate players with its immersive storylines and beautiful artwork while being a fast and fluid action game."

                [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]

                MassivelyNeverwinter releasing Q4 2012, opens French and German websites originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Blood, guild emblems and more returning to EU TERA next week

                  Posted: 09 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Screenshot -- TERA
                  European TERA players, it's time to get your violence on. Frogster has announced that a patch coming to the game next week will herald the return of the blood detail slider, so you sadistic freaks can finally revel in the spilled blood of your enemies.

                  In addition, the patch is bringing back the guild emblem feature, which will allow players to once again upload their own unique icons to represent their guilds. The game's chat filter is also going to see some changes, which will hopefully stop the unnecessary censorship of certain words and phrases (and in some cases, linked item names) while ensuring that inappropriate language is properly censored. Eurogamer has further information, including a few words with Frogster's community manager Lucile Le Merle, so click on through to the full story for the full details.

                  MassivelyBlood, guild emblems and more returning to EU TERA next week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour

                  Posted: 09 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                  DDO
                  On Thursday, Turbine will take the wraps off of Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark and commence with the closed beta. It's a heady time for both the team and playerbase, as this 2007 title steps into the big leagues of expansion-holding MMOs. And because we know you hate waiting for all the goods, we joined Turbine on the test server for an advance look at some of the hottest features coming with June's launch.

                  On the phone with us was Senior Producer Eric Boyer, Community Specialist Amanda Grove, and Design Director Ian Currie. "We want to show players how big the expansion pack is and how much it'll be changing the game," Boyer began, telling us that levels one through 20 were merely "heroic" -- now it'll be time to make the move into epic territory.

                  From a look at the much-anticipated Druid and the previously vague Epic Destinies to a lightning tour of your first day in the Forgotten Realms, the team was out to convince us that Menace of the Underdark is fully worthy of the "expansion" moniker. How's it looking so far? Take a look for yourself!

                  Continue reading Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour

                  MassivelyDruids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Wizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager

                    Posted: 09 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                    The Friendly Necromancer logo
                    Tom Purdue, admired owner and operator of The Friendly Necromancer blog and Wizard101 fansite, has announced today that he will be KingsIsle Entertainment's new community manager for the upcoming Pirate101 MMO.

                    As that transition from fan to employee is always a fascinating transformation, we recognize that it's not an easy decision. Massively itself has raised a handful of MMO community managers, so this news is particularly of interest to us. For that reason, we tracked Tom down and asked him some questions about his new role at KingsIsle. Follow along below for the complete interview.

                    Continue reading Wizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager

                    MassivelyWizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      General gaming

                      General gaming


                      The Old Republic Still Going Strong, Even With a 400k Subscriber Drop

                      Posted: 09 May 2012 05:12 PM PDT

                      Star Wars The Old Republic

                      Three months ago, Electronic Arts boasted its new MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, had amassed 1.7 million subscribers. That number is a far cry from what World of Warcraft has, though it is a very strong showing for a subscription-based MMO in a market that is becoming much more free-to-play-centric. The publisher updated investors again on the status of TOR this week, revealing it has seen a drop-off of 400,000 subscribers to 1.3 million. That's nearly one in four players who have stopped playing over that span of time, which surely means it's time to sound the alarm and for those who voted EA as the worst company in America to start celebrating, right? In fact, this may not be as bad as it seems.

                      A 23-percent decline is a substantial figure any way you slice it. Yet it's important to remember this is still early in the life of the game; if this were to happen a year from now it would be more troubling. At this point in time, it's natural for an MMO to lose a chunk of people who wanted to try the game out and nothing more. It seems entirely feasible a chunk of casual players tried the game out but didn't want to pay a monthly subscription, which is essentially what the drop was attributed to in an EA conference call with investors on Monday.

                      Wolfenstein 3D Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary in Style

                      Posted: 09 May 2012 04:37 PM PDT

                      With Wolfenstein 3D celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, it's fitting -- if unexpected -- to see a nearly 30-minute developer commentary track from industry legend John Carmack exploring his memories and recollections from the early days of id Software. Despite the march of time and technology since the game's 1992 release, you can't help but be charmed by the man's enthusiasm for his early days in the industry.

                      Why Donkey Kong Country is a Better Platformer Than Super Mario Bros.

                      Posted: 09 May 2012 03:08 PM PDT

                      I know that it's absurd to compare two games that were released over a decade apart, but what the hell, but I'm going to do it anyway. I've recently become a bit of a pariah among my fellow 1UP editors due to my opinions on Donkey Kong Country, Rare's 1994 foray into the world of the SNES. While few would dispute the game's technological merits, not many around these parts agree with me that DKC is a far better and much more playable platformer than the original Super Mario Bros.

                      Please set down your pitchforks and extinguish those torches.

                      Donkey Kong Country was the game that began Rare's ascent to creative bliss. Anyone who owned a Super Nintendo or a Nintendo 64 has undoubtedly fond memories of playing any number of the British developer's classic titles, whether it was slapping down Jago in Killer Instinct or planting the perfect proximity mine in GoldenEye, and this hot streak all began with the reinvention of Mario's original nemesis. A few years after the plumber journeyed around the world, Donkey Kong was tasked with exploring his island in search of his stolen banana hoard. The game was a dense, cutting-edge package that showcased the power of the SNES and provided what I feel to be a perfect platforming experience. As you can probably tell by the video below, my fellow editors do not share in these views.

                      dkc

                      Re-Examining the Role of Digital Death

                      Posted: 09 May 2012 01:44 PM PDT

                      Feature

                      Header

                      Re-Examining the Role of Digital Death

                      How death has evolved over the four decades of gaming.

                      By: Nickolai Adkins May 9, 2012

                      There is possibly no greater representative icon for the entirety of gaming than that of the game over screen. That negative void with stolid letters painted cryptically across; there is a certain mysticism surrounding the screen, the dark back corners of arcade holes that once used to thrive, and the natural competition to overcome the inevitability of failure that it represents.

                      Bore with the medium's creation in arcade cabinets and the surrounding culture that developed after their inception, the challenge of prolonging play time and avoiding inevitable failure in death became the central function for nearly every game created to date. In the form of a barrel throwing gorilla, the simple existence of a play clock, infinite and unseen pits that trail into the unknown below the screens of any number of platformers, or even in competition between players, video games have always been a participatory form of near exclusive survival.

                      Two Possible Reasons for BioShock Infinite's 2013 Delay

                      Posted: 09 May 2012 01:22 PM PDT

                      BioShock Infinite

                      BioShock Infinite was among the most anticipated games scheduled for release this fall. It's still shaping up to be one of the bigger launches of the year, it's just that year will be next year. Infinite's release was officially pushed back today from its scheduled date on October 16 until February 26, 2013. The reason for this is said to be because of a goal to make it as great as can be, and while I don't doubt there is a desire to do that, there may be other factors which contributed to the decision to delay the game's release by four months.

                      A message to fans from developer Irrational Games' creative director, Ken Levine, was distributed to the press and posted online today. In it he claims that, since announcing the October release date in March, the team realized "that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Therefore, to give our talented team the time they need, we've decided to move the game's release to February 26, 2013. We wanted to let our loyal (and very patient!) fans know this as soon as possible.

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