MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News


A look at Guild Wars 2 minipets

Posted:

A look at Guild Wars 2 minipets


Hey everyone, minis, also called minipets, are vanity pets in Guild Wars 2. They cannot fight or provide any combat advantages but they can follow you around and look cute! There are roughly about 100 minis in GW2 so far in the open beta and you can expect more to come when the game is released. Minis are modeled on some of the enemies you might have encountered, certain NPCs, and some famous characters in the GW2 universe. Currently there are two ways to obtain minipets – you can buy a pack of 3 random minis for 300 gems in the gem store or purchase individual minis on the trading post (they go as low as 1 silver to high as 3 gold in the beta weekends, 10-20 silvers are common prices).

Blade & Soul Shows Powerful Character Creation System

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Blade & Soul Shows Powerful Character Creation System


Blade & Soul will start open beta in Korea on June 21 and players are able to create their characters ahead of the launch of OBT.

SWTOR 'Absolutely Going to Embrace Free-to-play Model', EA Boss Said

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SWTOR 'Absolutely Going to Embrace Free-to-play Model', EA Boss Said


When BioWare's first MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic launched, it has taken a place in the fiercely competitive game market, quickly gaining a million subscribers and then hitting a peak of 1.7 million players. But more recently, SWTOR keeps losing players with the subscription number staying at 1.3 million. Electronic Arts boss Frank Gibeau recently discussed the strategy around Star Wars with GamesIndustry International.

Diablo 3 could have Become an MMO, a "Diablo Version of World of Warcraft"

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Diablo 3 could have Become an MMO, a "Diablo Version of World of Warcraft"


Blizzard's Diablo series could have walked on the same path, as Runic Games' CEO Max Schaefer told that Diablo 3 was originally an MMO.

Dark Vale Announced PvP-centric MMO FORGE

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Dark Vale Announced PvP-centric MMO FORGE


Independent developer Dark Vale Games has announced FORGE, a new PvP-centric title blends FPS action with MMO strategy. FORGE is powered by Epic Games' award-winning Unreal Engine 3 and is expected to release for personal computer later this year.

RIFT 1.9 InProgress Notes No.3

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RIFT 1.9 InProgress Notes No.3


Reworked the Conquest pane on the PvP window. You now select your faction on this pane and enter Conquest. Selecting your faction will lock you to it for the duration of the current Conquest match.

Arctic Combat Calling for Additional Recruitments

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Arctic Combat Calling for Additional Recruitments


From June 18th (PDT), the additional beta key giveaway event will start for 'Task Force 613'. These beta keys will be distributed from 5 partner media sites that can be found on the official Arctic Combat Facebook page.



General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Rumor: Microsoft Announcing a Self-Branded Tablet on Monday

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 10:31 AM PDT

EventMicrosoft has announced that at 3:30PM pacific time on Monday the company will unveil something "you will not want to miss". The message is intentionally vague, and is written in the tricky and annoying language of "marketing". Thankfully we live in the digital age, and anonymous sources have confirmed Microsoft will allegedly unveil a line-up self-branded tablets to a captive audience in LA. Naturally Microsoft has denied to comment on these rumors, however both All Things D and The Warp claim to have independently verified the reports. 

The source tracked down by All Things D admits "that Microsoft concluded that it needs its own tablet, with the company designing both the hardware and software in an effort to better compete against Apple's strengths." The author went on to claim that both ARM and x86 based machines will likely be shown, though it is not clear if reporters will get hands on time with the new devices. Wired has also speculated that the new hardware might be manufactured by Nokia, and could closely parallel the way Google handles its Nexus line. 

If Microsoft does enter the tablet wars directly, it could be as risky a gamble as Windows 8. Apple has been making some modest gains against the PC in recent years, but for all intents and purposes that war is over; Windows has won. Tablets on the other hand are a completely different matter. If Microsoft fails to capture market share quickly, the self-branded hardware could end up harming their reputation with consumers even more.      

Leaked Documents Show Microsoft Considered Buying OnLive

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 09:48 AM PDT

OnLiveAs PC enthusiasts you have every right to be skeptical of OnLive as a service, but let's just say we are impressed beyond belief that it works at all. Nothing will ever beat the experience you get with a tricked out PC, however anyone who has fired up Crysis on a netbook and actually given the service a fair shake knows they've managed the impossible. It would seem Microsoft agrees, and actually considering buying the service before it got too dangerous

A 56-page document that allegedly leaked by Microsoft has given some insight into what the next generation of console hardware might look like, but also detailed a list of "threats". The document warned management that OnLive could "up-end the console gaming market by making expensive consoles and PCs unnecessary for AAA gaming." They went on to theorize that partnerships with ISP's could even allow for subsidized or even free hardware with a subscription. Because of this the author labeled them as a "potential acquisition target".

Considering the fact that the documents are now almost two years old, it's safe to say Microsoft decided against it. It's always fun however to sit around and wonder how close they came to pulling the trigger, and what if anything they would have done with the service. Maybe Microsoft even considered upgrading the Xbox 360 with the technology, allowing them to offer improved graphics and visuals without a hardware refresh. Crazy I know, but let us know your theories in the comments below. 

UPDATE: The documents on Scribd have been removed at the request of Covington & Burling LLP.

Dell XPS 14 & XPS 15 Photos and Specifications Leaked

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 09:14 AM PDT

ThumbThe Dell XPS line has always done a decent job of offering above average mobile performance for a fair price, however the current generation is growing a bit long in the tooth. Dell fans on the hunt for a new 14" or 15" notebook haven't had many options, but a set of leaked photos and specifications have emerged for the XPS 14 and XPS 15.

As you no doubt managed to guess the model refresh brings with it a new set of Ivy Bridge options, along with a hybrid 500GB HDD paired with a 32GB SSD, 8GB of Ram, and an Nvidia GT 630M GPU with 1GB of memory.

The display options will range from 1600x900 on the XPS 14, to full 1080p on the 15. Engadget reports that both screens will feature Cornings Gorilla Glass, however the 1080p panel on the XPS 15 looks slightly sharper.

Both models will offer USB 3, along with DisplayPort & HDMI, and are expected to hit the street sometime before the end of June.

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Rise and Shiny: Illarion

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Illarion screenshot
If your plan in life is partially to cover indie MMOs, a niche within a niche, you're bound to come up with some odd games once in a while. You're also bound to come up with boring, bland, bad, horrible, incomplete, waste-of-time, hideous, and of course, amazing games. I went back to my recently thrown-out roots and grabbed a game at random for this week's column: Illarion. Did I find a bad game or an incomplete game? A bit of both, but the game and its creators deserve an explanation.

Making MMOs is hard. We all know this, or at least we should. If you don't, and if you are one of those players who get upset every time their favorite free-to-play title asks them to spend five dollars (usually every six months or so), then you really need to understand that making MMOs is hard.

I understand this, but I still have to cover games honestly. So let me first say that what I found in Illarion was honestly confusing.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Illarion

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Illarion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Previously on MV TV: The week of June 9th

    Posted: 17 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    MVTV logo
    Last week was yet another fun week in Massively's livestreaming history. We try to offer a variety of games for viewers to enjoy, but of course, your suggestions always come in handy. If you know of a game or area or activity within a game that you would love to see explained or streamed, send us a note on our tip line. Also, be sure to bookmark our MVTV guide so you will always be the cool kid on the block who knows what's coming up next!

    This week we had Mike with some World of Tanks and EVE Online, the infamous Psykopig playing a bit of Star Wars: The Old Republic, MJ streaming some Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II and Aion, and my wrap-up with some horrible PvPing in Luvinia Online.

    Remember, let us know if you are dying to see a game streamed live. In the meanwhile, click past the cut and enjoy!

    Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of June 9th

    MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of June 9th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: How do you prefer to get your money in-game?

      Posted: 17 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      Dancing for credits is generally not on anyone's list of preferred options.
      No matter what game you're playing, you need money. Luckily, pretty much every game on the market also has multiple options to earn that money. There are things to beat up and quests to be done, but usually there are other options beyond that. Playing the auction house in World of Warcraft, running teleportation services in Final Fantasy XI, or any number of business ventures in EVE Online allow you to make your money however you see fit.

      Some players find that manipulating auction house prices and playing a virtual stockbroker is the most fun path to riches. Others prefer to just make their money through quests, and if they wind up a bit poorer for it, so be it.

      So how do you like to make money when you're playing a game? Is it more on the intricate market manipulation side of things, or is it a fairly straightforward practice of just clearing content?

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

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you prefer to get your money in-game? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker

        Posted: 16 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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        The Tattered Notebook A look at the Level Agnostic Dungeon Maker
        This past week, EverQuest II fans heard even more details about the upcoming summer update. The big news, of course, is the Qeynos revamp, but another nice addition will be the ability to play as ourselves in player-made dungeons. The announcement by EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale discussed the new level-agnostic system, and players were treated to a surprise as it hit the test server a few days ago.

        In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at how the new system works and how it could even affect other areas of the game.

        Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker

        MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Mog Log: Worthwhile cross-class skills in FFXIV

          Posted: 16 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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          The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
          One of the downsides to writing about a game as in-flux as Final Fantasy XIV is that something that's true today may be false tomorrow. Case in point: Several articles that I did a year or so ago about character building and picking out abilities are now entirely irrelevant because the systems for both have changed immensely. So it's high time to start revisiting these topics, and the best way to start doing that is by examining the abilities that are worth leveling for. (Especially since the excellent Mr. Matt Daniel is playing the game again and could use a bit of a guide.)

          Fortunately, leveling another class for abilities is easier now than it used to be. Most abilities past the early 20s can't be equipped on other classes in the first place, and the very heavy utility skills are generally grouped early. Depending on your playstyle, you may actually find yourself struggling to come up with all of the cross abilities that you can equip, since your core class will generally have a large enough array of utility. But let's look at what abilities are generally useful for almost every class -- or at least useful to consider.

          Continue reading The Mog Log: Worthwhile cross-class skills in FFXIV

          MassivelyThe Mog Log: Worthwhile cross-class skills in FFXIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Champions Online has a new Executive Producer and a new State of the Game

            Posted: 16 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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            Technically, I think that wearing a suit of chainmail with a 9-volt battery attached is powered armor.
            Changes in administration for any game can leave players a bit rattled -- and with a game like Champions Online that's already seen several management changes, it's even more disconcerting. That's only one of the big takeaways from the game's newest State of the Game address, which opens up with Rob Overmeyer outlining the game's recent updates and announcing that he's stepping down from his current role as executive producer (although he's remaining with the game's development staff).

            Brad Stokan, the new executive producer, has enough in his portion of the letter that you might forget about the first half. He explains that the team is working on building new content updates around overall themes, with June's major theme -- in both story content and mechanical inclusions -- being powered armor. This is going to continue with new Alerts and special events based around themes. He also teases that we may very well see superheroic vehicles in the game in the near future, giving players of Champions Online plenty to look forward to under new administration.

            MassivelyChampions Online has a new Executive Producer and a new State of the Game originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Star Wars: The Old Republic explains mechanical questions in a new Q&A

            Posted: 16 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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            So in summary, no, you can't just get all of your threat by ignoring your special abilities.
            The latest community question-and-answer session for Star Wars: The Old Republic doesn't answer any questions you may have about the server change kerfluffle. It does, however, answer a large variety of questions about mechanical changes and upcoming improvements to the game. If you're wondering about acquiring your very own HK droid, for instance, you should know that the designers are currently thinking it's going to involve a galaxy-wide quest, a level-50 character on one faction, a mid-level character on the other faction, and some different approaches to the game as a whole.

            Most of the other answers are somewhat less far-reaching, such as the rationale behind limiting group finder flashpoints to instances within a player's level range to avoid abuse. Players wondering about the fact that you can't find certain sister stats on the same Enhancements (such as Critical Rating and Power) can also find an answer which breaks down how stats are grouped together and why obviously linked stats are kept separate. Players should take the time to examine the full list of answers, and add any new questions they may have to the official thread for next week.

            MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic explains mechanical questions in a new Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Road to Mordor: Fifteen great things about Riders of Rohan

            Posted: 16 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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            The Road to Mordor Fifteen great things about Riders of Rohan
            It's unfortunate that the discussion over Turbine's pricing of this fall's expansion has come to overshadow the expansion itself. I'm sure that defending the price point of the three Riders of Rohan editions wasn't what Turbine wanted to be doing instead of focusing on what this expansion will add to the game. Happily, it seems as though the studio has listened to us and addressed a couple of the biggest issues.

            So with that unpleasantness put aside, I am going to look at the brighter side of Rohan this week to share 15 pretty dang cool things that I've recently learned about Lord of the Rings Online's upcoming expansion. Why 15? Because I slammed my hand down on the keypad and that's what came up.

            Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Fifteen great things about Riders of Rohan

            MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Fifteen great things about Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Embers of Caerus' naval combat is 'almost a ship simulation'

              Posted: 16 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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              Embers of Caerus' naval combat is 'almost a ship simulation'
              Embers of Caerus' feature week continues, and the topic du jour is naval systems. Technical director Dave Belcher steps in front of the camera to talk about the indie sandbox MMO's ship implementation, which he describes as "almost a ship simulation."

              Other MMORPGs feature sailing ships, of course, but Embers of Caerus is aiming for something a bit more ambitious. "You're using the weather, your sails, and your control of the ship to gain best advantage from that weather," Belcher explains. "Weather is persistent throughout the game, and wind plays a huge role for ship captains and naval tacticians."

              In terms of the ships themselves, Belcher says that the dev team will implement everything from tiny rowboats to frigates and larger galleons. Have a look at the full video after the break, and don't forget about EoC's Kickstarter project, which wraps up in three days.

              [Thanks to Sam and Dave for the tip!]

              Continue reading Embers of Caerus' naval combat is 'almost a ship simulation'

              MassivelyEmbers of Caerus' naval combat is 'almost a ship simulation' originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMORPG News

              MMORPG News


              TERA: The Disgruntled Pony: TERA 7-Day Trial First Impressions

              Posted: 16 Jun 2012 01:25 PM PDT

              The Disgruntled Pony: TERA 7-Day Trial First Impressions

              DarkPony is back with a new entry to The Disgruntled Pony blog here at MMORPG.com. In his latest update, DarkPony offers his first impressions on TERA's 7-day free trial.

              MMOGaming News

              MMOGaming News


              WoW 5.0 Beta: New Pet Battle Skills

              Posted:

              WoW 5.0 Beta: New Pet Battle Skills


              The past few beta patches have added a few new pet abilities as well! Which one do you like best?

              WoW 5.0 Beta: PvP Gear Vendors

              Posted:

              WoW 5.0 Beta: PvP Gear Vendors


              If you are one of the lucky players in Beta, you can now purchase level 483 Gladiator's gear from the PvP vendors on top of the Gate of the Setting Sun! Enjoy the PvP!

              MMORPG Reviews

              MMORPG Reviews


              InnoGames has released new details about the 2.0 version of its frontier adventure browser game, The West

              Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:52 AM PDT

              InnoGames has released new details about the 2.0 version of its frontier adventure browser game, The West. The new update will introduce an overhauled job system to the game, featuring fundamentally reworked jobs and a new work duration system to foster a more active play style. The West 2.0 is expected to launch this summer. [...]

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