| Hands-on with Marvel Heroes Posted: 10 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Events, real-world, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, Marvel Heroes, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage Earlier this week, Gazillion Entertainment invited the press to participate in a hands-on demo of its upcoming MMO, Marvel Heroes. Massively sent freelancer Emil Vazquez to try the game out and tell us what he thought. I went into the Marvel Heroes demo fully expecting the game to reflect the design influence of David Brevik, the esteemed co-founder of Blizzard North (of Diablo and Diablo II fame) and now Gazillion's president. In that, I wasn't disappointed. Though the game proudly touts a stable of MMO buzzwords -- grouping, instances, shared worlds -- it's easy to see Marvel Heroes as a sort of spiritual successor to Diablo, and Brevik's influence shines through. It might be massively multiplayer, but it's a loot-based brawler at heart. And it's going to be free-to-play. Continue reading Hands-on with Marvel Heroes  Hands-on with Marvel Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| League of Legends store offers new skins and limited-time champion bundle Posted: 10 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Patches, News items, Free-to-play, MOBA, League of Legends Yesterday, Not So Massively shared details about the new champion coming to League of Legends in its next patch -- Jayce, The Defender of Tomorrow. Through Tuesday, players can purchase the Full Metal Jayce bundle, which includes both the champion and his armor, for a discounted price of 1462 RP. Those interested need to act fast as this deal will be unavailable after the patch. Although the Jayce bundle expires, LoL is also offering new skins for two other champions without a time limit; Panda Teemo and Augmented Singe both get new outfits that can be purchased from the store. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!] League of Legends store offers new skins and limited-time champion bundle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SWTOR announces new free trial and referral reward Posted: 10 Jul 2012 08:45 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic If you have friends who want to try out Star Wars: The Old Republic, now is the time; Bioware just announced a permanent free trial that will allow new players to experience every aspect of the game up to level 15, including all eight classes, the PvP warzones, and the flashpoints. Previous trial participants are eligible to give the game another go and current players will be rewarded for referring friends to the new trial with a Kurtob Alliance speeder in-game. To be eligible for the reward, players must refer friends through the official form and at least one friend must purchase the game and activate a recurring sub. Players who have already met the requirements will be granted the reward retroactively. For a full list of requirements, check the official announcement. SWTOR announces new free trial and referral reward originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Flameseeker Chronicles: Bigger on the inside Posted: 10 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Lore, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles I think that storytelling is where we see one of the most significant changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2. It isn't that the original story sucked, necessarily; it's just that it was woefully single-dimensional and unchanging. Each Guild Wars campaign has slightly different starting quests for each profession, but you're eventually caught up by the current, and everyone goes whooshing along to the culmination. Factions spiced things up a little by allowing you to choose whether you wanted to befriend the Kurzicks or Luxons first (although there wasn't really any permanence to that choice, as you could still effectively follow both routes -- and had to, eventually, if you wanted to unlock the associated Protector and Guardian titles). Nightfall got a little more daring by making you choose between companions and ultimately story paths. Even better, you had to finish the campaign before you could undo the illusion of permanence. Guild Wars 2 is way beyond that. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Bigger on the inside Flameseeker Chronicles: Bigger on the inside originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR Posted: 10 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon Players have complained about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Legacy system's being a huge money sink. Why would I want to blow 275,000 credits to gain 30% extra XP? I'm not sure that the return is worth the investment unless you want to level multiple alts or level strictly through PvP, but I can understand BioWare's thinking regarding this sink. True, at the guild summit, we were told that the vast majority of level 50s have less than 500,000 credits in the bank, but I think you will agree that the money sink is needed when you see just how quickly money can be earned in SWTOR. I've been asked multiple times by other players, "What is the fastest way to make money?" Well, just as in any other MMO, there isn't any way to make money superfast from zero. But doing daily quests can certainly help you out with most money struggles. What if I told you that you can make nearly 200,000 credits in less than two hours? That 30% PvP XP increase doesn't seem so far away now, does it? Because any amount of credits can be instantly sent to any of your alts on the same server (including ones of the opposite faction), you can make this fast money on your level 50 and ship it quickly to the alt you wish to power level. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Are you a theory-crafter? Posted: 10 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, The Secret World God bless MMO theory-crafters. They've saved me so much time and irritation over the years that I can't possibly overstate my gratitude. Did you know there are guys (and gals) out there who literally log into MMO test servers and spend precious hours poking at combos, abilities, builds, and strategies? Did you know that they typically chart their results, publish spreadsheets, and then write exhaustive guides about how to get the most from your game/class of choice? Prior to a couple of weeks ago, this mindset was utterly alien to me, and the work itself sounded quite like the statistics classes I slept through in school. With the release of The Secret World, though, I find myself actually doing these things. Funcom's skill- and ability-point systems are incredibly dense, and figuring out build synergies adds another layer of satisfaction onto the game. What about you, morning folk? Do you just look up builds and strategies in your MMO of choice, or are you a theory-crafter?  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: Are you a theory-crafter? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Anarchy Online gearing up for more major updates in July Posted: 10 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Anarchy Online, Patches, News items, Free-to-play Anarchy Online is still going strong several years after release, due in no small part to several rolling upgrades from the development team. The latest monthly developer update makes it clear that the team is nearly done with another major update -- after spending April through June getting the existing game to work with a new game engine, the task of getting art assets lined up and working is underway for July. But it's more than just a new engine on the way. The developers are actively looking at making the new player experience more engaging and accessible, as well as looking to roll out further improvements to the game's market system. The procedure for server migration of organization-run cities is also covered, with some vague statements about the land previously reserved for non-instanced cities. If you're a stalwart player of Anarchy Online, there's plenty of interest within the latest update, even if it's not quite on deck just yet. Anarchy Online gearing up for more major updates in July originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Not So Massively: LoL's Jayce patch and D3's endgame woes Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Patches, PvP, Endgame, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, Dungeons, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III Blizzard admitted that Diablo III lacks a long-term endgame this week and explored five options to nerf players who swap to magic find gear before the final blow on an elite or boss. Upcoming free-to-play action RPG Path of Exile explored its own plans for a long-term endgame in a new video looking into its map system. Blacklight: Retribution also officially released on Steam this week, giving players a free Portal weapon tag in-game. League of Legends released details of the balance patch that accompanies new hybrid melee and ranged champion Jayce this week. The patch will nerf global ultimates and is set to bring some big gameplay changes for Orianna, Nunu, and LeBlanc. Dota 2 released classic heroes Dsruptor and Undying this week as competitive tournament The Defense gets underway. Heroes of Newerth launched its massive Game HoN contest this week, giving away hundreds of dollars' worth of alt avatars to anyone who plays 25 matches before this coming Friday. Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL's Jayce patch and D3's endgame woes Not So Massively: LoL's Jayce patch and D3's endgame woes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| New MechWarrior Online Q&A focuses on weapons and environments Posted: 09 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Community Q&A, MechWarrior Online Piranha Games has answered another round of community questions about MechWarrior Online, and as with previous answer sessions, the new information focuses on some of the fine details of the game's design. Perhaps the most saddening one is the confirmation that 'Mechs will react to destruction simply by collapsing or possibly suffering several small internal explosions rather than the enormous fireballs of death seen in some of the other games in the franchise. There is, however, confirmation that some of the structural aspects of your 'Mech will come into play during battles. 'Mechs with higher-mounted weapons will be able to shoot over certain environmental obstacles that others cannot, while those with higher viewports will be able to see more easily through larger environments. This may come into particular relevance in urban environments, a long-time staple of the MechWarrior franchise -- and it's confirmed that there will be appropriately huge and sprawling cities. Take a look at the full answers for more details as well as some clarifications on the workings of pulse lasers. New MechWarrior Online Q&A focuses on weapons and environments originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Raiderz mixes and matches classes to find the perfect fit for you Posted: 09 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Classes, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries If you're an overachiever who loves to plan your future character's career months in advance, then today's the day to get out your graph paper and get to work on your Raiderz adventurer. Perfect World has released its second dev diary about the action MMO, this one focused on the character creation and development process. Players begin their time in Raiderz by choosing one of four basic archetypes: Defender, Berserker, Sorcerer, or Cleric. These roles translate into tank, melee DPS, ranged DPS, and healer, respectively. If that sounds a little... stale, just wait. In Raiderz, you eventually can create a hybrid that utilizes skills from two of the archetypes. This can result in a tank who casts spells, or a ranged fighter who also melees from time to time. You can watch the full dev diary after the jump! Continue reading Raiderz mixes and matches classes to find the perfect fit for you Raiderz mixes and matches classes to find the perfect fit for you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Captain's Log: Tholians come to STO and Cryptic's cryptic answers Posted: 09 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log Well, it's about time. Ask most Trekkies who their favorite franchise bad guys are and most will respond with answers like the Romulans, the Borg, or maybe even Q or the Klingons. Rarely will someone respond with the Tholians, but I will. They have been my favorite Star Trek nemeses since I read the official Star Trek novels set in the Original Series era called Vanguard. Written by veteran Star Trek novelists David Mack, Dayton Ward, Kevin Dilmore, and Marco Palmieri, the seven-book series revolves around a secret lab set on a starbase built in the far-flung reaches of space just as Kirk and gang begin their heralded five-year mission. The Tholians play important roles in the books, and I've been salivating at the thought of having them in Star Trek Online ever since I heard they were being worked on. And now they're here! Join me after the jump to learn more about what you can expect from an encounter with these very toasty arachnids. Continue reading Captain's Log: Tholians come to STO and Cryptic's cryptic answers Captain's Log: Tholians come to STO and Cryptic's cryptic answers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Wings Over Atreia: BlackCloud Marketing 101 -- freebies! Posted: 09 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Wings Over Atreia Footsteps echo off the cobblestones paving the marketplace streets. The sunlight streams through the merchant stalls, and the wind tugs at the awnings as trinkets and baubles spill out of baskets on every counter. One merchant eyes a possible patron drawing near.
"Oh, have I got a deal for you. Special for you, only for you! Come see, come see! Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack." But the Daeva continues to pass by. Thinking quickly, the furry shopkeeper calls out, "FREE!" You stopped, didn't you? OK, so maybe this is not what shopping is like really in Aion's BlackCloud Marketplace (though it is fun to envision), but the principle is the same. Marketing 101 teaches that above all else in the world, be it Earth or Atreia, one simple word hooks people and reels them in like a first-rate fishing lure: free. Don't believe me? Well, you clicked on this story, didn't you? And if you want to see what free cash shop items you can get your hands on in Aion, you'll also click past the break! Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: BlackCloud Marketing 101 -- freebies! Wings Over Atreia: BlackCloud Marketing 101 -- freebies! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Project Copernicus announcement trailer released [Updated] Posted: 09 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT |
| Valve adds Nexon's Atlantica and Combat Arms to Steam Posted: 09 Jul 2012 12:30 PM PDT |
| Leaderboard: Open world vs. instanced PvP Posted: 09 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Polls, PvP, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard In the great coliseum where PvP warriors go to clash metal and drench the sand with blood, there are two doors. One leads to a place where open world PvP is embraced; the other leads to instanced PvP. Each warrior must make his or her choice which door to step through, and once that decision is made, there is no going back. Except there totally is. Open world PvP has the allure of PvP happening anytime, anywhere. Theoretically, players can vie for control of towns and regions, amassing in large armies to sweep the land of unclean filth. Or they can just zerg a spot and be zerged in return. Instanced PvP is attractive for its tightly controlled setting. The teams are usually evenly matched in numbers, and clear objectives for winning are given. So out of the two flavors of MMO PvP, which is the superior one? Vote after the jump and then back up your decision in the comments! Continue reading Leaderboard: Open world vs. instanced PvP Leaderboard: Open world vs. instanced PvP originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Supremacy holds storyline contest Posted: 09 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT |
Just in case you haven't gotten the memo yet: HDD prices haven't returned to pre-flood levels, and don't expect them to anytime soon. Don't take our word for it; that information's coming straight from the horse's mouth, as a European sales director for Western Digital -- one of the two big HDD manufacturers -- recently said that prices won't drop that low until next year.
The e-sky is falling! The e-sky is falling! At least, you'd think so with all the hype the DNSChanger Trojan received in the days leading up to the FBI's disconnection of its servers. It was supposed to spell the end of the Internet for hundreds of thousands of innocent Web goers! Well, the feds flipped the switch yesterday; did the world end? Not so much.
Despite all the media interest (and in spite of all the OEM heartache) swirling around the Surface tablet, Microsoft doesn't expect the Windows 8 slate to give the iPad a serious run for its money, at least this year. 
Nexon
