MMO Updates

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• The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward
• WRUP: Open PvP edition
• The Daily Grind: What licensed property would you prefer not to see as an MMO?
• TERA drops to $5 on Amazon
• Betawatch: December 30, 2012 - January 4, 2013
• New Neverwinter screens show off Blackdagger Ruins and Vellosk
• Anonymous source sounds off on City of Heroes profitability, NCsoft responds
• The Art of Blizzard prepares for debut
• Pirate101 enjoys strong headwinds as it goes into 2013
• Firefly Universe Online reactivates with Fox's 'well wishes'
• MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction
• Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content?

The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward Posted: 05 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor As long-time readers of this column know, this is about the time when I reflect on my personal wish list that I made for the previous year while making a new list for the upcoming one. After all, you can't go on an adventure without a long list or two organizing everything! On the whole, 2012 was a pretty great year for Lord of the Rings Online. The expansion into Rohan, mounted combat, and the addition of a great new soundtrack added so much to the game, giving us a spectacular high-level zone that's full of lore and amazing setpieces. The devs have been smoothing out the middle of the game with a Moria revamp, open tapping, and remote looting, which should make leveling that much better. Players had four sizable updates to consume. Even Mac users had something to cheer as Turbine created a client for the platform. Of course, it wasn't all peaches and cream. The expansion faced a delay, the pricing and features of Riders of Rohan stoked controversy, and we're still waiting for the second half of the promised instance cluster to arrive. The store kept stepping on people's toes, from the barter wallet to the infamous hobby horse. And the new festival, the Farmer's Faire, was kind of a dud. So let's see whether LotRO fulfilled any of my wishes from last year, and then I'll share my desires for 2013! Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward The Road to Mordor: Looking back and looking forward originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WRUP: Open PvP edition Posted: 05 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous Open PvP was first introduced to the world by senior rock engineer Thag, who realized that he could communicate his displeasure with cavemate Thog's activities through more direct means. Over the past several thousand years, the ruleset has been updated and expanded many times, with new rules banning the use of certain abilities outside of designated warzones. These days, for much of the civilized world, PvP is instanced; to enter an instance, queue up at your local military recruitment office. With that out of the way, let's get to this week's WRUP, yes? This features no PvP, instead focusing exclusively on what the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend. Check out our plans in the list past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments. Or just punch your monitor in displeasure. That's like PvP, although having to replace your monitor afterwards will be an unfortunate consequence. Continue reading WRUP: Open PvP edition WRUP: Open PvP edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What licensed property would you prefer not to see as an MMO? Posted: 05 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous I've become completely enraptured by My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I'm not alone in this regard. But odd though it might sound, I'm not really hoping for the show to move into the MMO space soon or, well, ever. It's a great setting, and it's a lot of fun, but I just can't help but feel as if it would lose something in the translation, especially as it almost certainly would be designed trying to appeal to two vastly different age groups. Sometimes, even if we like a setting, it just doesn't translate well to an online game. Maybe it's too focused on a specific set of characters, maybe it's aimed at disparate audiences, maybe it just doesn't lend itself to much variety in gameplay. So what licensed property do you like that you would rather not see adapted to an online game? Or are you happy to see anything you like turned into an MMO? 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: What licensed property would you prefer not to see as an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

TERA drops to $5 on Amazon Posted: 04 Jan 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, News items, TERA, Promotions The holiday season is over. You've gotten games for the holidays, in all likelihood, and you probably also picked up a new game or a dozen over on Steam. But you're still looking to pad out your game library just a wee bit, maybe with something a bit more MMO-related. What can you do? Well, you could pick up TERA for $5 at Amazon right now. Yes, less than the price of subscribing for a month. Too good to be true? Well, there are limitations. The only version thusly on sale is the digital download, meaning that if you'd rather have a physical copy, you'll have to pay a bit more. It's also only the standard digital edition with no extra bells or whistles. Still, it's the game and a month of subscription time for less than a fast food lunch, so if you still haven't tried the game and have a desire to do so, your time is now. [Thanks to Segun for the tip!] TERA drops to $5 on Amazon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Amazon

Betawatch: December 30, 2012 - January 4, 2013 Posted: 04 Jan 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, News items, Betawatch, Miscellaneous Earthrise isn't in testing at the moment, but it will be soon. Yes, it did that dance once before, but after the game's untimely demise, it's being resurrected for another go. Of course, it's not the only fish in the science fiction sandbox pond, with The Repopulation humming along in development and upgrading to a newer graphical engine for a bit more visual shine. The more fashion-conscious among our readers will take note that City of Steam has updated the guard uniforms to be more trim and proper, removing the huge shoulderpads that had previously dominated the look. ArcheAge continues to put out new information as more testing continues in Korea, and Defiance is gearing up for its first beta event later in January. For more tests in the lineup, click on past the break for the full list. If you notice anything we missed, feel free to let us know down in the comments. Continue reading Betawatch: December 30, 2012 - January 4, 2013 Betawatch: December 30, 2012 - January 4, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Neverwinter screens show off Blackdagger Ruins and Vellosk Posted: 04 Jan 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, New titles, Free-to-play, Neverwinter If you've been following along at home with the latest Neverwinter news, you'll know that the game has been releasing a steady stream of new info lately to get us excited for the impending release later this year. In a flood of new screenshots unleashed from Cryptic and Perfect World today, we see some in-game action from both Blackdagger Ruins and the Vellosk zone. You can check out the images in the gallery below and read more about the lore behind these screenshots in an exclusive with our friends over at MMORPG.com. Gallery: Neverwinter New Neverwinter screens show off Blackdagger Ruins and Vellosk originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anonymous source sounds off on City of Heroes profitability, NCsoft responds Posted: 04 Jan 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play The chance to prevent City of Heroes from being shut down may have passed, but the debates about the game's profitability and the merit of that shutdown aren't going anywhere. An anonymous source has come forward reaffirming several previous data points but also elaborating on some of the details surrounding the closure, including Paragon Studios' plan to pull away from NCsoft entirely and why NCsoft wouldn't greenlight a sequel to the game. Surprisingly, NCsoft's Chief of Corporate Communications, Lincoln Davis, responded to the information, denying all claims but still shedding some light on the issue. Davis mentions repeatedly that Paragon Studios was not profitable, but at no point does he state that City of Heroes itself was not profitable. He also avoids saying that the company was unable to find a buyer for the game but simply that the company was unable to find a buyer that NCsoft thought would support the game "in a manner [players] were accustomed to for years to come." While it won't bring the game back, it certainly sheds some interesting light on the whole situation, albeit light that will likely be of cold comfort to the game's fans. [Update: We've reached out to NCsoft for a more detailed statement; we'll keep you posted when we hear more.] Anonymous source sounds off on City of Heroes profitability, NCsoft responds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: CoH: Profitable or not?

The Art of Blizzard prepares for debut Posted: 04 Jan 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Miscellaneous, Diablo III Blizzard has never been short on absolutely amazing artists, which is why we're quite keen on getting a glimpse of the new Art of Blizzard book coming out this month. The Art of Blizzard is a huge 350-page coffee table book full of hundreds of pieces of concept art and behind-the-scenes looks from the studio's entire library. To celebrate the book's launch, Blizzard invites fans to travel to southern California for a reception and exhibition at Gallery Nucleus. The reception is on January 12th with the exhibition running until February 3rd, and players may be able to snag one of the early copies of the book there as long as supplies last. The studio is sending several of its artists to the gallery to meet fans and provide autographs. The Art of Blizzard prepares for debut originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement post, Gallery Nucleus

Pirate101 enjoys strong headwinds as it goes into 2013 Posted: 04 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-play, Kids, Family, Dev Diaries, Pirate101 You know what's great about Pirate101? Every time we report on it, it's a new opportunity to use pirate-speak. So avast ye scallywags and pay attention to KingsIsle's Jay Gordon, who's got a new producer's letter for the powder monkeys who play the game. Amid raising the flag and giving a pep talk to the crew, Gordon does slip some scuttlebutt about what's coming to Pirate101 this year: "Looking ahead, 2013 is going to offer a veritable treasure trove of all-new pirate adventures and we can't wait to unveil new worlds, quests, gameplay features, ships, equipment and the wide variety of companions and fantastic combat attacks now in the works." In the meanwhile, players can enjoy the January newsletter that comes complete with a tip or two about the game. Pirate101 enjoys strong headwinds as it goes into 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Producer's Letter, January newsletter

Firefly Universe Online reactivates with Fox's 'well wishes' Posted: 04 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Business models, New titles, Crowdfunding Is the dream of a Firefly MMO still flying? The folks at DarkCryo Entertainment think so. The unlikely project seemed doomed due to an unauthorized use of the IP, but that may have changed. DarkCryo posted a notice on the project's Facebook page indicating that Fox has given something of a go-ahead: "With the well wishes of Fox Entertainment Group, we have reactivated the FUO MMORPG Facebook page in preparation for our upcoming Kickstarter campaign. A popular alpha launch may re-awaken licensing consideration, in which case we may then include an expansion pack containing derivative content." According to the counter on the front page, the crowdsourcing attempt to fund further development will begin in 16 days. Firefly Universe Online was officially (or unofficially, as the case may be) announced back in June of 2011. [Thanks to Tarka for the tip!] Firefly Universe Online reactivates with Fox's 'well wishes' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: FUO Facebook

MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction Posted: 04 Jan 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Real life, Video, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility, Sandbox For the next five MMObility columns, I'll be taking a look at my new Chromebook, a device I have dreamed of owning since it was first announced some time ago. I've decided to name it the "All In One" project, representing the ability of a Chromebook to do almost anything, all within the confines of a browser. Today's Chromebooks are much different beasts than the first CR-48s that were sent out for testing and reviews. The current flagship Chromebook, the Samsung Series 3 XE303C12 model that utilizes an SSD and a processor that you would normally find within a tablet, is well-built, instantly and silently updated, fun to use, and best of all, pretty darn inexpensive at $249.00 US. Over the course of these columns, I will cover gaming on the device. Yes, gaming, as in MMORPGs. I've been a massive browser fan for a long time, so I already have access to a list of at least 100 different MMOs that run on very basic tech. I will be listing these games over the next few weeks while explaining how they work. Don't worry, techies; I'm covering the guts and tweaky stuff on my personal blog at Beauhindman.com. This will be a two-pronged attempt at using the Chromebook in real scenarios, something that is often missing from tech reviews. So let's get started! Continue reading MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction MMObility: The Chromebook 'All In One' project - Introduction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content? Posted: 04 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: EVE Online, EverQuest II, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, The Secret World, Roleplaying, Xsyon, Miscellaneous, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox During a recent conversation with my fellow Some Assembly Required columnist, it became apparent that we had slightly differing opinions on the definition of player-generated content. We both agreed that it was content generated by players (obviously), but when it came to the type of content, our opinions diverged. Seeing as PGC is one of the founding premise behind SAR, I thought it would be a good idea to start the new year out by defining the term more precisely to give us a stable foundation to build on. After all, we want to be on the same page, don't we? Of course, that gives you the chance to weigh in with your opinions as well! What is the first thing you think of when you hear the term? Let's see whether your ideas about player-generated content mesh with mine, more closely resemble Jef's, or embody something totally different. Continue reading Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content? Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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