MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Lord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is live

Posted: 24 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Image
It's that time of year again in Middle-earth, as Turbine has blown the dust off Lord of the Rings Online's annual Spring Festival. A Casual Stroll to Mordor opines that this year's edition won't depart too much from years past, so you can expect to find the usual hedge maze, horse-racing, and Inn League shenanigans out in full force.

The site's annual festival guide isn't ready for prime time just yet, but you can check out the 2011 version while you wait for the update.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Summoner's Guidebook: Improving your game through spectator mode

Posted: 24 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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League of Legends screenshot
I love spectator mode. Since the patch introducing it to League of Legends, I've had the opportunity to observe top-level players and even my own friends. If you ever wanted to learn how to play like a pro, you now have your chance. High-level games of Summoner's Rift are just a few mouse clicks away, and if you're a little mentally fatigued from playing the game, you can sit back and enjoy some high-level play. It was one of the best updates thus far for League.

Watching high-level streams or spectating high-level games can dramatically improve your game if you know what to look for. This week, we're going to cover some of the ways you can improve your game by stealing strategies and techniques from top players.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Improving your game through spectator mode

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Improving your game through spectator mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Raising hell in The Secret World's Hell Raised instance

    Posted: 24 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    Seems legit.
    Welcome to The Secret World's Overlook Motel, where the sheets are clean, the service is friendly, and there's an ominous doorway to Hell in every room. Such is the beginning of the second instanced dungeon of Funcom's upcoming horror-fantasy MMO, which sees players descending deep into the bowels of the underworld to put an end to a raging demonic war that's causing Hell to leak through to the real world.

    I had the pleasure of joining Funcom's Tor Andersen on a guided tour of Hell Raised, the first in a series of three dungeons that take place in the fiery depths, and boy did I ever have a hell of a time (sorry). If you're interested in finding out what awaits players of The Secret World in the depths of Hades itself, follow along with me as I give you the ins-and-outs of surviving a confrontation in the midst of an infernal warzone.

    Continue reading Raising hell in The Secret World's Hell Raised instance

    MassivelyRaising hell in The Secret World's Hell Raised instance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Project Copernicus 'racial' screens leak from 38 Studios

      Posted: 24 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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      Copernicus
      While 38 Studios remains in dire straits, fans are getting a bittersweet treat of Project Copernicus reveals. It's sweet because we've been dying to see more information on this game, but bitter because its fate is still up in the air.

      Today fan site 38 Watch posted a trio of official-looking screens straight from Copernicus' world. In the screens, three races are revealed: the human-looking Almain, the dwarven Dverga, and the orcish Jottun. The game's art style and lush color palette are on full display, opting for more of a stylized than realistic approach.

      We recently heard that Project Copernicus has a possible June 2013 launch window and got our first look at the game in a flyby video. You can scope out the new screens in the gallery below.

      MassivelyProject Copernicus 'racial' screens leak from 38 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?

      Posted: 24 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2 Engineer
      With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

      The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

      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: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Perfect World International's end-game gets imperially furious

        Posted: 23 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT

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        Perfect World International and the Case of the Glowing, Three-Headed Wurm
        It is a truth universally acknowledged that an MMO in possession of an experienced player-base must be in want of more end-game. In honor of that, and in response to heavy player demand, Perfect World International is getting a sizable update. PWI: Imperial Fury will introduce the brand new Advanced Endless Universe dungeon, changes to existing dungeons, and a whole passel of other improvements.

        Players are charged with retrieving the Perfect World City Essences within the Advanced Endless Universe dungeon. This dungeon, which will be accessible six times per week, will present one of three variations of itself upon entry. All three variations are distinctly different, and all three will require significant effort and coordination for successful completion. Hard work does not go unrewarded, however, as completion is rewarded with a chance box containing either a brand new skill book or a stack of potent consumable buffs -- and as both the boxes and their drops can be traded, you can always sell anything you don't want for yourself.

        Lunar Glade and Warsong City have received a design facelift, had their difficulty ramped up and their rewards increased -- rewards that include materials for upgrading the most powerful gear (at present) in the game.

        A temporary and intermittently-recurring NPC, the Aurora Agent, will allow characters over level 80 to trade Tokens of Luck for a chance to get rare and powerful items. There will also be new Bounty Hunter bosses, improvements to Phoenix Valley, more ways to gain Prestige, improvements to player-enemy targeting, the return of Secret Passage to its "more carebear-friendly roots," and more. So suit up and get ready to kick imperial hiney!

        MassivelyPerfect World International's end-game gets imperially furious originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Free for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development

        Posted: 23 May 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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        Istaria concept art
        Before anyone asks in the comments section: Yes, Istaria is still around. I've noticed that many players seem to think if something is out of their sight, it's out of every other player's mind too, but the truth is that there are many, many smallish and indie MMOs in existence that not only continue to do well but offer unique gameplay for anyone who might be interested. Istaria is even still referred to as Horizons by many, even though that change was made a long, long time ago. Despite all of the outdated opinions and its status as an "older" game, interesting things are happening in the world of Istaria.

        I took some time and asked Amarie Ancalimon, Community Relations manager from Virtrium, about the latest string of patches and updates. I got plenty of information back, so let's get to it!

        Continue reading Free for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development

        MassivelyFree for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          RIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide'

          Posted: 23 May 2012 07:30 PM PDT

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          RIFT
          Curious how the makers of RIFT are going to turn a two-faction game into a three-faction PvP brawl? Us too! But Trion Worlds has a few clever ideas to capitalize on the best elements of PvP innovation and evolution with its upcoming Conquest system.

          "With Conquest we're really trying to capture the essence of open-world PvP gameplay," shares Lead Designer William Fisher in a new developer video. "This is where realities collide." He goes on to say that this new system isn't Defiants against Guardians, but instead three brand-new factions from across the planes duking it out with player assistance.

          Check out the new video after the jump, and when you're done with that, catch up with our very own Karen Bryan's hands-on experience with the Conquest system!

          Continue reading RIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide'

          MassivelyRIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          New Pathfinder dev blog talks contract, questing mechanics

          Posted: 23 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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          Pathfinder Online - This guy broke his contract
          The latest Pathfinder Online dev blog is all about contracts. It's also about 20,000 pages long, so reading it starts to feel like reading a real contract after about the 10,000 page mark. OK, it's not all that bad. Heck it's actually pretty interesting stuff, since most MMOs these days go out of their way to segregate players from each other and from decisions that have lasting gameplay implications.

          Not so in Pathfinder, thanks to its contract mechanics, which Ryan Dancey says are like "a questing system hidden in plain sight." While some of what you'll read in this particular blog is theoretical (and as such, it carries the standard subject-to-change disclaimers), the system as it stands right now is broken down into four in-game tools: escrow, reputation, alignment, and the law.

          Contracts themselves are sub-divided into assassination, auction, bounty, guard, loan, purchase, sale, and transportation flavors. It sounds somewhat complex, but there's definitely a method to Goblinworks' madness. "Ideally, most of the commercial, diplomatic, and adventuring activities in the game will develop through player-to-player contracting," Dancey writes. "If somebody offers you a reward for bringing them 10 rat tails, it will be because another player needs 10 rat tails for some reason, not just because an NPC has an exclamation point bobbing over his head."

          MassivelyNew Pathfinder dev blog talks contract, questing mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Mortal Online's CEO has high hopes for the game's subscriptions

          Posted: 23 May 2012 06:30 PM PDT

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          I see this armor as being able to stop a dragon's breath without a problem.
          A game company's CEO should always promote the company's games and be enthusiastic. There is such a thing as too much enthusiasm, however. Case in point: StarVault CEO Henrik Nystrom's comments during an IRC chat with fans. The chat was meant to cover the game's next major update, Awakening, but it included fan questions for future updates as well. It also included Nystrom telling a fan that he sees Mortal Online having roughly as many players as EVE Online in five years.

          By way of elaboration, EVE Online currently has roughly 450,000 players. Mortal Online's subscription numbers have never been revealed, but estimates place it under 10,000 players.

          An impossible goal? Definitely not, but certainly one that might be a bit overly ambitious. Fans of the game can still take a look at the chat for other interesting tidbits, however, including plans to add drugs and improve the new player experience in the future.

          [Thanks to Sandboxer for the tip!]

          MassivelyMortal Online's CEO has high hopes for the game's subscriptions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          38 Studios appears to be getting no new help

          Posted: 23 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          Metaphor.
          The bad news continues to accumulate for Rhode Island developer 38 Studios. According to Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, the company has received a grand total of no outside investment. It also has not received any of the tax credits that it requested, leaving the studio still deep in the hole. Chafee has stated that he is doing everything in his power to prevent the studio's closure.

          Staff members are also leaving the company at an alarming rate, with CEO Jen MacLean and senior VP of product development John Blakely both confirming their departures from the company. The hiring of both individuals was trumpeted as a mark of success as recently as March of this year, and Blakely was still employed by 38 Studios as recently as Monday evening. There's even talk of the company's health insurance running out. None of this news suggests that Curt Schilling's company will make a quick turnaround -- if indeed it makes a turnaround at all.

          Massively38 Studios appears to be getting no new help originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          WildStar Wednesday shows off Eldan technology

          Posted: 23 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT

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          This has a name!  I call her Vera!
          Players might be exploring the world of Nexus in WildStar, but it's not their world. It belonged to the Eldan, and while the race itself might not be present, its technology is still everywhere. The newest installment of WildStar Wednesday takes a look at some of the automated robots left behind by the Eldan. They're not directly malicious, but they're also not particularly friendly, pursuing ancient objectives and antiquated functions with single-minded devotion.

          While Probes are primarily meant for gathering information and surveillance, the floating eyes are equipped with shielding and directed-energy weapons to keep themselves safe. Protectors have a more direct combat function; the lumbering humanoid robots found gathered around important scientific sites. Last but not least, the Augmentors are rare but potent machines capable of injecting nanomachines into a subject to start a process of mechanical integration known as augmentation. Take a look at all of the machines on this week's installment of the preview column -- even if you don't necessarily want to blow these gadgets up, they don't have any such compunctions about you.

          MassivelyWildStar Wednesday shows off Eldan technology originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Discussing the design of quests in The Elder Scrolls Online

          Posted: 23 May 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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          Instead of wiping out these skeletons and the dread necromancer animating them, let's go back to the village and wipe out the villagers.  Less complaining.
          The Elder Scrolls Online has certain player expectations going in, such as an expectation of the sort of quest structure you usually find in the series. More specifically, it's the sort of structure in which you start off on some simple quest and wind up wandering off into some completely unrelated point of interest. A recent interview with creative director Paul Sage and lead content designer Rich Lambert reveals that the team is aiming for just that sort of model in the game.

          As Lambert explains, the team wants to move away from the usual hub design in favor of several points of interest, each of which provides a little snippet of content and story. The points aren't meant to be structured as an A-to-B affair; instead, you have several points of interest in a given region which build into a large overarching story. Take a look at the full interview for more information about how quests will work in the game and how players will be guided through objectives as they play.

          MassivelyDiscussing the design of quests in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Old Republic interview on patch 1.3 covers LFG, perks, and gear

          Posted: 23 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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          SWTOR
          Star Wars: The Old Republic is gonna get some mighty fine updates with the onset of patch 1.3. Game Designer Daniel Erickson had a chat with PC Gamer to shed some light on the changes in the upcoming patch.

          Players in SWTOR don't like standing still. As Erickson says: "You can craft on the move, run [war zones] from anywhere, and basically never slow down -- except when looking for a group." To put an end to that difficulty, 1.3 will include a LFG interface that players can use to find a pick-up group to run with (except for Hard Mode Operations, which aren't really designed for uncoordinated PUGs). The tool won't work cross-server, but that's because the dev team is looking to move to servers with a much, much higher population cap in the near future.

          The patch will add new perks to the legacy system, most of which are aimed at customizing the way players level their alts. With a high enough legacy and enough credits, players could use XP perks to skip side quests altogether, although Erickson points out that that there are perks for Bonus Series quests that may tempt players to visit planets they've previously left alone.

          The last bundle of tidings of great joy for the patch is directed at gear. There's a fine balance between freedom of dress and the importance of visual distinction, and SWTOR aims to find it by allowing "social gear" to be worn anywhere. Additionally, "almost every single item in the game" will get customization options thanks to augment slots. Players can use augment slots on gear to add, well, augments, which will allow them to further customize their character and playstyle.

          MassivelyThe Old Republic interview on patch 1.3 covers LFG, perks, and gear originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power

          Posted: 23 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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          A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
          City of Heroes is a rarity. It's a well-established game that hasn't yet raised the level cap even once. Oh, sure, the Incarnate system is cheating a couple of extra level-like improvements out, but you hit the cap at 50 now just like you did when the game first launched. Compared to World of Warcraft, which ups its top level biannually, the game provides a real sense of security that the cap hasn't changed. Level 50 content is still relevant because the top end of power has remained stable.

          Of course, there's a downside to that as well. While having a forever-rising level cap has its own issues, a firm cap has left us with an endgame that's grown bloated as only games with entrenched caps can. We're not constantly having to relearn the entire endgame so much as we're getting new widgets added on, and we're finding ourselves stuck with a growing problem of old-fashioned power creep.

          Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power

          MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP

            Posted: 23 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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            rift conquest
            RIFT fans wracked their brains trying to decipher the cryptic message on the forums a few weeks ago, and it turned out they were right: RIFT is on the verge of seeing the arrival of three faction PvP, and the game took its first step toward that with a test session on PTS last week.

            If you missed it, take heart because this week's Enter at Your Own Rift gives a recap of the event and a beginning look at how Conquest plays out. Read on for handy primer on three-faction PvP in Telara!

            Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP

            MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world

              Posted: 23 May 2012 01:30 PM PDT

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              Guild Wars 2
              While it's easy to get caught up in the big picture side of the development process, we risk overlooking the smaller but crucial work that goes into gluing the game together. One of these tasks is the naming of the world and all that lies within it. Content Designer Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda wrote an ArenaNet blog post about the challenges and decisions that went with labeling everything under the sun in Guild Wars 2.

              Mitsoda said that the team has established a system for nailing down names. After coming up with the name, the team sends the moniker through a "sanity check" that makes sure it's not too hard to spell or say. The team also tries to weed out the more obscure or overt pop culture references, then passes along the names to the team's "loremasters," who check it against an internal wiki for consistency.

              She goes on to share a few anecdotes about the naming process, such as the evolution of Charr names, the difficulty of putting a label on an animal that has no Earth equivalent, and how the creepy rat-dog Murellow got its name. It's an interesting read into a different side of the development process that often goes unnoticed, so check it out!

              MassivelyArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Choose My Adventure: The last mile

              Posted: 23 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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              Choose My Adventure road trip
              You haven't steered me wrong. At least, not yet.

              I am pretty sure there is that nagging worry at the back of the Massively writers' minds when they give themselves over to the masses for Choose My Adventure. Sure, there is an element of mystery and excitement, but what if... just what if the majority manifests an evil streak and sends you careening over an embankment to your virtual doom? Or banishes you to tasks that would make you want to lobotomize yourself with your mouse -- things like run Death From Below repeatedly? Thankfully, you all spared me from such torture. And with this week's tour of the Mission Architect system in City of Heroes, you definitely steered me right -- this is my favorite aspect of the game yet!

              I am glad to say that my trust in you all has not been unfounded, and I will speak on your behalf to the others. The fact is, I have enjoyed our little road trip immensely and am sad it must come to an end. So let's take one last cruise through City of Heroes together before you drive off into the sunset with Eliot.

              Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The last mile

              MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The last mile originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Turbine hosts 300 job-seekers at Rhode Island hiring event

                Posted: 23 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                Lord of the Rings Online - landscape screenshot
                If you were vying for one of the 50 jobs Turbine put up for grabs at last night's job fair, well, get in line. The Providence Journal reports that 300-odd people showed up at the event, a turnout that the paper says was "higher than expected."

                How many of the 300 were 38 Studios refugees? That's hard to say since neither Turbine nor the job-seekers who came down wearing 38-branded jackets and sweatshirts would offer a comment. Turbine's Adam Mersky said the timing and the location of the meet-and-greet was no accident, as Turbine set up shop in a hotel mere blocks away from 38 Studios headquarters. "It's no coincidence that we're down here looking for talent," Mersky told the Journal.

                MassivelyTurbine hosts 300 job-seekers at Rhode Island hiring event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Diablo III vs. Torchlight II: Battle of the dungeon-crawlers

                Posted: 23 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT

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                ROUND ONE: FIGHT!
                We know you're all still enthralled by Blizzard's latest blockbuster, Diablo III, but it's important to remember that it's not the only major dungeon-crawler hitting the market this year. Runic Games' Torchlight II is also slated for release, and it's sure to offer plenty of dungeon-delving, loot-gathering goodness as well.

                But the real question is, how do the two games stack up against one another? The Ancient Gaming Noob has decided to pit the two titles against each other in a no-holds-barred Thunderdome deathmatch to see which game emerges victorious!

                On one hand, you have Diablo III's simplified method of character progression utilizing runes and a number of skill combinations, and on the other hand, there's Torchlight II's more traditional talent trees and attribute points. Atmosphere (bright and colorful vs. dark and dreary is a battle for the ages), story, and gameplay are all matters of contention between the two, and each category receives ample coverage, providing a detailed look at the similarities and contrasts between the titles. If you're unsure which dungeon-crawler you want to swear allegiance to, head on over and give the full piece a read for a bit of help in the decision-making process.

                MassivelyDiablo III vs. Torchlight II: Battle of the dungeon-crawlers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Why I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes

                Posted: 23 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                vanguard
                "How is Vanguard?"

                If there's one question that comes up time and time again, it's that one. It experienced a launch disaster, lack of content post 35+, bugs, duping, exploits, performance issues, and the sad "parking lot layoffs," yet Vanguard: Saga of Heroes always seems to generate buzz any time it comes up in conversation.

                There's a certain aura surrounding this game, and even though it languished with low subscription numbers for years, it always seems to attract attention when it's covered at Massively. There's something about Vanguard that kept me playing solidly well past launch and still pulls me back from time to time. With a free-to-play launch just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to explain why I play Vanguard.

                Continue reading Why I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes

                MassivelyWhy I Play: Vanguard, Saga of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Massive ARGO Online patch raises level cap, adds new dungeons and quests

                  Posted: 23 May 2012 10:30 AM PDT

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                  ARGO Online - floating steampunk dude with wings and a huge weapon
                  Remember ARGO Online, the free-to-play steampunk fantasy MMO that launched in early 2011? If not, now's as good a time as any to refresh your memory since the game is about to undergo the largest content update in its history.

                  First up is a max-level increase (to 55), followed by a new "expert" island called Naviruo, which is geared toward level 50-plus players. Here you'll find more than 400 new quests that continue the tale of conflict between the Floresslah and Nobilan factions. There are also seven new dungeons to satiate your PvE and PvP appetites, not to mention over 300 new types of monsters to make things a little more challenging.

                  As always, more info is available at the official ARGO website.

                  [Source: ProSiebenSat.1 Games press release]

                  MassivelyMassive ARGO Online patch raises level cap, adds new dungeons and quests originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    General gaming

                    General gaming


                    Musings from the Public Domain

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 03:47 PM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

                    Musings from the Public Domain

                    Cover Story: A view from a world where the "Mickey Mouse" copyright extension act never became law.

                    T

                    he spring release season is now fully upon us, and with it comes the usual trickle of new IPs and a torrent of sequels to comparatively recent franchises. The biggest deal of the season, however, has to be the absolute flood of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King games and films. A&E's blockbuster LotR miniseries is finally moving on to its conclusion, and It's pretty much impossible to visit a flash game portal without tripping over a Minas Tirith tower defense game. Meanwhile, Rockstar's open world take on Rebel Without a Cause has emerged as the definitive reimagining of the flick even against all the major studio remakes, to say nothing of the glut of halfassed student films. Finally, Edmund McMillan's deeply unsettling take on Lolita as a dungeon crawler played from the point of view of the title character is still looking for a bold enough publisher despite sweeping this year's IGF awards.

                    That's just a small sample of a motley assemblage of games that all have one thing in common: They're all based on properties that entered the public domain this year. The yearly rollout of old properties, both celebrated and obscure, has long since become something we've taken for granted. We even make a point of taking a annual look at what will be emerging from the copyright cage once we're done breaking all our new year's resolutions, and we barely bat an eye when we're treated to a glut of weird furry Lady and the Tramp dating sims. Geeks around the world are already anticipating next year's Superman revival, or dreading his inevitable crossover appearance in every other comic in existence. It's so much a part of the culture at this point that it's easy to overlook the fact that it can all be traced back to a single momentous decision.

                    We certainly wouldn't be seeing so many films and TV shows based on Sherlock Holmes if the character were still the IP of a single publisher, and we sure as hell wouldn't be seeing him fight Dracula quite so often.

                    The Nintendo Play Station: A Retrospective

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 02:52 PM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

                    The Nintendo Play Station: A Retrospective

                    Cover Story: As Nintendo and Sony prepare to announce the Play Station 4 at E3, we remember the console that set the stage for modern gaming.

                    A

                    s we gear up for E3 2012, the biggest announcement expected to come out of the L.A. Convention Center this year is the latest generation of gaming's console goliath, the Play Station 4. Based on early reports from trusted third-party developers and info leaks from Chinese parts suppliers, the PS4 seems a given -- and with its arrival, the continued dominance of the games industry by joint Sony/Nintendo venture Taido should be a lock as well.

                    With the PS4 right around the corner, now is as good a time as any to look back at the history of the Play Station family and how two Japanese giants teamed up to put an entire medium in a 20-year hammerlock.

                    Diablo III Sales Bode Well for PC Games, Poorly for Always-Online Haters

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 02:31 PM PDT

                    Diablo III

                    Diablo III was expected to do well, but with so many factors to take into account -- competition from Torchlight II, an always-online requirement, and complaints about a supposedly dumbed-down skill system and colorful art style -- it was hard to say for sure exactly how well it would do. It turns out it did tremendously well; Blizzard has announced the long-awaited sequel has already broken sales records, something the folks over at Activision are pretty accustomed to thanks to Call of Duty. However, Diablo's success may have more far-reaching effects than simply ensuring Blizzard and company are flush with cash.

                    More than 3.5 million copies of the game were sold in its first 24 hours of availability, according to Blizzard. This figure does not include the freebie digital versions handed out to those who signed up for the World of Warcraft Annual Pass. Over 1.2 million people took advantage of that offer, bringing the total number of gamers with a copy of the game on launch day up to 4.7 million, good enough to make it the "biggest PC game launch in history." After the first week, that figure now sits at 6.3 million.

                    What If Shigeru Miyamoto Had Become a Manga Artist?

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 08:29 AM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

                    What If Shigeru Miyamoto Had Become a Manga Artist?

                    Cover Story: A timeline from an alternative universe where gaming lacks input from one of its most prolific creators.

                    I

                    t's kind of a fascinating story really. Shigeru Miyamoto, maybe the most influential designer ever, had little interest in videogames until the late 1970s, when he played Space Invaders. Up until that point, he had wanted to be a manga artist. Well, what if he had followed his original dream and done just that? What would have happened to Nintendo? Or videogames in general? Here's one possible timeline.

                    1979 -- Miyamoto the Manga Artist: Shigeru Miyamoto graduates from the Kanazawa Munici College of Industrial Arts and Crafts. Because Miyamoto's father is a friend of Hiroshi Yamauchi, he soon receives an offer to work for Nintendo. But Miyamoto is something of a free spirit, and he has little interest in videogames. He decides instead to pursue a career as as manga artist.

                    Miyamoto Spot Art

                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    Star Trek Online: Season 6 & Player Starbases

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 01:47 PM PDT

                    Season 6 & Player Starbases

                    The Star Trek Online blog has been updated with new information about Season 6 and the inclusion of player starbases in the game. The article starts with the standard "mushroom" look of starbases in existing lore and then extrapolates into different types that the team envisions.

                    Guild Wars 2: What's in a Name?

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 12:56 PM PDT

                    What

                    The Arena.Net blog has been updated with a new post by Content Designer Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda. In the new post, she goes into detail about how the team comes up with names for, well, everything in Tyria. It's a great behind-the-scenes look at how lore is created for Guild Wars 2.

                    EVE Online: Inferno Launch Interview

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 10:09 AM PDT

                    Inferno Launch Interview

                    Inferno, the latest in a long string of expansions to EVE Online launched earlier this week. We managed to catch up with CCP's Lead Game Designer Kristoffer Touborg and Senior Producer Jonathan Lander to talk all about Inferno and what it brings to EVE. Read on!

                    Star Supremacy: Now with Aeria Games

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 09:11 AM PDT

                    Now with Aeria Games

                    Aeria Games and Barbily Games have announced that Star Supremacy, an MMORTS, has joined the Aeria stable of free to play MMOs.

                    World of Tanks: New Game Modes, Maps and Combat Vehicles

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 09:05 AM PDT

                    New Game Modes, Maps and Combat Vehicles

                    Wargaming.net has announced details for the next game update to World of Tanks patch. The French tech tree is expected to be overhauled, Encounter Battle and Assault modes will be added and two new maps will arrive in game when the patch goes live.

                    General: World of Mercenaries: MMOFPS Launches Closed Beta

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 08:59 AM PDT

                    World of Mercenaries: MMOFPS Launches Closed Beta

                    City Interactive has announced that its MMOFPS, World of Mercenaries, is now ready for closed beta testing. Interested players are encouraged to head to the official site to sign up.

                    Ultima Online: Wayback Wednesday with UO Devs

                    Posted: 23 May 2012 07:01 AM PDT

                    Wayback Wednesday with UO Devs

                    In this edition of Wayback Wednesday, we jump into the game for some quality time with Ultima Online developers Bonnie "Mesanna" Armstrong, Mike "Phoenix" Moore, Michael "Misk" Armstrong, Stephen "Bleak" Brown, Greg "Kyronix" Havlusch, and Kai Schober. The group had a rollicking good time so check out WayBack Wednesday with Ultima Online Devs.

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