MMO Updates

Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2
Orgia Romanus MMO looks to 'facilitate sexual interactions between players'
Game of Thrones Facebook title in the works
ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design
MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012
The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?
Aeria Games unveils new MMOFPS, Born to Fire
MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary
EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion
One Shots: Lone wolf
Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses

Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2

Posted: 21 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, Guild Wars 2

As many Guild Wars players know, Guild Wars 2 takes place in the same world and often in the same areas -- just 250 years after its predecessor. Because of this, ArenaNet didn't elect to wipe the slate clean and start over with 100% new environments, but has instead incorporated old locales and landmarks into its upcoming game.

Guild Wars fan Claire became fascinated with this concept and has dedicated a new blog to documenting all of the visual changes in the world between the first and second game. It's called Project Tyria, and each post consists of several Guild Wars locales contrasted with screenshots of the same areas from the sequel.

As Claire writes, "I've always loved the graphics of the Guild Wars games and have grown to love the world of Tyria. We were there in the before times, and now we arrive again in the after."

It's fascinating to see how ArenaNet has envisioned 250 years taking its toll on the monuments, cities, and vales of the original game, and realizing the importance of keeping the world accurate for the hardcore fans seems to be a noted priority for the team. Head over to Project Tyria to see more on the comparison screenshots.

Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Project Tyria

Orgia Romanus MMO looks to 'facilitate sexual interactions between players'

Posted: 21 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Sex in MMOs isn't particularly new, especially given the titillating ad campaigns that accompany your average fantasy title. Orgia Romanus is new, and it's aiming higher (or lower) than scantily clad elven babes. One of its gameplay goals "is to facilitate sexual interactions between players," according to a FoxySoft Gaming press release.

FoxySoft is the brainchild of Alex Allen, a former artist and project director at Acclaim and Sony Online Entertainment. In mechanical terms, Orgia Romanus looks to marry traditional merchant-, politician-, and warrior-centric play with sexual content. Gamers will become "engaged emotionally as they are allowed to build relationships with other players that help them advance through the game," FoxySoft says.

Full development on Orgia Romanus will commence after a crowdfunding campaign scheduled for next month. A playable demo is expected this fall.

[Source: FoxySoft Games press release]

Orgia Romanus MMO looks to 'facilitate sexual interactions between players' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game of Thrones Facebook title in the works

Posted: 21 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Casual

HBO's Game of Thrones is getting the online gaming treatment for the second time in the space of a calendar year. First it was Bigpoint's free-to-play browser MMO, and now it's a Facebook game called Game of Thrones Ascent which is being developed by Disruptor Beam, a social gaming company headed by former GamerDNA CEO Jon Radoff.

The company says that players will "lead the life of a noble during the time of upheaval as portrayed in the books and the series thus experiencing a new type of game that unites both story and strategy."

Precious little info is given on the title, including a release date, but we'll bring you the latest as it becomes available.

[Source: Disruptor Beam press release]

Game of Thrones Facebook title in the works originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design

Posted: 21 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Interviews, MMO industry, Guild Wars 2

Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does Christopher Lye, the global brand director for ArenaNet, who publicly denounced the post-World of Warcraft trend in the industry as stagnant.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Lye stated that Guild Wars 2 is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that Guild Wars 2 is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."

Lye pointed to Guild Wars 2's scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples as to how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.

Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."

ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Gamasutra

MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012

Posted: 21 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

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

Every week, the Massively Stream Team 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 each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or 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, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!

Continue reading MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012

MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?

Posted: 21 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

When Lord of the Rings Online first went free-to-play, Turbine put quest zones on sale for a song, and I missed it. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. City of Heroes character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like Guild Wars' storage panels, which I delayed buying for several years until they were half off).

This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?

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

The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aeria Games unveils new MMOFPS, Born to Fire

Posted: 21 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Real life, Galleries, New titles, PvP, War, MMOFPS

Aeria Games, with numerous free-to-play titles already under its belt, just unveiled a new MMOFPS called Born to Fire. This character-driven first-person shooter is set following the Cold War when rules of engagement are thrown out the window and the world is a free-fire zone.

Director of Publishing Tom Nichols describes the game: "In Born to Fire, players step in the boots of five distinct classes of elite operatives engaged in a global firefight for domination. With the instant gratification of one-click matchmaking and the in-depth analysis provided by elaborate replay tools, Born to Fire represents a new class of character-driven, highly customizable MMOFPS that's easy to get into but nearly impossible to fully master."

The five classes available for play are Rifleman, Duelist, Ranger, Heavy-Hitter, or Warden; each comes with unique backstory, tactics, and a fully-customizable arsenal.

Sign-ups for closed beta are going on now! Players can keep informed of the latest news, updates, and contests by "liking" Born To Fire's Facebook page. Also, be sure to check out the screenshots and artwork in the attached gallery.

Gallery: Born to Fire

[Source: Areia Games press release]

Aeria Games unveils new MMOFPS, Born to Fire originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary

Posted: 20 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

We got you started in Diablo III this week with our best tips, a guide for MMO players, details on the starter edition, videos, warm fuzzies, and friendly rivalries. Hopefully, that gave you plenty to read during all of the downtime. Ouch!

Meanwhile, gamers everywhere looked on as the 38 Studios ship continued to founder. Early in the week, we learned that the studio might default on its state loan, leaving the debt to Rhode Island taxpayers. A few emergency meetings later, 38 Studios' employees' paychecks are going unpaid and the state governor is throwing out release dates for the seemingly doomed MMO Project Copernicus. But hey, flythrough video, right?

More of the week's top MMO stories are prepped for your eyes after the cut.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary

MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion

Posted: 20 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, Opinion, EVE Evolved, Guides, Sandbox, Crafting

The Inferno expansion is set to launch on Tuesday May 22nd, promising a complete revamp of EVE Online's war declaration system and a whole host of new modules. If you're in a wardec corp, you'll need to make a few adjustments to the way you operate when the patch goes live. The minimum war fee will increase to 50 million ISK even if you're declaring war on a small corporation, making very small corps less-appealing targets. The fee increases based on the number of members in the target corp, but it doesn't start increasing until around the 130-member mark. If you want to get your money's worth, you'll be best off picking a target corp with 100-150 members or selecting very high-value small targets.

Be very wary of wardeccing large alliances after the patch. While the previous war system swung in favour of the attacker, the new system has gone to the opposite extreme. Large corps and alliances are now significantly more costly and dangerous to declare war on, especially as the defender can now call mercenaries into the war at any time. Players have complained that the increasing war costs could be abused by getting all alliance members to add alts to the corp, but this would be a logistical nightmare to apply in practice and would increase fees by only a few hundred million ISK. If alt padding becomes a problem, CCP will undoubtedly step in and revise the fee structure.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the new modules and gameplay changes coming in Tuesday's Inferno expansion and give some tips on preparing for the patch.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion

EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Lone wolf

Posted: 20 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Massively Meta, One Shots, Miscellaneous

Long-time Massively follower but first-time One Shots contributor Ilix sent along today's highlighted screenshot of Fallen Earth, which we think is quite timely, given the PvP revamp soon headed to everyone's favorite post-apocalyptic sandbox. He writes in,

Fallen Earth is my top hard-RP MMO. Ilix, after three decades of isolation, attempted to fit in with a player-run town. But he was too rough-edged, too guarded, and still isolated in his mind, and he could not find joy among others. After several days trying to force himself back into what remains of humanity in the blasted terrain of the apocalypse, he admitted to himself that he could never return because he was too quick to anger, and he wandered off back into the desert. Irradiated scorpions haunt the land he wandered into, so he finds rest on the blade of a ruined helicopter's rotor, just out of reach of stingers. This shot defines the dual beauty and harshness of the life he resigns himself to.

Ilix's gorgeous sunset is tucked behind the break along with two other One Shots shots!

Continue reading One Shots: Lone wolf

One Shots: Lone wolf originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses

Posted: 20 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Perpetuum, Sandbox

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about Perpetuum's new player-build settlements functionality and its new test server. Now, the devs at Avatar Creations have even more exciting news: an expansion!

It's called Gamma Frontier, and Avatar calls it the biggest expansion since the game went live over 18 months ago. Player corporations will be able to build home bases, launch industrial projects, and colonize the new Gamma islands (not to mention defend them from invasion-minded players).

The expansion also features extensive new terrain-shaping abilities. Avatar has given players full control over the land, including the ability to form hills, dig holes, and level the surrounding terrain as they see fit. Due to complications with pre-existing systems and landmasses, the terraforming capabilities are available only on the new Gamma islands (24 in total). Click past the cut to see a brief video of terraforming in action, then head to the Perpetuum website to read all the expansion details.

[Source: Perpetuum newsletter]

Continue reading Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses

Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Brick Force (KR)
Diablo III – My Witch Doctor build
EA To Waive 90 Days Of Origin Fees For Indies

Brick Force (KR)

Posted: 20 May 2012 04:01 PM PDT

I thought there wouldn’t be news today seeing that Korea and China are both having holidays, but a Taiwanese gaming site reported on this game, hence you are reading it now! This is Brick Force, the maiden title of Korean developer EXE Games. It first debuted in the media back in April, but I have no idea how I missed it. Back to topic, why reference this game to Minecraft since it is an online FPS? Well, make a guess…

Foreign media is calling it as such since players are able to create their very own maps, just like in Minecraft. Using blocks of texture, players can lay down these bricks and make unique terrains, buildings out of the given space. In a more professional term, this is also known as User Created Content (UCC).

EXE Games started out with just 7 staff back in the days and Brick Force was indeed developed based on inspirations from Minecraft, allowing players freedom to participate in making the game. Closed Beta begins from 7th October in a few days’ time, with 14 maps, 4 characters and the map making function available.

Diablo III – My Witch Doctor build

Posted: 20 May 2012 10:16 AM PDT

How many of you are playing Diablo III? Well, I sure am for the past few days since launch, having hit the level cap a few hours ago. I am just halfway through Hell mode, and seeing that I will be busy from next week onwards at work, Inferno mode will just have to wait. Let's talk briefly about my Witch Doctor build, the rarely seen "summoner build" at higher levels.

One of the new classes in Diablo III, Witch Doctor is the spiritual reincarnation of Diablo II's Necromancer, but then again both have very different skill sets. One of the major complains about Witch Doctor is about the summoner build, especially Zombie Dogs, which are basically 1 hit-KO in Hell mode of the game. Well, my dogs certainly are not getting crushed.

The thing is, for the dogs to work properly in Hell mode, Witch Doctors MUST go into a mass life regeneration + thorns build. This is essentially making full use of the passive skill, Fierce Loyalty. With 950 life restored every second, my summons survive really well in Hell mode, minus those bosses such as Belia's poison slams (die within a few hits). Merging the Burning Dogs rune with thorns (physical damage dealt to melee attackers), they are dealing high damage as well.

That's all for a very short introduction. As you can see in those stats posted above, I am geared towards massive resistance as well, hopefully which will play their part in helping me survive the upcoming Inferno mode. Now, I am wondering what new content Blizzard will have for the upcoming expansion/s...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

EA To Waive 90 Days Of Origin Fees For Indies

Posted: 20 May 2012 09:05 AM PDT

More specifically those funded through crowd-funded websites Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

It seems even EA are getting on the Kickstarter bandwagon, as it recently announced there will be no distribution fees for the first 90 days of any game crowd-funded through websites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo.

What this means is that games like Wasteland 2, Double Fine’s Adventure game and The Banner Saga will be able to launch on Origin as one of their chosen platforms without EA taking any fees for the first 90 days.

After that, it’s business as usual.

It’s a step in the right direction for EA who recently had a humble bundle sale on Steam with EA published games like Shank getting a cheaper price. A nice deal, certainly, but kind of forgetting the whole ‘indie’ aspect to a humble bundle – something that even outraged Minecraft’s Notch at the time.

It’s easy to be cynical about this new move with Origin, however: EA has a hard time convincing gamers of the digital distribution service’s benefits, and with the interest of these recent Kickstarter projects at a high, it could well be the angle it needs to convince indies to make a switch.

But inXile’s John Fargo (of Wasteland 2) and Jane Jensen (point-’n'-click extraordinaire and developer of recently funded Moebius) are both supporters of EA’s new move, with Jensen saying "Crowd-funded projects are like the 'people's choice awards' — a way for gaming fans to express what they want to buy and play. It's great to see a big publisher like EA acknowledging that and opening up distribution opportunities for these games."

Hopefully it will be as simple as that.