MMO Updates |
- Free for All: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 1
- MMO Family: Exploring game writing for short attention spans
- SOE Live posts live cast schedule
- Get a glimpse of RIFT's Storm Legion in new video and Dimensions livestream
- Star Citizen FAQ outlines modding, micropayments, hardware requirements
- The Daily Grind: What's a hardcore feature you'd like to see more of in MMOs?
- SWTOR delineates restrictions on F2P players
- Star Trek Online shows off its new gateway
- Jukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack
- Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects
- Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen
- Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP
- PlanetSide 2 release date to be announced this Thursday
- Guild Wars 2 gems now available in plastic card form [Updated]
- Darkfall temporarily goes F2P before Unholy Wars launch
- EverQuest and EverQuest II offer expansion pre-order bonuses
- TERA aims to scare the pants off you with new Halloween event
- Hyperspace Beacon: Why do I still play SWTOR?
- Mechwarrior Online secures over $5M in funding from preorders
- The Soapbox: No game lives forever
| Free for All: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 1 Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMORTS, Free for All, Miscellaneous, Sandbox  What did I find, and what excited me this year? A lot. We've already written up or recorded many interviews so far, but I wanted to take this week's Free for All and MMObility to recap the stuff that truly got me excited. Let's get to it... there's simply too much to see! Continue reading Free for All: Free-to-play and mobile at GDC Online, part 1
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| MMO Family: Exploring game writing for short attention spans Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Massively Event Coverage, Kids, MMO Family, Family  At this year's GDC Online, Elizabeth McLaren from 1st Playable Productions gave a talk about this very topic, titled Short Attention Span Theatre -- Writing for Child Gamers. In it, she looked to the book publishing industry to see what themes and interests exist for particular age groups and how they can be integrated into video game writing. Read on for highlights of the panel and a brief look at the mind of a child gamer. Continue reading MMO Family: Exploring game writing for short attention spans
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| SOE Live posts live cast schedule Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous, PlanetSide 2  The schedule for the live casts is up, starting with the keynote address on Thursday and ending with the costume contest on Sunday night. SOE is making available plenty of the big panels including almost anything to do with PlanetSide 2 and several tournaments. EverQuest and EverQuest II expansion panels on Saturday morning are a must-see for players of those games as well. Massively will be on the scene in Las Vegas for the show, so stay tuned for all of the exciting information that we'll be channeling your way!
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| Get a glimpse of RIFT's Storm Legion in new video and Dimensions livestream Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Expansions, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, RIFT  The video, however, is not just some brief sneak peak! For over 32 minutes, players are treated to a tour of new areas, questing, combat, and even a housing demonstration. The expansion more than triples the size of the world, and devs have filled that huge expanse with 11 new zones, seven new dungeons, three new raids, a new sliver, a new chronicle, new conquest maps, a new capitol city, and more. If the video doesn't answer all of your questions about the new housing system (which resembles world-building more than housing), be sure to check out the special livestream preview of the Dimensions system on Friday, October 19th at 5:30 p.m. EDT on RIFT's Twitch channel. [Source: Trion press release] [Thanks to everyone for the tips!]
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| Star Citizen FAQ outlines modding, micropayments, hardware requirements Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Sandbox  The space combat sim's website has updated with a new FAQ that outlines the game's projected system requirements (it recommends an i7 CPU and a GTX 670 or better graphics card, but keep in mind that launch day is two years away). The FAQ also mentions Star Citizen's modding philosophy and its payment model. Modding is encouraged, as Roberts says that players are free to tweak the game however they wish on private servers. The devs also "hope to institute a mod approval process that will allow the best of the best player-created ships and other additions to be integrated into the central persistent world as well," according to the FAQ. In terms of payments, you'll need to buy the game initially and that's basically it. There will be no monthly fee, though "some in-game items may be available as microtransactions." Unlike most free-to-play titles, Star Citizen's cash shop "will never sell anything that can't be acquired through honest (and fun!) gameplay."
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| The Daily Grind: What's a hardcore feature you'd like to see more of in MMOs? Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  So let's boil it down to just one feature today, one hardcore feature that you'd like to see more of in MMOs. Would you use your one wish to grant every game a permadeath server for those who prefer that lifestyle? Could you see getting into an MMO where you had to monitor your avatar's hunger, thirst, and stamina constantly? Does the idea of a character aging and scarring make you thrill for the journey? Let us know your idea for a great hardcore feature that would spice up MMOs!  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!
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| SWTOR delineates restrictions on F2P players Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Previews, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  As a general rule, the restrictions are in threes: three Flashpoints per week, three Warzones per week, three Space Missions per week. Players will also be able to buy weekly passes for these features to get unlimited access. There will also be restrictions on inventory expansions and cargo hold storage for free players, and field revivals on death will be limited. Taking a look at the full chart should make the breakdown obvious (although there's a believed typo under the restrictions on equipping items). Meanwhile, current subscribers can take advantage of a new account feature to see just how many bonus coins they'll get if they're subscribed when the conversion takes place. [Thanks to Marc for the tip!]
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| Star Trek Online shows off its new gateway Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Mobile  At launch, the Gateway will only allow players to look up character status, ship status, officer status, and accolades. The development team is working on expanding the tool's functionality for the future, with the current features only scratching the surface of long term plans. And if you need to remember that you're playing Star Trek Online, the tool has been designed to resemble the ubiquitous LCARS interface from the series and game. It's not a groundswell of new content, but if you've long been waiting for the game to have some form of mobile functionality, the wait will be over soon.
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| Jukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, Expansions, Free-to-play, Jukebox Heroes  Riders of Rohan is the first major addition to LotRO's soundscape since Moria, and I'm sure I wasn't alone in clasping my hands together in excitement when I heard that Chance Thomas was returning to score it. We had heard several tracks from it leading up to the expansion's release, but the big question was whether the quality of these pieces was an anomaly or was indicative of the entire soundtrack's excellence. I wish you could see me grinning right now for the answer to that. Riders of Rohan instantly jumped to my top 10 favorite MMO soundtracks of all time, and I couldn't stop gushing about it to friends as I gave it my initial listen-through. Hit the jump to hear my highlights from it. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Riders of Rohan's soundtrack
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| Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, MMORTS  Saga Kingdoms is a persistent MMORTS in which players customize a hero avatar and look to expand their island nation through quests and conflict. One of its most interesting features is that it connects to a mobile RPG that acts as a two-way street for experience and loot. The devs love the world they've created so much that they are also wrapping up a film in that universe called The Shadow Cabal. They claim that the movie's scenes have been fully shot, but it still needs about $20,000 for additional special effects and editing. Watch the trailer after the jump and let us know whether this is worth a few bucks or not! Continue reading Saga Kingdoms MMO and movie rev up dual Kickstarter projects
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| Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO industry, News items, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous, League of Legends, Pirate101  The answer to all of these is "yes." Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 220: BraveStarr Citizen
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| Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, PvP, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, Defiance  Thus begins Trion's latest Defiance dev diary, this one focusing on the game's open world PvP system. The team has dubbed this system the Shadow War and said that it is integrated fully with the game's PvE experience. Players have a choice whether to participate in it or not, but the action will be happening across a shared landscape. Why is it this way? The devs say that they didn't want a typical FPS experience, in which players went through a solo campaign and then hit the reset button for multiplayer. The progression between PvE and PvP is the same, although there are special outfits for hardcore PvPers. We've got the full dev diary for you after the break, so don't be shy! Continue reading Defiance takes the lid off of its open world PvP
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| PlanetSide 2 release date to be announced this Thursday Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Events, real-world, Launches, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, PlanetSide 2  SOE has promised to have PlanetSide 2 out in 2012, and that leaves some fans skeptical as to whether the beta is far enough along to be released in the next few months. Developers are pressing ahead with plans to fix the performance issues some players are having, and the studio aims to release with a complex metagame involving three continents. Remaining development time will be spent on issues ranging from weapon balance to a tutorial that gets players into the action as quickly as possible.
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| Guild Wars 2 gems now available in plastic card form [Updated] Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play  But now ArenaNet is making it even easier to buy the in-game currency through gem cards available for purchase at your favorite retail store. These cards would be perfect as a gift from your grandmother or sweet aunt Vickie, who can help support your crafting obsession without even knowing it. Just tell them that you're really interested in Geology and Gemology. It's a win-win! [Update: ANet has just posted the complete list of retailers offering gem cards. In the US, they are Fred Meyer, Hasting, NewEgg, Fry's, and Amazon.]
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| Darkfall temporarily goes F2P before Unholy Wars launch Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Darkfall, MMO industry, Free-to-play  On November 20th, Darkfall: Unholy Wars aims to redefine what the three-and-a-half-year-old MMO has already done for the genre by rebooting entirely. You can find out more on what this relaunch will mean for the game in our recent interview with Aventurine. [Source: Aventurine press release]
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| EverQuest and EverQuest II offer expansion pre-order bonuses Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Expansions, Free-to-play, Promotions  While you can pick up the standard edition of either expansion for $39.99, SOE is lowering the price for both collector's editions from $89.99 to $59.99. The Rain of Fear CE includes a special quest, rucksack, house pet, and more. The Chains of Eternity CE comes equipped with plenty of extra potions, a tapestry, and a werewolf mercenary. As added incentive to pre-order, EverQuest is doling out a Harbinger's Staff and something called a "Fear Corrupted Phase Spider Metamorph Totem." You know all the cool kids will have one of those come Christmas. For EverQuest II's part, that expansion pre-order comes with the Cloak of Mourning. Click past the cut to see cover art for both expansions. Continue reading EverQuest and EverQuest II offer expansion pre-order bonuses
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| TERA aims to scare the pants off you with new Halloween event Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Events, in-game, Patches, TERA  This event is launching on the heels of a new content patch that adds a hard mode for Manaya's Core, a special achievement for level 60 characters, oodles of skill changes for the Berserker class, and more. Check out the complete patch notes for more details.
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Why do I still play SWTOR? Posted: 16 Oct 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon  Several months ago, I talked about the three major reasons I play SWTOR: Star Wars, BioWare, and MMOs. Interestingly, those three major components have been called into question within the last couple of months. Beyond them, are there any other compelling reasons to keep playing? And is there anything that will stop me from playing? Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Why do I still play SWTOR?
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| Mechwarrior Online secures over $5M in funding from preorders Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, New titles, Free-to-play, MechWarrior Online  One exciting bit of news released today revolves around the game's Founder's Program, which allows eager fans to preorder the game at different reward tiers. Since the program launched in July, the game has earned over $5M through Founders' preorders, with 500,000 registrations in the closed beta alone, according to the studio. Interestingly enough, the top tier, Legendary, had the highest number of registrations with over 26,000 players dishing out $120 each. The Founder's program has closed this last weekend in anticipation of the pending open beta, but it's important to note that Founders will be able to choose exactly when their rewarded premium time will start. Check out our impressions of Mechwarrior Online for more info. [Source: Piranha Games press release]
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| The Soapbox: No game lives forever Posted: 16 Oct 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous  MMOs are a different breed, aren't they? They promise the inverse of the solo game, with a world that goes on, content that keeps flooding in, and the illusion that it will last forever. Yet when the switch is turned off, there's no going back. You can't pick it up 10 years from now and give it another go. It's why the news that an MMO is closing up shop comes as such a devastating blow to many of us. As MMOs attempt to emulate the persistence of life, so too do they illustrate the finality of death. Continue reading The Soapbox: No game lives forever
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