MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Neverwinter's open beta soft launches today

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Neverwinter concept art
Ever wonder what the heck an MMO soft launch actually is? Me too, which is funny because you'd think I'd know, working for an MMO site and whatnot. Soft launch implies that somewhere out in game land there's also a hard launch, which is a term that I've never heard once despite following the industry for decades now.

Is soft launch merely a marketing construct, or perhaps devspeak for a free-to-play MMO that operates in some sort of perpetual beta in spite of a working cash shop? Or is it simply a term that denotes the beginning of an open beta period that is free of character wipes, as is the case with today's Neverwinter pseudo-release? The definition is up to you, I suppose, and while you're mulling that one over, you can also click past the cut for a roundup of our best pre-soft-launch Neverwinter coverage.

Continue reading Neverwinter's open beta soft launches today

MassivelyNeverwinter's open beta soft launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    EQII's Scars of the Awakened highlights the story through art

    Posted: 30 Apr 2013 09:30 AM PDT

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    A devguided tour of EverQuest II's Scars of the Awakened
    With Scars of the Awakened going live today, EverQuest II fans are counting down the hours until their first trip into Cobalt Scar and its many adventures. And who can blame them? New content for crafters and adventurers alike is inbound. Along with the new Cobalt Scar overland zone, GU 66 also brings players a new dungeon filled with some brand-new creatures, a new tradeskill quest line along with hot-off-the-presses recipes, some class changes based directly on player feedback, and more.

    I got a sneak peek at what lies in store thanks to a tour guided by Holly Longdale, Producer, and Akil Hooper, Creative Director. From walks on the beach among the Ulthork to hordes of undead Othmir to a look at the second half of Sirens Grotto, this tour showed off how the art and the stories blend to create an immersive experience for players.

    Continue reading EQII's Scars of the Awakened highlights the story through art

    MassivelyEQII's Scars of the Awakened highlights the story through art originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Defiance contest lets you(r character) be on the show

      Posted: 30 Apr 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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      Defiance contest lets your character be on the show
      The crossover potential of the Defiance MMO and television series has only really been felt with a few main characters so far, but Trion Worlds wants to take that one step further by giving you a chance to be on the show.

      How does that work? Simply register yourself at the official contest page and head into the game to earn the most ark salvage per hour during the contest period from 12:00 a.m. PDT April 30 to 11:59 p.m May 12 in the Most Wanted: Competitor and Most Wanted: Rogue's Gallery in-game pursuits. Of course, this is your character's likeness that we're talking about here, but it won't just be a simple screenshot pushed in the background. Artists from the series will render the winning character into an upcoming episode of the show.

      [Source: Trion Worlds press release]

      MassivelyDefiance contest lets you(r character) be on the show originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Soapbox: My lore problem

        Posted: 30 Apr 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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        Guild Wars 2
        "In the distant forests of El'quen, a dark evil stirs. Marrowgore the Unhunter, imprisoned for a thousand years in Cauldron Lake by the Eye of Son'drak, has broken free. Now, he and his evil BoneSlurpers stage an all-out war on the United Provinces. You, a freshly christened hero known for valorous acts both on and off the battlefield, must take charge of the Sacred Axeblade of Loqtai, harness the power it contains, and send the Unhunter back to his watery prison.

        "But first, can you get me nine wolf pelts?"

        Continue reading The Soapbox: My lore problem

        MassivelyThe Soapbox: My lore problem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Flameseeker Chronicles: It's time for some retribution in Guild Wars 2

          Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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          Flameseeker Chronicles It's time for some retribution
          Another patch day is upon us. Among other things, Guild Wars 2's Flame and Frost: Retribution is bringing in a new living story dungeon and some much-needed structured PvP improvements. Over the weekend, members of the press were invited to preview some of the incoming content. I'd like to talk about it with you, so be warned that there are spoilers for the living story dungeon ahead.

          Something that I found particularly interesting about all of this is that the Molten Weapons Facilities dungeon is going to be available for less than two weeks. The dungeon is due to exit on May 12th. I had expected it to be time-limited, of course, but I think I was expecting a little more time than that. Anyway, let's dive right into it.

          Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: It's time for some retribution in Guild Wars 2

          MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: It's time for some retribution in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: What was the worst guild meltdown you've ever seen?

            Posted: 30 Apr 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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            For the record, if every guild you're involved with ends in a free-for-all PvP match, you might want to just stop joining guilds.
            Guilds break up. Just like bands, it's a sad reality. Sometimes they just slowly drift apart because some people are leaving The Secret World and other members are developing differing interests, so the guild shuts down with no animosity. Other times the shutdown is accompanied by an explosion of drama so profound that you'd swear you were undergoing multiple simultaneous divorces instead of just dissolving a gathering of EverQuest II players. There is GM intervention, there are angry phone calls, in extreme cases there may even be bricks thrown through windows.

            At the time, they're not fun to watch. But those horrible drama-filled guild demolitions do at least make for entertaining stories after the fact. So today we ask you: What was the worst guild meltdown you've ever seen? Were you involved in it or were you just an observer? In retrospect, was everyone blowing things out of proportion or blowing things far out of proportion?

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

            MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What was the worst guild meltdown you've ever seen? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World

              Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:00 PM PDT

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              Not So Massively title image
              Details of this year's $1,600,000 US Dota 2 world championship have been released ahead of next month's qualifiers for the remaining three competitor spots. Heroes of Newerth began gearing up for its own tournament at DreamHack Summer 2013 with details of a qualifier tournament to determine which teams will face off at the event. Team Stay Green may be in with a chance if it enters, as the group just took home $32,000 US following a decisive win in the HoNTour grand finals.

              A new Diablo III exploit that allowed Witch Doctors to farm XP by repeatedly killing their pets was discovered this week and promptly hotfixed. Riot Games released spotlight videos for newly revamped League of Legends champions Trundle and Sejuani, and CLG pro gamer Peter "Doublelift" Peng discussed his challenging road to success and heartbreaking family issues in a fantastic short documentary for Machinima.

              Turbine released details of two new Infinite Crisis champions this week with video spotlights on hulking brute Doomsday and the gadget-wielding Gaslight Batman. Russian success Prime World let press into the English language beta for a first look at its castle-building and MOBA style gameplay. Rise of Immortals geared up for the official launch of its Battle For Graxia game overhaul with the addition of a new reputation system. And Star Citizen developer Chris Roberts revealed that he's been holding off on accepting investor deals because of the success of the game's crowdfunding campaigns.

              Continue reading Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World

              MassivelyNot So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's latest exploit, and city-building with Prime World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Chaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover

                Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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                Chaos Theory  Testing my Secret World DPS makeover
                It's no secret that The Secret World is just a wee bit different than the majority of MMORPGs out there. Hallelujah for that, right? And one notable area it differs from the rest is how it treats gear and classes. As such, players can't necessarily bring habits and know-how from other titles and translate that into immediate success in TSW. It's no wonder that even good players can sometimes feel stumped or at a loss when navigating through builds. For that very reason, Chaos Theory brought you the first episode of What Not to Wear, a live makeover that focused on sharing hints and tips that non-theorycrafters (like yours truly) could use as a base for forging their own path.

                It was a simple makeover really -- just minor changes in my focus and equipment using gear I already had in my bag and abilities I already had access to. Did it help? Did my effectiveness as a damage-dealer increase? The outcome was rather surprising.

                Continue reading Chaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover

                MassivelyChaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Star Trek Online dev blog dishes on Romulan rewards

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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                  Star Trek Online screenshot
                  With the new Legacy of Romulus expansion due to go live on May 21st, players might be wondering what goodies are in store once it arrives in their sector. In a new dev blog -- number 11 -- Senior Producer Steve "Salamilnferno"Ricossa, Jr. shows off a fat list of goodies that covers new and free players and all the way to those grand life-timers. Every player gains access to that sweet (and maybe sickly looking) Alien-Gen Hybrid Romulan Species, but the list goes on to show just how smart it might have been to subscribe to the game for life.

                  How about a free Exclusive Romulan Veteran Starship for those 1,000-day veterans? It's on there. The list gives out shinies to almost everybody, so be sure to go look and see what's in store for yourself. Be sure to keep an eye on more detailed coverage of the upcoming expansion and everything else Star Trek Online by reading the Captain's Log!

                  MassivelyStar Trek Online dev blog dishes on Romulan rewards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Diablo III PS3 preorders available now

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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                  Diablo III preorder banner
                  Rumors of Diablo III coming to consoles have been around since before the game ever launched, and not long ago it was confirmed that the ever-polarizing action RPG would be making its way to the PlayStation 3. Well, the time has almost come for console players to set foot in the treacherous lands of Sanctuary. Blizzard announced on its official site today that preorders for the PS3 edition of Diablo III are officially open.

                  Players who preorder the game will be given a gift in the form of the PS3-exclusive Infernal Helm. Each character created on the PS3 version will start with this stylish chapeau that grants its wearer a bonus to experience gained. There's still no official release date for the PS3 edition of the game, however, and the studio states that it will announce the game's release date as launch draws nearer (in case that wasn't blindingly obvious). In the meantime, Diablo devotees can go ahead and lay down their preorders.

                  MassivelyDiablo III PS3 preorders available now originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Camelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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                  City State Entertainment's Mark Jacobs
                  The Camelot Unchained information deluge continues with the release of a new video and a Reddit AMA by Mark Jacobs himself. The video is a half-hour-long affair in which Jacobs provides fans (and prospective Kickstarter pledgers) with an in-depth look at the lore of Camelot Unchained and the myriad features that the game is bringing to the table. Also, as it happens, you can check it out after the cut.

                  Meanwhile, on Reddit, Jacobs stopped by /r/IAmA to answer questions from the communit. Suffice it to say, questions range from the standard, "tell us about the progression system" to details on server structure, maximum player population, and much much more. Surprisingly, however, horse-sized ducks don't appear to be mentioned even once. To check the full Q&A session out for yourself, head on through the source link below.

                  Continue reading Camelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA

                  MassivelyCamelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Elder Scrolls Online's Matt Firor answers closed beta questions

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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                  Screenshot -- The Elder Scrolls Online
                  The interwebs have been all aflutter because of the recently leaked video of The Elder Scrolls Online beta footage, and it's left many people clamoring for more beta details. Thankfully, ESO Game Director Matt Firor has stepped forth to provide just that. In a new interview, Firor didn't care to comment on the leak itself, but he was more than willing to answer a number of questions regarding the game's ongoing closed beta.

                  Firor states that the game's beta is progressing "very smoothly so far" and that the team is now "focusing more on the gameplay exerience" and "getting valuable feedback from beta testers." He goes on to explain that the current beta focus is on "moment-to-moment gameplay," including questing, combat, and the game's progression system. Also on the table are questions about the game's AI, the introduction of guilds, the importance of crafted gear, and of course, when the next round of beta invites will go out (spoiler alert: the answer is incredibly nonspecific). Regardless, there's probably some useful information to be found for ESO fans, so click on through the link below to check it out for yourself.

                  MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online's Matt Firor answers closed beta questions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Virtual world economist says Guild Wars 2's pre-endgame economy 'broken'

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
                  Ever since Guild Wars 2 went live back in August of last year, the state of the game's economy has... fluctuated wildly, let's say. But now, about eight months down the line, how is the economy holding up? Virtual world economist Ramin Shokrizade (the same fellow who wrote about using EVE Online to predict the real-world recession) has published a new piece on Gamasutra that takes an in-depth look at the economy of Guild Wars 2 as it stands today.

                  The article is too detailed to summarize here, but one thing worth taking away is Shokrizade's observation that, "with the exception of craft materials, [Guild Wars 2's] pre-endgame item economy is broken." He elaborates that, for example, a level 39 green-quality chestpiece regularly sells on the auction house for around 112 copper -- a scant 1 copper more than vendors pay for the same item. He concludes that GW2's pre-endgame economy is "one of the worst [he has] studied in the last 14 years." Eesh. He also takes an in-depth look at the role crafting plays in the economy and the effects of the in-game economy on cash-shop purchases. The full piece is a bit long but certainly worth the time for anyone interested in the intricacies of virtual economies or Guild Wars 2 players in general.

                  MassivelyVirtual world economist says Guild Wars 2's pre-endgame economy 'broken' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Greed Monger screenshots and video show off tropical climate area

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Greed Monger screenshots and video show off tropical climate area
                  Moving right along after tripling its Kickstarter funding goal back in November, the developers behind Greed Monger have been busy slowly bringing the crafting-centric game to life. A working day/night cycle is already implemented, and over the weekend a chunk of the tropical climate area was imported to the test server, allowing devs to finally meet up in the same space together. The character creation UI and finished models (with armor sets) will be heading in this week. The team is also currently working on avatar animation and making sure controls work.

                  Want to get a peek at how Greed Monger is coming along? Then check out the brief fly-through video of the tropics climate region after the break. Then head on over to the official site to see the snazzy new in-game screenshots.

                  Continue reading Greed Monger screenshots and video show off tropical climate area

                  MassivelyGreed Monger screenshots and video show off tropical climate area originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Leaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal?

                  Posted: 29 Apr 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                  EVE Online - Mining barges
                  This year's CCP fan festival featured a bunch of interesting news items including DUST 514's official release date, more info on EVE's upcoming Odyssey expansion, and even a glimpse of the progress being made on World of Darkness.

                  There was also talk of EVE tales being immortalized in more traditional media formats, a ginormous 10-year collector's edition, and an early look at EVR, a new virtual reality EVE game designed for the Oculus Rift. Now that you've had a chance to digest all of the details, what was your favorite Fanfest 2013 reveal? Vote after the cut!

                  Continue reading Leaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal?

                  MassivelyLeaderboard: What was your favorite EVE Fanfest reveal? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    Guild Wars 2: Flame & Frost - Retribution Now Live

                    Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:10 AM PDT

                    Flame & Frost - Retribution Now Live

                    Guild Wars 2 players looking to explore the epic conclusion to the Flame & Frost live story event will want to check into the game beginning today. In addition to the storyline being brought to a close, players will also find some big changes in PvP, guild missions, a new dungeon and much more.

                    Guild Wars 2: The Retribution is Satisfying

                    Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:57 PM PDT

                    The Retribution is Satisfying

                    The Guild Wars 2 living story, Flame & Frost, is about to come to its epic conclusion with today's release of The Retribution. We've had a chance to check out The Retribution and have a few thoughts to share. Read on and then head to the comments.

                    Defiance: New Contest & Feedback Matters

                    Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:00 AM PDT

                    New Contest & Feedback Matters

                    The Defiance website has been updated with a pair of developer blogs. The first announces the Outgun contest that will ultimately see the winner appear in a upcoming episode of Defiance. The second details how player feedback is utilized in development of Defiance.

                    General: Shadowland Online: Vanguard Server Free Gift Pack!

                    Posted: 28 Apr 2013 05:57 PM PDT

                    Shadowland Online: Vanguard Server Free Gift Pack!

                    MMORPG.com has been given special gift codes for Shadowland Online that will give players free in game items worth $15! Get your key now while supplies last!

                    DOTA2: Perfect World Opens Super League in China

                    Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:49 PM PDT

                    Perfect World Opens Super League in China

                    Perfect World Entertainment is working with Valve to bring a Super League, an eSports league, into existence in Mainland China. The official sites have opened up for players and teams to begin signing up. Teams will face off in a round robin tournament before heading to a double elimination round.

                    Diablo 3: PS3 Version Now Available for Preorder

                    Posted: 29 Apr 2013 01:06 PM PDT

                    PS3 Version Now Available for Preorder

                    Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the Playstation 3 version of Diablo 3 is now available for preorder. The game will sell for $59.99 and will come with an in-game helm and will be localized in several different languages.

                    General: Becoming a Designer - Part Two

                    Posted: 28 Apr 2013 03:32 PM PDT

                    Becoming a Designer - Part Two

                    In the second part of Becoming a Designer, Matt Miller talks more about what aspiring developers need to do to make their dreams come true. Read on and then offer your ideas in the comments.

                    EVE Online: Origins Video Debuts

                    Posted: 29 Apr 2013 09:19 AM PDT

                    Origins Video Debuts

                    Shown during last weekend's Fanfest, CCP games has released the keynote video called "EVE Online: Origins". It's a fabulous visual look at the game's history. Check it out!

                    General: Where Have All the Roleplayers Gone?

                    Posted: 28 Apr 2013 03:26 PM PDT

                    Where Have All the Roleplayers Gone?

                    It's funny that the games we adore are called MMO-RPGs since it seems that much of the roleplay part of our games has disappeared. In our latest Social Hub column, we wonder where the roleplayers have gone and offer a few thoughts about how to recapture the magic. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

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