Sunday, December 7, 2014

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

WoW Archivist: Upper Blackrock Spire

Posted: 07 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST

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Whelps and eggs in the Rookery
WoW Archivist is a biweekly column by WoW Insider's Scott Andrews, who explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? It first appeared on our sister site on December 4th and is included here by permission.

You may have taken Upper Blackrock Spire, Warlord Zaela, but the classic version lives in our hearts, where your orc friends can't get to it. In 2005, UBRS was the dungeon everyone desperately aspired to run. We begged to run it. We paid to run it. We sat in capital cities for hours just hoping, dreaming, that someone, somehow, would put together an UBRS group.

The dungeon was the pinnacle of content for classic WoW's "nonraiders" and the gateway to raiding for raiders. Quests here attuned you for Onyxia's Lair and Blackwing Lair. (And who doesn't love a good lair?) Another quest allowed your Molten Core raid to summon Majordomo Executus. No endgame PvE'er could avoid UBRS, even if he or she wanted to. We didn't avoid it, though, because the original "Ubers" (ooo-berz), as players affectionately called it, was awesome.

What made it so special? Why was it so revered, and why are some players sad that it has been removed from WoW forever? Let's turn back the Empowered Hourglass to 2005 to find out.

Continue reading WoW Archivist: Upper Blackrock Spire

MassivelyWoW Archivist: Upper Blackrock Spire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    One Shots: Cult worship

    Posted: 07 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST

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    tsw
    Have you ever been running along in an MMO and come screeching to a halt because other players are doing something inexplicably weird? Then perhaps you'd sympathize with reader Tyler in this situation.

    "There are times in games -- especially games like The Secret World -- when one stumbles across something they simply can't explain," he submitted. "But nothing I have seen is as surreal as the sight that greeted me when I stepped into Agartha during the recent Halloween event: a circle of Atenists worshipping a girl in a bikini whilst chanting "ATEN! ATEN! ATEN!' I asked around in general. No one had any explanation for what in God's name was happening. It is a mystery for the ages."

    Continue reading One Shots: Cult worship

    MassivelyOne Shots: Cult worship originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Have you played a console MMO?

      Posted: 07 Dec 2014 05:00 AM PST

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      SOE recently announced that DC Universe Online has over 18 million registered users. Even if we take that with the usual grains of salt (how many concurrent users? how many of them spend money?), it's a pretty huge number. Prior to reading it, in fact, I would have guessed that the number of console players interested in every console MMO would be well under 18 million.

      What do you think? Does the number surprise you? Have you yourself played a console 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!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you played a console MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Make My MMO: November 30 - December 6, 2014

        Posted: 06 Dec 2014 03:00 PM PST

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        This week in MMO crowdfunding news, Shards Online talked up its permadeath plans as well as how it intends to balance crafting vs. loot. TUG's devs revealed that they're hoping for an investor, while Star Citizen continued to make a lot of money and a lot of commenter rage.

        Finally, Pantheon previewed a dungeon with a single screenshot and continued taking donations via Patreon. The rest of this week's MMO crowdfunding news roundup is after the break.

        Continue reading Make My MMO: November 30 - December 6, 2014

        MassivelyMake My MMO: November 30 - December 6, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Star Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week

          Posted: 06 Dec 2014 12:00 PM PST

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          I'm a Star Citizen backer, but I didn't pledge enough to pilot the Anvil Hornet prior to launch. Thanks to Cloud Imperium, though, I'll be flying it in Arena Commander anyway, at least for the next week. The Hornet has been unlocked for all backers, according to a posting on the game's website.

          "The Hornet is the civilian version of the F7A Hornet flown off of the elite Bengal carrier vanguard of the UEE Navy," CIG explains. "It may not be the prettiest ship but it is the go-to short range fighter due to Anvil's sturdy design and ability to take as much punishment as it can dish out."

          In other SC news, Chris Roberts published another Letter from the Chairman last night which includes tidbits on multicrew ships, modular ship design, and exterior customization options.

          Continue reading Star Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week

          MassivelyStar Citizen's Hornet available to all backers this week originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Stream Team: Fishing for danger in ArcheAge

          Posted: 06 Dec 2014 10:00 AM PST

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          ArcheAge has a plethora of activities players can partake in. If you don't feel like doing one, go do another. And this time, Massively's MJ feels like jumping into a fishing frenzy! While she doesn't have the skill (or labor points) to fully participate in deep-sea sport fishing, hopefully she can catch a raid and head out into the open waters to cast her line alongside other anglers. Failing that, she'll see about joining a PUG for a little dungeon diving. In either case, there's definitely danger aplenty. Join us live at 1:00 p.m. for this foray into fishing.

          Game: ArcheAge
          Host: MJ Guthrie
          Date: Saturday, December 6th, 2014
          Time: 1:00 p.m. EST

          Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

          Continue reading The Stream Team: Fishing for danger in ArcheAge

          MassivelyThe Stream Team: Fishing for danger in ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Star Wars: The Old Republic axes skill training costs

            Posted: 06 Dec 2014 09:00 AM PST

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            swtor
            SWTOR penny-pinchers rejoice, for the oppressive tyranny of skill costs are about to become history. In a post on the forums this afternoon, BioWare announced that it will be abandoning skill training costs as of next week.

            "One thing has become clear from the player feedback in not only this thread, but since launch: players do not like training costs. It is a situation where every level you will see your hard earned credits go to a holographic Hutt doctor in order to make yourself a bit stronger. We have been talking about this topic internally for quite some time and when you add player feedback to the mix one thing becomes clear... We should make training costs a thing of the past," the studio said.

            [Thanks to the five million people who sent this tip in!]

            MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic axes skill training costs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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