MMO Updates

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• The Soapbox: Actually, that really isn't an MMO
• PAX Prime 2013: Wargaming plans presence and presents
• Black Desert Gamescom video shows 22 minutes of gameplay
• Massively Speaking Episode 261: The subs strike back
• Massively's Final Fantasy XIV relaunch roundup
• SWTOR site teases The Dread War update
• Super Adventure Box returns to Guild Wars 2
• The Daily Grind: How do you choose your mount?
• Not So Massively: D3 Reaper of Souls, Star Citizen hits $16m, and Dead Island goes MOBA
• SOE shows off Dragon's Prophet alliance PvP in new video
• Chaos Theory: Get the look with The Secret World's clothing guide
• Elder Scrolls AMA talks stealth mechanics and more
• Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part one
• The Nexus Telegraph: The impact of WildStar's new release window
• Gamescom 2013: Destiny, ESO take top honors
• Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida issues an apology to players

The Soapbox: Actually, that really isn't an MMO Posted: 27 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, EVE Online, Guild Wars, Business Models, Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Endgame, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, MMOFPS, MMORTS, World of Tanks, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, MMORPG, Buy-to-Play In last week's edition of The Soapbox, Mike Foster argued that online gaming has evolved over the past few years and that the term MMO should be expanded to cover other online games like MOBAs. He examined the blurred dividing line between new online games and the classic MMOs of yesteryear, and he made the controversial argument that Call of Duty and League of Legends should now fall under the MMO umbrella. I found myself disagreeing with many of Mike's arguments and wanting to make additional points of my own, so this week I'd like to offer a few counter-points on the same topic for debate. The MMO market has certainly evolved since Massively was founded, with some pretty big innovations in gameplay and new ideas like the free-to-play business model taking hold. As much as people like to complain about a lack of innovation in the games industry, the same level of experimentation and evolution has hit industry-wide. Call of Duty has borrowed unlock and XP systems from the world of orcs and dragons, and League of Legends came from nowhere to be at the forefront of a global MOBA revolution, but neither of them is an MMO by any stretch of the imagination. In this in-depth opinion piece, I break down the definition arguments surrounding the term MMO, offer a reasoned view of where the line can and should be drawn, and look at why Massively covers games other than MMOs. Continue reading The Soapbox: Actually, that really isn't an MMO The Soapbox: Actually, that really isn't an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX Prime 2013: Wargaming plans presence and presents Posted: 27 Aug 2013 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Events (Real-World), New Titles, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks, World of Warplanes If you are heading out to PAX Prime in Seattle this weekend, you'll have the opportunity to drop by the Wargaming booth and get your hands on World of Tanks on the Xbox 360 and World of Warplanes. Located at exhibit space 132 and 232, Wargaming's booth will have 30 playable gaming stations set up for attendees to play the games on. If playing the games isn't enough of an incentive to drop by, how about this one: The studio also plans hourly giveaways for the chance to win a variety of gaming hardware. [Source: Wargaming press release] PAX Prime 2013: Wargaming plans presence and presents originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Desert Gamescom video shows 22 minutes of gameplay Posted: 27 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Black Desert Gamescom 2013 may be over, but that doesn't mean great stuff isn't still trickling out from it. And today's stuff is a 22-minute video of Black Desert gameplay, complete with dev commentary. In this extended tour of the upcoming sandbox, Pearl Abyss shows off plenty of the action combat, active dodging, and wall climbing as well as the characters and the terrain. Besides that, viewers can see and hear about the weather system, the world map and exploration, worker NPCs who will harvest and deliver resources to you, and other features. If you've got a good chunk of time, sit back and have yourself a lengthy look at Black Desert after the break. [Thanks to Erik for the tip!] Continue reading Black Desert Gamescom video shows 22 minutes of gameplay Black Desert Gamescom video shows 22 minutes of gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: YouTube gameplay video

Massively Speaking Episode 261: The subs strike back Posted: 27 Aug 2013 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Even as the rebel forces of F2P celebrate the destruction of the old restrictive Sub Star, the enemy forces have regrouped and staged a comeback that nobody saw coming. Imperial subs have entered the base! Imperial subs have... As everyone is freaking out about this newfangled "trend" of subscription-only MMOs, the level-headed Bree and the hot-shot pilot Justin are there to blast through the emotional reactions to find the truth reactor behind it all. And then blow it up with a photon wit or two. 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: [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 261: The subs strike back Massively Speaking Episode 261: The subs strike back originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Massively's Final Fantasy XIV relaunch roundup Posted: 27 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, Guides Most games don't get a second chance at a first impression, but Final Fantasy XIV is going for precisely that with its revamped version launching today as A Realm Reborn. The original launch was met with notably terrible reception, prompting the complete shutdown of the first version followed by a radically different and redeveloped game. Maybe you're just now hearing about it, or maybe you've been following the game since the first announcement, but today is when everyone can finally access the relaunch. We've put together a collection of both news and useful guides so that old players can be brought up to speed, new players can learn what to do first, and people on the fence can decide whether the game is worth playing in the first place. Enjoy our relaunch roundup past the cut, and if you decide to take part, enjoy your reborn adventures in Final Fantasy XIV! Continue reading Massively's Final Fantasy XIV relaunch roundup Massively's Final Fantasy XIV relaunch roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SWTOR site teases The Dread War update Posted: 27 Aug 2013 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Lore, Patches, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic The Dread War is coming to Star Wars: The Old Republic with Game Update 2.4, bringing with it new operations, story missions, and warzone arenas. The new Level 55 Operation known as The Dread Fortress starts you out against one of the Dread Masters while you continue through to The Dread Palace for the finale to the Dread Masters' saga. A new 4v4 gladiator-esque PvP Warzone Arena was commissioned by Huttball sponsor Giradda the Hutt who has begun expanding his gambling empire through more bloodsports. You can read up on this latest update -- including an interview with the Arena's announcer, Baron Deathmark -- at the official site. SWTOR site teases The Dread War update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The Dread War update

Super Adventure Box returns to Guild Wars 2 Posted: 27 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, Guild Wars 2, Crafting, Buy-to-Play The rumors are true: Super Adventure Box is coming back to Guild Wars 2 for a 2013 encore event! The next content update for the game won't merely trot out the old April Fools Day content for another go, but will also add several new levels and challenges. When players return to the retro-themed game-within-a-game, they'll have the chance to push onward into World 2 with several new levels and a terrifying end boss: the Storm Wizard. ArenaNet is also adding a new Tribulation Mode for those who like a challenge, more super weapon skins, boss weapons, and the chance to craft a Princess Miya mini. The forthcoming update isn't just about the Super Adventure Box; players will be able to craft ascended weapons and push up to 500 skill points in weaponsmith, artificer, and huntsman crafting. Legendary weapons will be buffed and magic find will be stripped away from all gear in favor of adding it as an account-wide bonus. You can prepare by checking out our previous guide to Super Adventure Box and our analysis of its soundtrack. [Source: ArenaNet press release] Super Adventure Box returns to Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How do you choose your mount? Posted: 27 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous World of Warcraft used to make earning your first mount a pretty big deal. These days, it's less a deal simply because the game has so many mounts it's almost absurd. Almost anything large enough for a player character to fit on top is a mount... and if it's not big enough, a bigger version will be found for players to ride just the same. That's not the only game to do this, of course. Final Fantasy XIV now offers multiple mounts and multiple ways to dress up your mount. Dragon's Prophet offers you a variety of draconic options. Many games love to give players promotional mounts or special mounts for pre-order bonuses, subscriber bonuses, microtransaction items... you get the idea. So in this field of variety, how do you choose your mount? Do you plan for the cheapest option and aim for form over function? Do you display a special promotional mount with pride? Is your favorite mount a rare reward from in-game content? Or do you pick your mount based on character personality? 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: How do you choose your mount? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: D3 Reaper of Souls, Star Citizen hits $16m, and Dead Island goes MOBA Posted: 26 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, Business Models, Events (Real-World), Expansions, Game Mechanics, Lore, MMO Industry, New Titles, Patches, PvP, Endgame, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Casual, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous, Not So Massively, Sandbox, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Path of Exile Star Citizen celebrated hitting the $16 million US crowdfunding milestone this week, unlocking a virtual PvP arena game module. Developers revealed the system requirements for their upcoming hangar module release and promised that the $18 million goal will include a private solar system exclusively for pre-launch backers. Elite: Dangerous talked procedural galaxy generation in its latest fiction diary, confirming that around 75,000 real-world stars will be used and key locations like the Sol system will be manually created. Details of Diablo III's Reaper of Souls expansion have come thick and fast this week following Gamescom 2013, with the announcement of the new Crusader class, a fifth story act, and a ton of other features aimed at improving the loot-gathering endgame. Path of Exile recently introduced a hidden unique item accessible through an unknown vendor recipe, and players have already figured out what's required to make it. And Red 5 Studios was also at Gamescom to announce details of the second stage of MMOFPS Firefall's open beta. Bloodline Champions fans will be glad to hear not only that the game will be getting a little more attention in the near future but also that the developers have secured the contract to create a new MOBA named Dead Island: Epidemic. League of Legends put on its usual showing at Gamescom with the EU LCS Playoff and International Wildcard tournaments, and new champion Lucian has officially joined the game's growing roster of characters. Finally, SMITE celebrated a new partnership with Chinese publisher Tencent that will see the game released in China. Continue reading Not So Massively: D3 Reaper of Souls, Star Citizen hits $16m, and Dead Island goes MOBA Not So Massively: D3 Reaper of Souls, Star Citizen hits $16m, and Dead Island goes MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE shows off Dragon's Prophet alliance PvP in new video Posted: 26 Aug 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dragon's Prophet SOE has published a new Dragon's Prophet gameplay video. It focuses on the free-to-play fantasy MMO's PvP alliance matches, otherwise known as the Frontier System. The two-minute clip features plenty of player-on-player action, capture points, resource gathering, and ally summoning rituals. And of course there are more than a few dragons on display, along with siege weapons and aerial combat galore. Dragon's Prophet launches September 18th. The video is viewable after the break. [Source: SOE press release] Continue reading SOE shows off Dragon's Prophet alliance PvP in new video SOE shows off Dragon's Prophet alliance PvP in new video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chaos Theory: Get the look with The Secret World's clothing guide Posted: 26 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Game Mechanics, Opinion, The Secret World, Roleplaying, Guides, Chaos Theory, Buy-to-Play Dressed to kill. In The Secret World, that's not just an idiom; everyone in this cornucopia of conspiracies is literally dressed -- or in some cases, practically undressed -- to kill. Each player, regardless of secret society affiliation, is romping around the world snuffing the life out of stuff (although admittedly, "life" may not be the best term for the undead). What's more, players get to sport their own unique looks as they engage in said romps, dispensing death. And that's precisely the topic that I am zeroing in on this week: the wonderful world of the wardrobe. No matter which way you slice, dice, torch, or explode it, The Secret World has one of the best systems for player creativity and flexibility in clothing. In this system, clothing is not armor; it is completely cosmetic. Clothing has no stats attached in any way, freeing players to wear whatever they want with only a few restrictions (gender being one). Players also have unlimited access to their personal wardrobes, allowing them to change outfits whenever desired. This guide will give you the basics of where to find the various clothing pieces throughout the game so you can create "The Look" that's perfect for you. And then we'll finish off by telling you how you can get your own design into the game! Continue reading Chaos Theory: Get the look with The Secret World's clothing guide Chaos Theory: Get the look with The Secret World's clothing guide originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Elder Scrolls AMA talks stealth mechanics and more Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription Now that the furor of The Elder Scrolls Online's business model announcement has died down, ZeniMax can get back to its regularly scheduled content drip. Wait, who are we kidding? Fans are still frothing at the mouth over TESO's launch subscription, but fortunately none of that discourse makes its way into this week's Ask Us Anything post. Instead, the devs focus on topics like character roles, magic, the UI, and stealth mechanics. This last one is particularly interesting given ZeniMax's description of how the tactic will function in PvP. "If you are in stealth, you will be invisible to enemy players unless they detect you. It will take more than just a casual look in a stealthed player's direction to uncover them," the post explains. "During a recent playtest, one of our developers was ambushed by a hidden enemy. It was a very effective tactic; the ambusher took advantage of the fact that his target wasn't being cautious and using the Magelight ability, which would have thwarted the ambush." Elder Scrolls AMA talks stealth mechanics and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Ask Us Anything

Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part one Posted: 26 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, Interviews, Patches, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Captain's Log The past couple of weeks, I took a bit of time to head to Las Vegas to moderate and cover the Star Trek Online panels at the official Star Trek Convention, but I'm happy to say I'm back in the saddle and picking up where I left off with my series of interviews with the people responsible for making Star Trek Online and conducted when I visited Cryptic Studios in late June. This week I begin my summaries of my interview with STO's lead writer, Christine Thompson. Many of you may know her as Cryptic Kestrel. Read on to see what she had to say about writing for the Romulan Republic! Continue reading Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part one Captain's Log: Interview with Star Trek Online's Christine Thompson, part one originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Nexus Telegraph: The impact of WildStar's new release window Posted: 26 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, WildStar, The Nexus Telegraph, Subscription, Buy-to-Play It merited only a footnote when the business model was announced, and it was easy to miss for all of the screaming between players who refused to listen to the other sorts of players, but WildStar isn't aiming for a 2013 release any longer. Not that this is exactly a shock, of course; I said about a month ago that I would prefer to just be told that the game wouldn't release until 2014, which already looked to be the case. But there's something interesting to be unpacked with that almost offhand mention of the game's targeted release date, especially when you consider how many huge holes there are in our present knowledge of the game. We'll learn more at the end of the week as PAX Prime starts up, but I find myself filling in some blanks both in terms of upcoming revelations and what we've not been told yet. Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: The impact of WildStar's new release window The Nexus Telegraph: The impact of WildStar's new release window originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gamescom 2013: Destiny, ESO take top honors Posted: 26 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous, The Elder Scrolls Online, Destiny, MMORPG Over 340,000 attendees descended on Cologne to see what the biggest in the business had to offer at Gamescom 2013, with the upcoming battle between Microsoft and Sony's next-gen consoles taking center stage. So what came out on top? According to this year's Gamescom Awards, pretty much the games you'd expect. Bungie's MMO-shooter hybrid Destiny took home the award for Best PlayStation game, along with Best Action Game, Best Online Multiplayer Game, and Best of Gamescom. Meanwhile, ZeniMax Online and Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls Online walked with Best Role-Playing Game and Best Social/Casual/Online Game. Gaijin Entertainment's War Thunder was named Best Simulation Game. Other awards were meted out to non-MMO contenders; Titanfall, Forza 5, Mario Kart 8, FIFA 14, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and Battlefield 4 all ended up with some sort of official recognition. Gamescom 2013: Destiny, ESO take top honors originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Press Release

Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida issues an apology to players Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV Final Fantasy XIV's Early Access period hasn't been a smooth ride if you're playing in North America or Europe. The server cluster dedicated to these players has had to undergo several periods of maintenance and unexpected downtime, with several players entirely unable to log in on Sunday. Producer/director Naoki Yoshida took to the official forums to issue a personal apology to players affected by these issues, explaining the problems faced by the team and the steps being taken to correct them. Yoshida states that several of the load-related issues are still persisting, so the team is currently placing restrictions on logins to try to relieve some congestion and better identify server failure points. He goes on to apologize to players for any wait experienced and asks for patience as the team strives to deliver the best possible experience for all players. There's no word on how long these restrictions will be in place or what form they will take, but with the official launch tomorrow, we can only hope that the issues are largely sorted out soon. Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida issues an apology to players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: An Apology to Players Using NA/EU Data Centers

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