MMO Updates

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• Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2
• Realm Zero enters alpha testing
• One Shots: The frozen sea
• The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the most content?
• Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool
• Aion EU starts a new Q&A vidcast
• Check out the ultimate Elite: Dangerous setup
• CCP looking for EVE Fanfest speakers
• World of Tanks' 9.5 update detailed in new trailer, review vid
• Shroud of the Avatar drops Release 13 for the holidays
• LotRO cracks down on superman exploit
• The Stream Team: Getting festive in ArcheAge
• The Repopulation drops NDA, comes to Steam
• The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part one

Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 23 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Game Mechanics, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Crafting, Buy-to-Play Merry Wintersday! Guild Wars 2's non-denominational twinkly winter celebration is in full swing. Despite earlier reports from ArenaNet that we'd get pure repeats of both Halloween and Wintersday, this year has added some new quests and a thematically appropriate relocation to Divinity's Reach. I was wrong last week about the sad Dickensian atmosphere of ruined Lion's Arch decorated with snowflakes, but there are still plenty of unfortunate children, so it all evens out. As your resident Scrooge, I'm going to skirt around the topic of candy canes and jumping puzzles to talk about a game feature that's much closer to my heart: crafting. However, I come to lob snowballs at GW2's crafting system, not to praise it. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: Crafting up a storm in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Realm Zero enters alpha testing Posted: 23 Dec 2014 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, News Items, Sandbox Looking for another indie sandbox title to follow along? Realm Zero has your number, and not coincidentally, it just entered its second phase of alpha testing. No, really, it's not just a collection of concept art! There's a video past the break and everything. So if you're leery of giving your heart to a game that's a bunch of lovely ideas with no actual game, well, at least that's not quite what's happening here. The game promises to have an evolving world based on player action, with combat based upon FPS models rather than on the traditional level-based grind of most MMOs. It also boasts a skill system that allows you to build a character without having to make permanent choices, so you can mix and match over time to build your preferred character. Read more on the official site. [Thanks to Sandboxer for the tip!] Continue reading Realm Zero enters alpha testing Realm Zero enters alpha testing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: The frozen sea Posted: 23 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Screenshots, Final Fantasy XI, Culture, One Shots, Miscellaneous It's not too often that I see Final Fantasy XI (yes, XI) screenshots tossed my way, but I have to say that this one is right up there with its MMO successor. This landscape is also very much in line with the current season in the northern hemisphere. "Here is the seemingly serene zone of Al'Taieu in the sea, which is only accessible after doing part of the Promathia storyline," reader Ben submitted. Is it so serene that one might freeze to death while admiring its tranquil beauty? Want to be featured in a future edition of One Shots? Send your favorite MMO screenshots to oneshots@massively.com, and don't forget to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of the scene. Large, colorful, UI-free shots that tell a story and really show off the game make for the best images. Look ma, we brought back One Shots! One Shots: The frozen sea originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the most content? Posted: 23 Dec 2014 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous A Massively commenter weeks ago wrote that World of Warcraft has the most content out of any MMO, full-stop, and everyone around him seemed to take that at face value, which astonished me. Look, I'm subbing to WoW even as I type this, and I think WoW has gobs more systems than some people give it credit for, but the most content of any MMO? Not a chance! Even if we discount wide-open, pure sandboxes -- which, depending on whom you ask, have either no content or infinite content -- we'd still have to factor in sandparks and classic MMOs that have 20 expansions, more updates than WoW per year, multiple expansions per year, and so many systems and zones that it's just flat out overwhelming. There are a dozen MMOs that intimidate people with how much stuff they pack in. You'd never finish them. By comparison, WoW is a mere snack -- an awesome, polished snack, but a snack all the same. I don't know which MMO has the "most" content, but I'm pretty sure WoW wouldn't make even the inevitable top 10 list. What about you other folks who've been around the MMO block a time or two? Which MMO has the most content? 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: Which MMO has the most content? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool Posted: 22 Dec 2014 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Business Models, Classes, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Launches, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes, Mobile, Consoles, Crime, MMOFPS, Miscellaneous, Not So Massively, MechWarrior Online, MOBA, League of Legends, Crowdfunding, Destiny, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Infinite Crisis, Hearthstone, E-sports, OARPG Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs. Jagex announced that it plans to shut down the Transformers Universe MOBA in January. Elite: Dangerous launched this week. We compared it to EVE Online and drooled over a ridiculously cool Elite-centered PC rig. SMITE explored Awilix in depth, kicked off Saturnalia, and announced a $2,000,000 prize pool for its World Championships. SMITECentral named it the 5th highest prize pool in e-sports history. [Thanks, Sorenthaz!] Star Citizen released Arena Commander 1.0. League of Legends issues a royal welcome to one and all to its Snowdown 2014 celebration. Hearthstone formally launched worldwide on Android devices. Marvel Heroes adds Venom and put almost everything in the game on sale for 50% off. MechWarrior Online patched in a 64-bit client. War Thunder's Steel Generals expansion beta is live. A Destiny player beat the expansion's new content solo. Riot Games tried to beat League of Legends hackers by hiring them. Undead Labs answered player questions about Moonrise. DayZ is adding a bunch of new themed items for the holidays. The team also posted an anniversary video. Infinite Crisis released playable Swamp Thing. MOBA Shards of War introduced new sentinel Bastion. After much delay, GTA Online will be getting heists next year. Continue reading Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion EU starts a new Q&A vidcast Posted: 22 Dec 2014 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, Community Q&A Aion's EU dev team has released the first episode of a new vidcast called Ask Aion. It follows a pretty familiar Q&A format, with the questions pulled from fans via Twitter. They include bits about player events, possible server merges, and even an angry rant directed at publisher GameForge which prompts Aion's EU product director to strangle a plushie on camera. See for yourself after the cut. Continue reading Aion EU starts a new Q&A vidcast Aion EU starts a new Q&A vidcast originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Ask Aion

Check out the ultimate Elite: Dangerous setup Posted: 22 Dec 2014 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Culture, News Items, Sandbox, Elite: Dangerous Immersion is all in the eye of the beholder. It's all about what you need to feel as if you're stepping out of your world and into the game, something that can happen on a setup as simple as a handheld game console in the right circumstances. But it can also happen on a setup like that belonging to Elite: Dangerous fan Markus Boesen, which is going to put your own setup to shame no matter how good it may be. Boesen's game cockpit is setup with head tracking, three monitors angled for a simulation of peripheral vision, touchscreen interfaces, two joysticks, and more or less everything you could ever want to pretend that you're really sitting in a ship and flying through space. There's a video just past the break, if you'd like to see the setup in action and possibly make some last-minute amendments to your winter holiday gift list. Continue reading Check out the ultimate Elite: Dangerous setup Check out the ultimate Elite: Dangerous setup originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: TweakTown

CCP looking for EVE Fanfest speakers Posted: 22 Dec 2014 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Sandbox The 2015 version of EVE's annual Fanfest is only three months away! CCP is looking to ramp up player engagement during the event, though it says it will not be "replacing any developer presentations with community ones." The firm does want to "increase the number of player-run sessions," though, and its latest news article outlines how you can get involved in 45-minute panels, 10- to 20-minute presentations, or five-minute "lightning talk" events. CCP looking for EVE Fanfest speakers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

World of Tanks' 9.5 update detailed in new trailer, review vid Posted: 22 Dec 2014 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Historical, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, PvP, News Items, War, World of Tanks Wargaming has released a new trailer for World of Tanks version 9.5. The patch adds three new maps, a host of British war machines, an overhauled minimap, and much more. The trailer is kind of a quickie, so we've also embedded the 9.5 review video just beyond the break WoT 9.5 is now available for download via the game's official website. Continue reading World of Tanks' 9.5 update detailed in new trailer, review vid World of Tanks' 9.5 update detailed in new trailer, review vid originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Update 9.5

Shroud of the Avatar drops Release 13 for the holidays Posted: 22 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, News Items, Shroud of the Avatar, Buy-to-Play The team behind Shroud of the Avatar has headed home for the holidays until December 28th, but a little present has been left behind for fans just the same. The latest update for the game is live on the servers, and it allows you to pick up a seasonal Yule Hat just for stopping in and checking out the new content. Also there is a whole lot of new stuff to play through, so a hat is probably not your primary incentive here, but the point is that the hat exists just the same. To be fair, stopping in and checking out the content requires going through the game's Grand Tour quest, which will lead players through all of the new bits added in this update. That includes new crafting, new creatures, new skills, and new areas. Check out the full update for patch notes, details on how to clear out the Grand Tour, and upcoming community events. Shroud of the Avatar drops Release 13 for the holidays originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Update of the Avatar #104

LotRO cracks down on superman exploit Posted: 22 Dec 2014 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Bugs, Free-to-Play, Legal An exploit that is allowing Lord of the Rings Online players to super-charge their toons is on the end of a stern warning by Turbine today. The studio says that it has already banned and will continue to ban accounts seen using this deliberate loophole. "It has come to our attention that some players have been utilizing an exploit to change how powerful their characters are in the game world," the studio posted today. "Upon receiving reports of the issue we began an investigation. Due to the way our log system works we can definitively detect every account that is taking advantage of this exploit." Turbine is currently working on a fix for the problem. [Thanks to Superswim for the tip!] LotRO cracks down on superman exploit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Exploit notice

The Stream Team: Getting festive in ArcheAge Posted: 22 Dec 2014 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, Livestream, ArcheAge, The Stream Team Most games have some kind of holiday festivities, and ArcheAge is no exception. The Winter Maiden Festival is in full swing in the lands of Erenor. There are trees to decorate and snowmen to build -- both of which result in presents for you. And in true ArcheAge style, there's even a short-shirted bunny outfit available for purchase! Join us live at 3:00 p.m. for a little holiday cheer. If we're lucky, we'll even be able to catch the snow. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Monday, December 22nd, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Getting festive in ArcheAge The Stream Team: Getting festive in ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Repopulation drops NDA, comes to Steam Posted: 22 Dec 2014 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, The Repopulation The Repopulation is spreading a bit of early Christmas cheer according to the latest news blurb on the sci-fi sandbox's website. In short, the final alpha phase begins this weekend, and you can also pick up the game via Steam's Early Access program. The Steam launch has done away with the NDA, too, so feel free to share your experiences in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to watch the Alpha 4 trailer after the break! [Thanks Crow!] Continue reading The Repopulation drops NDA, comes to Steam The Repopulation drops NDA, comes to Steam originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part one Posted: 22 Dec 2014 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Game Mechanics, Endgame, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous Last month, my three-part Soapbox series on reasons studios should abandon raiding as the core mechanic of their MMOs produced no shortage of comments. One of the persistent refrains from the pro-raid side was, as expected, "if you're so smart, why aren't you proposing alternatives?!" The obvious answer would be that it wasn't the point of the articles. The series was about reasons to drop raiding, after all. But it's also not as simple as "here's what games should be doing" because there are countless alternatives. Tons of alternatives. I can think of at least six off the top of my head. So for this new series, let's consider models that don't rely upon raiding as an endgame progression model. Some of these are close cousins to endgame models found in games currently on the market, some of them are not, and none of them has been designed with fine details or lore or what-not in mind. They're drag-and-drop, as it were. The point here is explaining the multitude of options available for an MMO's endgame that don't rely upon raiding for their focus. Today's article will cover the first two of six I have in mind. Continue reading The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part one The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part one originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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