General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Best Keyboard

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 05:20 PM PDT

We put six high-end keyboards to the test in search of the best keyboard

If you're a gamer, you can probably identify a few points in time when you realized something important about your control setup that made you better at the game. When you discovered that putting your left hand on WASD gives you more options than putting it on the arrow keys, for instance, or when you realized that your crappy optical mouse was actually holding you back in shooters. These kinds of peripheral epiphanies don't happen every day, but it might be just about time for you to have a new one. It might be time for you to realize that your keyboard is holding you back.

best keyboard

We're giving you some credit here—we're not talking about making the upgrade from a $6 keyboard you got at the grocery store. No, we're talking about making the upgrade from a gaming keyboard to an amazing gaming keyboard. Going from entry level or midrange to top-of-the-line.

We looked around and picked out six of the highest-end keyboards released in the last year, starting at just under $100. To compare them, we put them through our usual battery of real-world testing, including gaming and typing, and compared their features and overall feel. Because these keyboards come attached to some pretty heavy price tags, we made sure to give them extra scrutiny. We know that minor inconveniences that might fly on a cheap keyboard become a lot more galling when you've paid $150 for the privilege of suffering them, and our verdicts reflect this.

Ready to make the upgrade to serious typing hardware? Then let's go!

Razer Deathstalker Ultimate

Fun to look at, less fun to use

The Razer Deathstalker is really a thing to behold. The gaming keyboard is thin, sleek, and nicely designed with tri-color glowing keys, but nothing draws your attention like the "Switchblade" user interface, borrowed from the Razer Blade gaming laptop.

Instead of a number pad, the Deathstalker Ultimate features a touchscreen, along with 10 contextual keys.

Instead of a number pad, the Deathstalker Ultimate features a touchscreen, along with 10 contextual keys.

The Switchblade UI consists of a responsive multitouch 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen and 10 context-sensitive dynamic keys. The screen can act as a trackpad, or can play host to a number of applications including a web browser, Twitter client, YouTube viewer, and plenty of others, such as game-specific apps for a handful of popular titles. Additionally, the keyboard has plenty of on-the-fly macro keys, and the software suite that manages it is polished and very powerful. In other words, the Razer Deathstalker is clearly the most sophisticated gaming keyboard around. The question is, do the Deathstalker's technical flourishes justify its massive $250 price tag.

At that kind of price, we expect every element of a keyboard to be top-notch; unfortunately, that's not the case with the Razer Deathstalker. The problem is the keyboard itself, which uses widely spaced chiclet-style keys, familiar to anyone who's used a MacBook or most Ultrabooks. They look nice, but it's not clear why a large, high-end gaming keyboard would opt to use them over mechanical switches or even rubber-dome membrane keys. The chiclet keys simply don't feel very good to use—they float around inside their tracks and have miniscule travel when pressed. They're not awful, but we'd expect a lot better from a $250 keyboard.

Razer Deathstalker Ultimate
Juicy Fruit

Super-cool Switchblade UI; good software support.

Chiclets

Key quality is subpar for typing and game play; very expensive.

score:7

$150, www.razerzone.com

Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7

Plenty of novel features, but look at that price

Probably the most interesting thing about the S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is that it's modular and customizable. When you first take it out of the box, the keyboard is in seven pieces, which can be screwed together in a number of different configurations. One of the pieces is a large touchscreen, which can be affixed to either the left or right side of the keyboard, as can an extra bank of macro keys and the adjustable "active palm rest," which features a thumb wheel and button. The two halves of the keyboard can be used separately, though both must be connected to the touchscreen, and the kit comes with a set of 16 replacement key caps, so you can make sure your S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 doesn't look like anyone else's.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is modular, and can be assembled in several different configurations.

The S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 is modular, and can be assembled in several different configurations.

On the other hand, you probably won't meet anyone else with a S.T.R.I.K.E. 7, unless you regularly attend LAN parties down at the yacht club. At $300, this is the most expensive keyboard we can remember reviewing, and some of the features just don't rise to the level of expectations set by the price. The touchscreen, for instance, is resistive and not nearly as responsive as the screen on the Razer Deathstalker Ultimate. And like the Deathstalker, the S.T.R.I.K.E. opts for non-mechanical keys. Though the dome-style membrane keys are better than the Deathstalker's chiclet keys, we firmly believe that a keyboard that costs three times as much as most of its competition ought to have the best keys available.

Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7
Home Run

The most customizable keyboard around; tons of room for macros on keyboard and touchscreen.

Strike Out

Super pricey; non-mechanical keyboard feels so-so; touchscreen responsiveness is lacking.

score:7

$300, www.cyborggaming.com

Logitech G710+

Logitech brings it back to basics

Logitech has finally decided that the recent trend toward mechanical gaming keyboards isn't a passing fad, and has thrown its own hat into the ring with the G710+. At $150, the G710+ is one of the company's most expensive boards, but it forgoes the LCD screens and raft of macro buttons usually found on Logitech's highest-end products. Instead, the G710+ is a relatively straightforward keyboard built around a sturdy base of mechanical keys.

The backlight for the Logitech G710+'s arrow  and WASD keys is separate from the rest of the board, so you can make them glow brighter than their surroundings.

The backlight for the Logitech G710+'s arrow  and WASD keys is separate from the rest of the board, so you can make them glow brighter than their surroundings.

The G710+ uses MX Cherry Brown switches, which are a sort of compromise between the hyper-sensitive Reds and the tactile (and loud) Blues. They're a nice middle-ground switch, excellent for both gaming and typing, though not completely ideal for either. Logitech has augmented the Cherry Browns with noise-dampening rings inside each key, for a quieter gaming session. The keys are mounted into a heavy board, with a clean black-and-gray aesthetic with orange accents. When connected via USB, the G710+'s laser-etched keycaps glow white—you can't change the color, but the brightness is adjustable. In a nice, novel feature, the brightness of the WASD and arrow keys can be adjusted independently, to make them stand out more.

Beyond the mechanical keys, the G710+ doesn't have a lot of flashy features—just a set of macro keys (programmable on-the-fly), some media controls, and a standard-issue software suite with pre-made macro profiles for most modern games. It comes with a removable wrist rest, and includes a single USB pass-through. In all, it's a nice, well-constructed keyboard, though its feature set is just a tiny bit smaller than some similarly priced mechanical boards from other brands.

Logitech G710+
O.G.

Excellent typing and gaming feel; dual-zone lighting;noise-dampened keys.

Oh No

On the pricier side; few pass-throughs.

score:9

$150, www.logitech.com

The Art of Cherrypicking

If you're the pattern-recognizing sort, you may notice that every mechanical keyboard in this roundup uses Cherry MX switches for their key mechanisms. That's because virtually all mechanical gaming keyboards today use some variety of Cherry MX switch, such as Brown or Blue. The names indicate both the actual color of the switch (pry a keycap up and you'll be able to tell by sight which switch is underneath), and the switch's mechanical characteristics, in terms of tactility and resistance.

A switch that is highly tactile has a noticeable "bump" that you overcome as you press it down, and tends to make a click noise as it passes that bump. A switch with high resistance requires more force to depress. Here are the four most common varieties of Cherry MX switch:

Red: A non-tactile switch with low resistance. The pressing action is smooth, with no bump, and because of its low resistance it is very responsive. Good for action gamers.

Black: A non-tactile switch, like the Red, with higher resistance.

Blue: A highly tactile switch, with a dramatic (and loud) click. Considered the best switch for typing, but they can be slightly harder to double-tap quickly for gaming.

Brown: A middle-ground switch, with a light tactile click and medium resistance. Functions well for both typing and gaming.

Click here to read our in-depth mechanical keyboard guide. 

 


 

Corsair Vengeance K90

All the macro keys money can buy

The Corsair Vengeance K90 launched early last year alongside the Vengeance K60. It is, at heart, an expanded version of that board, fitted with a vast bank of customizable macro keys at the far left, and a detachable rubberized wrist rest. The extra functionality is mostly aimed at MMO players, who may have need for the truly staggering number of macro keys—18 keys, arranged into three banks of six, with three profile buttons for a total of 54 programmable actions. We're a bit skeptical about the utility of so many macro buttons, as it becomes difficult to remember which key does what, and to hit them without looking, as the button count increases. Still, you should be able to imagine whether you'd be able to put the buttons to good use or not.

With the K90, Corsair goes deep on macro keys. Unfortunately, only the main QWERTY keyboard and arrow keys are mechanical.

With the K90, Corsair goes deep on macro keys. Unfortunately, only the main QWERTY keyboard and arrow keys are mechanical.

Beyond those extra keys, the K90 features the strong points of the K60, including a rugged all-aluminum body and responsive Cherry MX Red switches. The fantastic-looking low-profile aluminum design is even snazzier in the K90, thanks to blue backlighting that shines through the laser-etched keycaps. One of the strangest and worst features of the K90 is that it uses membrane-style switches for a small subset of the keys on the board (the 18 macro keys, the function keys, as well as the block above the arrow keys), which feel noticeably worse than the mechanical keys that make up the rest of the board. Especially for keys that are meant to be used in the heat of the moment, the transition to non-mechanical keys is very jarring.

Corsair Vengeance K90
Macro

Tons of macro keys; nice build quality and design; mechanical.

Micro

Not all keys are mechanical; giant block of macro keys is difficult to use efficiently.

score:8

$130, www.corsair.com

Rosewill RK-9100 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

A solid board, low on features

Sometimes it's nice when a company comes along and boils down a product category to just the features that are important. With the RK-9100, Rosewill does just that, offering a solid mechanical gaming keyboard with few flourishes.

The RK-9100 is a compact design with no wrist rest and a minimal lip around the outside of the board. It's heavy, and feels quite sturdy. It uses mechanical keys—once again, Cherry MX switches, though with the RK-9100 you have a choice of the typing-friendly Blue switches, or the in-between Browns. We tend to prefer the Browns as a nice compromise between gaming and typing, which makes it a bit frustrating that the Brown-switch version of the RK-9100 retails for $130, $20 more than the Blue version.

The Rosewill RK-9100 isn't the fanciest-looking keyboard, but it feels great to use.

The Rosewill RK-9100 isn't the fanciest-looking keyboard, but it feels great to use.

The keyboard has a nice blue backlight, except for the scroll-, num-, and caps-lock keys, which glow green while active. It's a good idea, but for some reason the green light is incredibly bright, and angled to shine right into your eyes while active. It's distracting, and unfortunately can't be turned off—we wouldn't be surprised if most RK-9100 owners end up fixing the problem with electrical tape. That's the only significant problem we noticed while using Rosewill's keyboard, but we couldn't shake the feeling that $130 is a bit too much to ask for this board. The Logitech G710+ features the same MX Brown switches, and with street a price that's currently only about $10 more than RK-9100, includes significantly more features that set it apart as a gaming keyboard.

Rosewill RK-9100 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Rose water

No-nonsense design; selection of different Cherry MX switches.

Hose water

No macro keys; no software support.

score:7

$130, www.rosewill.com

Roccat Isku

Membrane plank makes strong impression

If you're not ready to make the jump to a mechanical keyboard, and aren't interested in touchscreens or scalp massagers or whatever other luxury features are going into the $200-plus planks, your money will go a lot farther. Specifically, it'll go all the way to the Roccat Isku, a handsome and feature-rich keyboard from German newcomer Roccat.

The Isku is thin but takes up a lot of room, thanks to its broad wrist rest and bezel.

The Isku is thin but takes up a lot of room, thanks to its broad wrist rest and bezel.

The Isku is wide and flat, with an oversized wrist rest and a wide bezel all around the board, taking up plenty of desk real estate. It's got a grippy textured-plastic frame and recessed contoured keys that make the whole thing seem flatter and lower to the desk than normal. The dome keys are good (as far as they go) with a fairly crisp and responsive activation.

Where the Isku really shines is in its expansive set of features. It has eight macro buttons (including three "thumbster" keys under the spacebar), with on-the-fly recording, and profile switching. It gets further mileage out of the bindable keys and macros with an "EasyShift" button where the caps-lock key would normally be, which temporarily switches the functions of all right-hand-accessible keys while held down. There's a lot to customize, and the included software suite is intuitive and up to the task.

Also, the Isku is part of the "Roccat Talk" ecosystem, which allows button presses on the keyboard to affect the behavior of a Roccat gaming mouse, and vice versa. At this price, we'd strongly recommend buying a mechanical board, but if you can't or don't want to, the Isku is an excellent choice.

Roccat Isku
Rose water

No-nonsense design; selection of different Cherry MX switches.

Hose water

No macro keys; no software support.

score:9

$90, www.roccat.org

A Keyboard for Clean Freaks

One of the keyboards we received while preparing this roundup was the Logitech Washable Keyboard K310. Somehow it didn't seem quite fair to pit the $40 K310 against the likes of the Razer Deathstalker in a straight head-to-head, but we couldn't resist the chance to see if this washable keyboard really works.

The K310 has a standard full-size layout with flat, thick plastic keys. Despite the very plastic-y construction and non-standard keys, the keyboard actually feels pretty decent to use.

We don't actually have a standard testing procedure worked out for washable keyboards, so we improvised. We took a quick trip to the corner store for a bag of Cheetohs—bane of all keyboards. We then used a mortar and pestle to mash them into a fine, delicious powder, and applied it liberally to the keyboard (and surrounding table).

We were originally going to stick the K310 in the dishwasher, but a label on its back specifically warns against doing so. Instead, we gave it a thorough hand-washing in the sink.

What's the verdict? The keyboard looks like new, and works just fine. Not bad!

Rounding Up Leaked Specs of AMD's Radeon HD 9970 Graphics Card

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 10:57 AM PDT

AMD GraphicsA new card and a new architecture

Remember when AMD was widely criticized for acquiring ATI for a reported $5.4 billion back in 2006? It turned out to be a wise investment in an area (GPUs) where AMD has been able to vie for the performance crown. Right now it's Nvidia's GeForce GTX 780 that sits in the spotlight, but coming soon is AMD's Radeon HD 9970 graphics card with a brand new architecture and some impressive specs that have been leaked to the web.

As always, you have to take these with a grain of salt. Assuming they're accurate, however, the Radeon HD 9970 will wield a 20nm Volcanic Islands GPU codenamed Hawaii. It will feature a 1GHz clockspeed, 4GB of memory clocked at 5GHz (effective) on a 512-bit bus, 64 GPixels, 307GB/s memory bandwidth, 4,096 shader units, 256 texture mapping units, and 64 render output processores.

Compared to the Titan and even the GTX 780, the 9970 looks promising, if not downright impressive. Now the waiting game begins to see if the final product comes close to what's been leaked online. How long might that be? Several weeks ago, it was reported that Radeon HD 9970 samples had already started shipping out to manufacturers. That card, along with other parts in the Radeon HD 9000 Series, are all expected to launch around October 2013.

GPUBoss 9970

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D-Link's Cylinder Shaped DGL-5500 Gaming Router Now Shipping

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 10:19 AM PDT

D-Link DGL-5500No, this is not the new Mac Pro

Way back in January of this year, D-Link unveiled a cylinder shaped "Gaming Router" featuring Qualcomm StreamBoost technology (DGL-5500) with the promise of shipping it sometime in the spring. We're now heading towards the end of summer and are happy to report that if you've been patiently awaiting the retail release of this 802.11ac router, it's now available direct from D-Link and several other online retailers.

It carries an MSRP of $200 and can be purchased from D-Link, Amazon, Tiger Direct, Newegg, and GameStop. The dual-band router supports the emerging 802.11ac standard with rated speeds of up to 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz channel and up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz channel. D-Link markets the router as AC1300/1300Mbps, which is common for router makers to do, though be advised that you can't actually combine the two channels for a single super stream.

The built-in QoS controls with StreamBoost technology automatically gives gaming packet requests priority over all other types of traffic. Other features include four Gigabit LAN ports, a single USB 2.0 port, advanced UPnP support, a cloud-based updating system, and more.

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IDC: Tablet Shipments Decline as Consumers Await Updated iPad Models

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 09:47 AM PDT

Apple iPadTablet shipments slip in Q2

Newly released data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) suggests that the lack of a new iPad model from Apple is the primary reason why tablet shipments declined in the second quarter of 2013. According to IDC's figures, worldwide tablet shipments "finally experienced a sequential decline," dropping 9.7 percent in the most recent quarter. At the same time, the 45.1 million tablets shipped in Q2 represents a 59.6 percent jump from the same quarter a year ago.

Apple shipped the most tablets in Q2, injecting 14.6 million additional units into the market place to claim a 32.4 percent share of the market, followed by Samsung in a distant second place with 8.1 million shipments and 18 percent stake. After the big two, the numbers drop off a cliff, with Asus having shipped 2 million units for a 4.5 percent share, followed by Lenovo (1.5 million, 3.3 percent) and Acer (1.4 million, 3.1 percent).

Even though Apple led all other tablet makers, iPad shipments were still lower than expected.

"A new iPad launch always piques consumer interest in the tablet category and traditionally that has helped both Apple and its competitors," said Tom Mainelli, Research Director, Tablets at IDC. "With no new iPads, the market slowed for many vendors, and that's likely to continue into the third quarter. However, by the fourth quarter we expect new products from Apple, Amazon, and others to drive impressive growth in the market."

Consider this the calm before the storm. Heading into the final quarter of the year, IDC expects new product launches from several players to have a big impact on shipments.

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Microsoft Trims $100 Off Surface Pro Following Surface RT Reduction

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT

Surface ProNow starting at $799

Along with every other hardware player, Microsoft is hoping to see a boost in sales from the back-to-school shopping frenzy that's about to get underway. Unlike everyone else, however, Microsoft is sitting on a mountain of unsold Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets, which to this point have only generated $853 million in revenue. This led to Microsoft taking a $900 million charge on unsold inventory followed by a round of price cuts, first with Surface RT and now with Surface Pro.

Microsoft just slashed $100 off the price of Surface Pro, which now starts at $799 instead of $899. Surface Pro features an Intel x86 Core i5 processor and the full version of Windows 8, though it remains to be seen if a C-note reduction will be enough to convince PC shoppers to hop on board.

The price cut follows a $150 reduction to Surface RT just a few weeks ago. Unlike Surface Pro, the ARM-based Surface RT comes with Office Home and Student 2013 RT for free, giving users some additional value along with a lower cost of entry. On the flip side, Surface RT is also limited by a gimped version of Windows 8 that's unable to run legacy x86 applications.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Z87-A Motherboard, Intel Core i3 3240, and More!

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 07:44 AM PDT

MSI Z87-Anewegg logo

Top Deal:

Fancy yourself a new Haswell system? You'll need a motherboard to go along with whichever processor you choose, and we just happen to have a Haswell friendly board for today's top deal. It's an Asus Z87-A LGA 1150 motherboard for $135 with free shipping (normally $145 - use coupon code EMCXMXV48). Loaded with bells and whistles, it has a digital power design to help with stabiility and overclocking, USB 3.0 Boost technology, and support for up to 32GB of RAM, to name just a few of the features.

Other Deals:

Intel Core i3-3240 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80637i33240 for $120 with free shipping (normally $130 - use coupon code: [EMCXMXV47])

MSI R7770-PMD1GD5 Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card for $90 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code: [EMCXMXV54])

Corsair Vengeance M65 Laser FPS Gaming Mouse CH-9000022-NA Gunmetal Black 8 Buttons 1xWheel USB Wired Laser 8200 dpi Mouse for $60 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: [EMCXMXV68])

Asus USB-N13 Wireless Adapter IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Up to 300Mbps Wireless Data Rates WPA2 for $15 with free shipping (normally $19 - use coupon code: [EMCXMXV62])

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Infinite Crisis shows off what's going on behind the scenes

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

In front of the scenes it's superhumans punching each other.  You knew that.
On one level, Infinite Crisis feels like an obvious premise. Take a setting that already gives players plenty of reasons to beat one another up as iconic heroes and villains, give those players plenty of iconic heroes and villains, enjoy the show. But according to the new behind-the-scenes video, the game took a fair bit more effort than that. It's partly a result of game technology finally matching up with what players need and want in this sort of game.

The video features commentary by both DC Comics creators and Turbine Entertainment staff members. One of the big elements of the game is that environments are not static things, that they can be interacted with and damaged during play, and that helps contribute to the feel of a game of superheroes rather than just another MOBA. If you want a closer look, check out the full video embedded just past the break.

[Source: Turbine Entertainment press release]

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    Captain's Log: Interview with STO's Daniel Stahl, wrap-up

    Posted: 05 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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    STO Talvath
    Late in May I had the opportunity to head over to Cryptic Studios to meet and interview several members of the Star Trek Online development team. This week I will be finishing up my synopsis of my conversation with Star Trek Online' Executive Producer Daniel Stahl.

    We were able to touch on his hopes for the game's user-generated content tool, The Foundry, and he also shared a lot of his thoughts on the potential market growth for STO as well as Cryptic's new subsidiary Cryptic North. Join us after the cut as we discuss what all of this might mean for the future of the studio and for Star Trek Online.

    Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with STO's Daniel Stahl, wrap-up

    MassivelyCaptain's Log: Interview with STO's Daniel Stahl, wrap-up originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Stream Team: Take my money already edition, Aug 5 - 11, 2013

      Posted: 05 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , ,

      The Stream Team  Aug 5  11, 2013
      Now's a good time to be a sandbox fan... if you can stand the wait, that is! So many more games in the pipeline are leaning towards virtual worlds than ever before, boasting exciting features like dynamic AI, construction, and hidden quests. The only problem is that few of them are out yet. It doesn't matter how many times we shove a fistful of cash at our monitors, the games won't magically launch. Darn it.

      It's a good thing we don't have wait for Massively TV! With plenty of reruns to watch between the live shows, you get to enjoy The Stream Team's antics any time you want. What's coming up this week? Check out the schedule below. And tell us which upcoming sandbox is tempting you the most.

      Continue reading The Stream Team: Take my money already edition, Aug 5 - 11, 2013

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        PlanetSide 2 inches toward character transfers but can't make cross-platform play happen

        Posted: 05 Aug 2013 07:30 AM PDT

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        PlanetSide 2 inches toward character transfers but can't make crossplatform play happen
        It's time for another exciting episode of Good News, Bad News with your host, Mr. Matt Higby! PlanetSide 2's creative director had a few things to say at SOE Live about the challenges of running the game across multiple platforms.

        The good news is that SOE is looking into character transfers that will allow players to jump between PC and PlayStation 4 versions. The bad news is that, at least for now, cross-platform play isn't possible.

        "Because of the update cadence, and the additional steps you have to go through to be able to release an update on the PlayStation network, we're not going to be able to keep our servers in sync, so you won't be able to just play with the same people," said Higby. "But we're also talking about having character portability, so a PC character could transfer to PlayStation 4 and then back. The character format's the same on both; it's just purely a matter of the server updates."

        MassivelyPlanetSide 2 inches toward character transfers but can't make cross-platform play happen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Massively's Guild Wars 2 Queen's Jubilee patch preview

        Posted: 05 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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        Massively's Guild Wars 2 Queen's Jubilee patch preview
        It's party time again in Guild Wars 2! The young ruler of Kryta, Queen Jennah, is pulling out the stops to celebrate human resilience and ingenuity at the ten year anniversary of her reign. All of Kryta's allies are invited -- yes, even you. Yes, even after that unfortunate incident with the cake. This is a time of healing. All is forgiven.

        ArenaNet recently invited Massively to take a peek at what it has in store for the latest living story release, Queen's Jubilee. While the developers were careful not to spoil any plot details, we did get a preview of some of the new content, features and quality of life improvements GW2 players have to look forward to. Jump past the break to check it out!

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          SOE Live 2013: EverQuest Next's mechanics and more

          Posted: 05 Aug 2013 06:30 AM PDT

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          SOE Live 2013  EverQuest Next's mechanics and more

          Anyone who attended SOE Live this year heard quite a bit about EverQuest Next. Even if the upcoming sandbox was not the reason you came, you couldn't help but learn a thing or two. And for those who braved the crowds to attend multiple panels focused on the game, chances are you are still trying to sort through all the information and remember everything that was said! That's where we come in.

          After attending all the panels and sitting down with multiple devs, we've complied and summarized as much information as we can for you. Today's focus is on various mechanics (such as armor, combat, and classes) as well as a few other odds and ends we tossed in. So why are you still here? All that good stuff is after the break!

          Continue reading SOE Live 2013: EverQuest Next's mechanics and more

          MassivelySOE Live 2013: EverQuest Next's mechanics and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: What's your favorite thing about EverQuest Next?

            Posted: 05 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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            The Daily Grind What's your favorite thing about EverQuest Next
            So, EverQuest Next.

            Huh. Wow. Sheesh. Jeeze. Dayum. I could go on, but you get the idea.

            It's safe to say that not many people expected what SOE delivered over the weekend, and even though it's a ways off, it's also safe to say that there isn't another MMO quite like EQN. After rewatching the livestream and scarfing up most of the related coverage, I think my favorite thing about the title at this point is actually Landmark, along with the way it's going to allow content creators and decorators to port their stuff into EQN proper.

            What about you, Massively readers? What's your favorite aspect of EQN thus far?

            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's your favorite thing about EverQuest Next? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              SOE Live 2013: DCUO changing its loot mechanics

              Posted: 04 Aug 2013 07:00 PM PDT

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              SOE Live 2013  DCUO changing its loot mechanics
              Even though the focus of DC Universe Online's presence at SOE Live was the upcoming DLC Sons of Trigon, SOE had some other superheroic news to deliver as well.

              The devs are rebooting the game's loot system, so now when groups and raids kill a boss, every single person will get items of their very own. The items will be random as far as piece and class, so no one is assured to get something they can actually use. Although no exact date was given, Creative Director Jens Andersen stated that the change would be rolled out in stages instead of waiting for the entire system to be overhauled. He added that the newer tiers would see the change first, then the lower levels.

              Keep an eye out for our upcoming DCUO panel impressions for more info.

              What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas, at least where SOE Live is concerned! Massively sent intrepid reporters MJ Guthrie and Karen Bryan to this year's SOE Live, from which they'll be transmitting all the best fan news on EverQuest Next, EverQuest II, DC Universe Online, and the other MMOs on SOE's roster.

              MassivelySOE Live 2013: DCUO changing its loot mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                MMO Week in Review: You're in your world now

                Posted: 04 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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                MMO Week in Review - You're in your world now
                At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                Whoa!

                That's pretty much the consensus from the Massively staff and many of you who joined us for Friday's livestream reveal for EverQuest Next. But it wasn't just EQN, was it?

                There's this crazy-cool Landmark thing. Then there's EQN proper with its stylized avatars, its Storybricks integration, and its focus on sandbox mechanics and unfamiliar progression paradigms. In short, there was plenty to take in and talk about after SOE's initial reveal. Oh, and a few other things happened in MMOland this week, too. Join us past the cut for a recap of our biggest stories.

                Continue reading MMO Week in Review: You're in your world now

                MassivelyMMO Week in Review: You're in your world now originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Darkfall tweaks Sea Fortress events, Slayer barrage skill

                  Posted: 04 Aug 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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                  Darkfall tweaks Sea Fortress events, Slayer barrage skill
                  This week's planned Darkfall patch is worth noting for a couple of reasons. No, those reasons aren't the new frigate and the new ship of the line, though they are both pretty slick.

                  We're talking about the introduction of Agon's new Sea Fortresses, which Aventurine is touting as "a big server event." The firm has adjusted the frequency of the events from every three days to every six and 11 days. In particular, the second fortress event will feature "appropriately bigger loot." Drops will include a big chunk of gold and possibly runestones, portal shards, black powder, cannons, modules, advanced ship modules, and more.

                  Aventurine also previews changes to the Slayer's barrage skill in its latest dev blog. Click through the links below to read all about it.

                  [Thanks Dengar!]

                  MassivelyDarkfall tweaks Sea Fortress events, Slayer barrage skill originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  EVE Evolved: Strategic resources for everyone!

                  Posted: 04 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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                  Game title image
                  The past four EVE Online expansions have mostly focused on adding small features and overhauling old game mechanics and content that were beginning to show their age. Crucible delivered dozens of small but highly-requested features and gameplay improvements, and Inferno and Retribution continued with overhauls of several aging PvP systems. Even Odyssey contained mostly small features and revamps, its biggest gameplay features being a new hacking minigame and a streamlined scanning interface. It's been several years since EVE has received a truly massive and game-changing feature like wormholes or a sovereignty revamp, but that may all be about to change!

                  CCP recently announced its intention to start reaching for big ideas again, but this time set over a more realistic timeframe. If everything goes according to plan, the next five years could see the introduction of player-built stargates and true deep space colonisation. I wrote about the potential of this concept last week and looked at some of the big features we'd need to make it a reality, but I didn't really delve into my personal favourite idea for a potential future expansion: New strategic resources and player-created deadspace complexes.

                  In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at how strategic resources could be used to get even individual players invested in something worth fighting for, and how player-created deadspace dungeons could be a great way to introduce them.

                  Continue reading EVE Evolved: Strategic resources for everyone!

                  MassivelyEVE Evolved: Strategic resources for everyone! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The International: A Primer on Dota 2 and the biggest single-game tournament in eSports history

                    Posted: 04 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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                    Dota 2: The International
                    Dota is a Big Deal. The original Defense of the Ancients, which was nothing more than a mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, became a core pillar of the competitive online gaming scene thanks to its tight balance and deep strategy. It was played by millions and showcased at tournaments across the globe. Dota is considered one of the primary influences on the now booming genre of games that we refer to as MOBAs; League of Legends is supposedly the biggest game in the world, but without Dota, it would have never existed.

                    When Valve snagged the mod's developer, known as IceFrog, and charged him with making a sequel, expectations were high. Dota is a game celebrated for its intricate design, complex metagame, and robust character roster -- the pressure to improve on this formula without losing the basics was immense. It took over two years of somewhat closed beta testing to get everything right, and changes rolled out every week like Clockwerk.

                    But that's all history. Dota 2 launched last month, finally. For better or worse, the game is considered complete (minus a few heroes). And what better way to celebrate the launch of a hotly anticipated title than by throwing one of the biggest tournaments in all of competitive gaming?

                    Welcome to The International.

                    Continue reading The International: A Primer on Dota 2 and the biggest single-game tournament in eSports history

                    MassivelyThe International: A Primer on Dota 2 and the biggest single-game tournament in eSports history originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Venus Rising now in alpha with 'thousands of active users'

                      Posted: 04 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                      Venus Rising now in alpha with 'thousands of active users'
                      Venus Rising, the adult-oriented MMO formerly known as Orgia Romanus, is now in alpha testing. Developer FoxySoft has issued a press release which boasts "thousands of active users."

                      "This game is going to change the way adults play MMORP games," says FoxySoft CEO Alex Allen. "Until now gamers had to choose between high quality roleplaying games or adult entertainment. With Venus Rising they get both."

                      The title also has a crowdfunding presence on InvestedIn. FoxySoft says that "early adopters of the game have long-term gameplay advantages such as exclusive land purchases, access to first movers-only areas in the game, lifetime VIP subscription, and much more." We've embedded Allen's crowdfunding pitch video after the break.

                      [Source: FoxySoft press release]

                      Continue reading Venus Rising now in alpha with 'thousands of active users'

                      MassivelyVenus Rising now in alpha with 'thousands of active users' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        SOE Live 2013: Delving deeper into EQN's Landmark

                        Posted: 04 Aug 2013 11:30 AM PDT

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                        SOE Live 2013 Delving deeper into EQN's Landmark
                        EverQuest Next Landmark: Didn't see that one coming, did you? The public announcement for this new building MMO at SOE Live definitely took most people by surprise. But after the shock wore off and the initial information sunk in, players were very eager to learn more about this separate-yet-tied-to-EverQuest Next title. And SOE obliged with an entire panel dedicated to creativity and Landmark.

                        During that hour, developers discussed things like the hows and whats of construction, the social aspects, and how Player Studio will work. Oh, and they mentioned a little something about how housing can transfer to EQN proper. I also got to speak with Franchise Director Dave Georgeson separately for added insights.

                        Continue reading SOE Live 2013: Delving deeper into EQN's Landmark

                        MassivelySOE Live 2013: Delving deeper into EQN's Landmark originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Aug 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          DayZ: August Developer Video Blog Details Delay

                          Posted: 05 Aug 2013 07:25 AM PDT

                          August Developer Video Blog Details Delay

                          The latest DayZ news comes in the form of a new video developer diary. The Arma 2 mod has seen some delays recently due to the game's overwhelming size. The video log goes into some detail about why there have been some setbacks as well as shows off some spiffy gameplay. Check it out!

                          Guild Wars 2: Touring Queen's Jubilee

                          Posted: 04 Aug 2013 12:35 PM PDT

                          Touring Queen

                          The next update for ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 is set to hit the live servers tomorrow. We were given a live-streamed tour of the content this past week, and today we're detailing everything we learned about Tyria's latest event.

                          Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Patch Preview Details Changes to Slayer

                          Posted: 05 Aug 2013 05:51 AM PDT

                          Patch Preview Details Changes to Slayer

                          The latest Darkfall Online: Unholy Wars developer blog has been posted on the official site. In it, the team speaks to changes to the Slayer class in the next patch. Specifically, the team is making adjustments to the Barrage skill in addition to other changes in the game.

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