Tuesday, February 3, 2015

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

The Repopulation drops its first patch for the new build

Posted: 03 Feb 2015 08:00 AM PST

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Your hula hoop competition is going very poorly.
It's more possible to play The Repopulation now than it has ever been, and that means the design team is shaking up how it handles updates. Instead of the monthly recaps of the past, the team is putting forth notes for each individual patch, such as the first major one to hit the current testing build. It's focused on improving several areas of the game, starting with a polishing of textures and performance in Plymouth City and a few other smaller points.

Several combat improvements have also been rolled out, although the next patch will hit most of the major combat issues players have brought up. Skill gain rates have also been adjusted, as have the Auction and Work Order systems in hopes of keeping the economy lively. If a few lingering issues had kept you from fully enjoying The Repopulation or you just want a picture of all the changes that have come down the pipe, check out the full walkthrough of the latest patch.

MassivelyThe Repopulation drops its first patch for the new build originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trove shows off its wonders for January

Posted: 03 Feb 2015 07:00 AM PST

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It turns out that Minecraft is a thing that exists.
Do you like seeing all of the creative projects that people can put together in Trove? The team behind the game certainly does, since one of the cornerstones of design is to get creative. Which is why there's a new post detailing some of the wonders to be found in the game from the month of January, Club Worlds that offer visual flair and a unique perspective.

Some of the worlds are mostly just visual treats, others are functional spots that allow you to ride along special tracks to hear music or take part in a high-speed pinata-cracking festival. If you want an idea about what new worlds to visit during your next play session, you could do worse than hopping into the game and taking a gander at what's on display.

MassivelyTrove shows off its wonders for January originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WildStar launches the Protogames Initiative

Posted: 03 Feb 2015 06:00 AM PST

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I would have liked to see how this played out.
WildStar players have fought off the machinations of the Entity, the depravities of their enemy faction, and the vicious wildlife of Nexus. Yet they've never had to face the centerpiece of the newest patch, the Protostar Corporation. Admittedly, taking part in the all-new Protogames isn't quite the same as taking on an ancient evil, but the two new dungeons added with this patch are both meant to test player abilities, with a low-level run through Protogames Academy conveying gameplay concepts while the Ultimate Protogames provide an assortment of new challenges.

Not that there aren't plenty of other things for players to experience as well. The patch also contains new housing options, allowing you to edit the terrain of your home, and the character chop shop to let you re-edit facial details and the like. Players can also take on a brand-new Shiphand mission or run the Veteran difficulties of existing Shiphand missions, earning valuable Renown to take to the new Renown vendor. There's plenty to be done with the latest patch, so get in there and enjoy the games.

Continue reading WildStar launches the Protogames Initiative

MassivelyWildStar launches the Protogames Initiative originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: This is not the end

Posted: 03 Feb 2015 05:00 AM PST

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I hate goodbyes, so this one is going to be short. And really, it's not even going to be a goodbye goodbye. But wait, I've said too much!

Anyway, thanks. Thanks for reading and commenting. Thanks for playing MMORPGs and making them worlds worth escaping to (and, OK, sometimes from). Mostly, though, thanks for allowing me to do this job. Ahh never mind, here's a quote.

"I find myself more and more convinced that I had more fun doing news reporting than in any other enterprise."

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: This is not the end originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Stream Team: Sneak a peek of FACTIONS: Origin of Malu with devs

    Posted: 02 Feb 2015 06:00 PM PST

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    Interested in seeing what the new multiplayer PvP battleground of Origins of Malu is like? Massively's MJ sure does, and she's managed to pick the lock to let you all in to see what's going on with her. OK, so she's not really sneaking in, but you can still get a peek! MJ is taking advantage of the opportunity to see how the game has developed since her last visit. And as a bonus, one of the devs will be joining her to talk shop. Want to know anything about the game? Join us live at 9:00 p.m. for a stroll through this closed test of the upcoming sandbox. Even if there are alpha glitches, you can get your questions answered!

    Game: FACTIONS: Origins of Malu
    Host: MJ Guthrie
    Date: Monday, February 2nd, 2015
    Time: 9:00 p.m. EST

    Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

    Continue reading The Stream Team: Sneak a peek of FACTIONS: Origin of Malu with devs

    MassivelyThe Stream Team: Sneak a peek of FACTIONS: Origin of Malu with devs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Not So Massively: Marvel Heroes team-ups, League of Legends soundtrack, last bits from PAX South

      Posted: 02 Feb 2015 05:00 PM PST

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      Say goodbye? It's never goodbye.
      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.

      Do you feel as if you're getting everything you can out of your team-up companions in Marvel Heroes? The developers don't really feel you are, hence why the team-up system is getting a pretty big overhaul over the next year. Your amazing friends will be more amazing than ever.

      Continue reading Not So Massively: Marvel Heroes team-ups, League of Legends soundtrack, last bits from PAX South

      MassivelyNot So Massively: Marvel Heroes team-ups, League of Legends soundtrack, last bits from PAX South originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Shroud of the Avatar's release 14: FREE HAT

        Posted: 02 Feb 2015 04:00 PM PST

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        Coasting. Because it's a coastline? Get it? Ah, comedy gold.
        If you want a silly-looking pointed hat in Shroud of the Avatar but don't know how you could possibly get one, then the latest development update will make you extremely happy. It tells you how to get just that. Yes, you can have a new hat as a reward for finishing another installment of the Grand Tour quest. So you get up to speed on all of the new features of the patch and you get a hat along with it. Everyone wins.

        The development update also contains a look at more of the overland modeling going on behind the scenes, some of the in-game books being deployed, and a new Kickstarter project for the spiritual successor to the Ultima Underworld games. There's also the usual assortment of discounts and items that will soon be leaving the game forever. Check out the full update for the in-game and community details.

        MassivelyShroud of the Avatar's release 14: FREE HAT originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Choose My Adventure: We, the drowned

        Posted: 02 Feb 2015 03:00 PM PST

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        Choose My Adventure
        By now you're more than aware that Massively, WoW Insider, and Joystiq are not long for this world. Thanks to the type of organizational reshuffling we've so often covered on these very pages, AOL's enthusiast blogs have eaten the sharper end of an axe. We're upset. You're upset. But the core reality is that sometimes bad things happen. All we can do is pick ourselves up, steady our breathing, and leap into the void.

        I've been with Massively since 2011. I started as a streamer, evolved into a news/features writer, and finished as the steward of Choose My Adventure. Every moment has been a privilege. Every day exciting.

        And it's you I have to thank.

        Continue reading Choose My Adventure: We, the drowned

        MassivelyChoose My Adventure: We, the drowned originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Daybreak: No SOE Live this year, but our games will endure

          Posted: 02 Feb 2015 02:30 PM PST

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          soe
          What does the transition from SOE to Daybreak Game Company mean for you? Well for starters, if you had set aside money and time to attend SOE Live this year, it's time to change those plans.

          Community Manager Linda Carlson confirmed on Twitter that the fan convention would be taking some time off due to the corporate transition: "SOE Live will take a hiatus as we focus on our exciting transition and the future of Daybreak Game Company."

          Daybreak President John Smedley also posted several follow-ups to the announcement and the ensuing player questions: "1) All our games are still up and will continue to be despite our new name. 2) Yes, we want to bring our games to Xbox One in addition to PS4. 3) Station Cash doesn't change at all (though we will be rebranding it soon here). 4) We're still making Everquest Next. Nothing has changed."

          MassivelyDaybreak: No SOE Live this year, but our games will endure originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          World of Warcraft outlines February's events

          Posted: 02 Feb 2015 02:00 PM PST

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          A memorial to a site that's waving goodbye would be nice, guys.
          There are a lot of holiday events in World of Warcraft this month. February contains the Lunar Festival, Love is in the Air, the Darkmoon Faire... heck, it's also going to be the month that the next major raid opens up. Luckily for avid World of Warcraft players, the official site has put together a comprehensive schedule of the month's festivities, starting with the Valentine's Day event and the new raid opening tomorrow.

          Astute readers will note that Blizzard suggests players prepare for patch 6.1 with no hints about when it's coming out. Whether this means it's going to be later in the month or won't be dropping until March remains to be seen. Then again, the raiding crowd will have plenty to do through the month with Blackrock Foundry, and if you like holiday events, you've got several of those coming around as well.

          MassivelyWorld of Warcraft outlines February's events originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Hyperspace Beacon: Seven things I learned while writing about SWTOR

          Posted: 02 Feb 2015 01:00 PM PST

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          This travel through hyperspace cannot be compared to anything else. Not many people get an opportunity to work on something they love professionally, like my writing about Star Wars: The Old Republic. With Massively as we know it coming to an end, it's time to say goodbye to this passenger.

          Before I actually say my final farewell to Massively, I'd like to leave you, fans of Massively and the Hyperspace Beacon, with a list of things that I've learned from writing this column.

          Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Seven things I learned while writing about SWTOR

          MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Seven things I learned while writing about SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Diablo III to begin technical testing in China shortly

            Posted: 02 Feb 2015 12:30 PM PST

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            Imagine that, a game about going to hell and fighting demons had issues with China's censorship board.
            If you're a gamer in China waiting for Diablo III, you have undoubtedly been waiting for a very long time. Given the game's subject matter and the strict censorship policies of the government, it's not a surprise that it's taken a while to get moving. At long last there is a light at the end of the tunnel, however, as distributor Netease has announced that the censorship issues are finally resolved and the game is free to begin technical testing.

            The testing phase will begin after the lunar new year is celebrated later this month. While the exact nature of graphical changes has not been disclosed, Netease stresses that the game will still be cool to look at, which could mean... almost anything, really. Still, at this point most of the players who have long waited for the game will just be happy to see it finally available within China.

            MassivelyDiablo III to begin technical testing in China shortly originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Stream Team: Making the most of Marvel Heroes Midtown Madness

            Posted: 02 Feb 2015 12:00 PM PST

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            Marvel Heroes: that place where Midtown Madness and buffs make levels rain down on characters so fast you can't even keep up. Massively's MJ going to test exactly how fast she can level there in one hour. Starting with a nothing but a few buffs on a never-before used hero or villain and a clear inventory (no, really!), she'll take on Midtown and soak up all the XP and loot she can. Join us live at 3:00 p.m. to see how far she flies up the leveling ladder.

            Game: Marvel Heroes
            Host: MJ Guthrie
            Date: Monday, January 2nd, 2015
            Time: 3:00 p.m. EST

            Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

            Continue reading The Stream Team: Making the most of Marvel Heroes Midtown Madness

            MassivelyThe Stream Team: Making the most of Marvel Heroes Midtown Madness originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Crowfall details starting, finishing, and resetting by Hunger

              Posted: 02 Feb 2015 11:30 AM PST

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              Starting from square twelve over and over, in short.
              The latest development blog from Crowfall establishes a problem. The nature of any sort of permanent game is to fall into stagnation. Eventually, the most powerful players control everything and there's no room for new people to come in. You want room for new people to come in. But you also want to have long-term effects to what takes place in the game rather than just resetting everything as the game approaches a static state. What's to be done? According to the aforementioned development blog, you reset... but by pieces.

              At the center of Crowfall's design lies a cycle of birth, corruption, and demise. Characters remain, but as they participate in individual campaigns of the game there's space for players to make a lasting impact on the game world. But the continual destruction of each campaign as certain players "win" ensures that there's always space for something new to happen, that no one ever becomes unassailable in every sense. Take a look at the full post for a clearer picture of how the game intends to keep players engaged by periodically wiping the board clear of pieces.

              MassivelyCrowfall details starting, finishing, and resetting by Hunger originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Personal information compromised on Raptr

              Posted: 02 Feb 2015 11:00 AM PST

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              Apparently the company should have spent more mony on securty like every other online servce. Dropping vowels is fun!
              Good news, Raptr users! Your personal information has been compromised! Wait, did that read "good news"? It's bad. It's pretty bad. Yes, in yet another hack of personal information of online services Raptr wound up being hacked, resulting in a stolen names, hashed passwords, and email addresses. Founder and CEO Dennis Fong noted that the two-factor authentication used for Raptr Rewards was not compromised, so users will be unlikely to see anything lost from their reward points.

              Fong appears confident that the risk for users is fairly minimal, but as with any security breach he advises users to change passwords and check accounts for anything using the same username, email, and/or password. Standard operating procedure, really. No word has been released on how many accounts may have been compromised, but to be on the safe side you should change your logins and such across the board if you're a Raptr user.

              MassivelyPersonal information compromised on Raptr originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Neverwinter details the Oathbound Paladin

              Posted: 02 Feb 2015 10:00 AM PST

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              The grace, the power, the devotion, the relentless use of Detect Evil.
              Paladins are sort of a thing in any setting you claim to name. The very name conjures images of a fiercely devout warrior with heavy armor, heavy weaponry, and boundless dedication to a cause. Neverwinter's next class, the Oathbound Paladin, is certainly meant to play off of that image. It's a class that can specialize in tanking or healing based on the Paragon path it chooses, and it mechanically centers around helping allies without thought for itself.

              The central mechanic of the Oathbound Paladin is Divine Call, an ability that gathers energy passively and through certain Paladin actions. When used, it can taunt foes or offer big area healing. The more regular abilities for the class allow it to aura-buff the party, place damage shields on fellow party members, and absorb damage only to unleash it upon enemies shortly thereafter. Find out more about the class with the official preview.

              MassivelyNeverwinter details the Oathbound Paladin originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Smedley announces SOE is no more, becomes Daybreak Game Company

              Posted: 02 Feb 2015 10:00 AM PST

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              In a surprising move, CEO John Smedley just announced on Reddit that Sony Online Entertainment is leaving behind its Sony roots and becoming Daybreak Game Company after being acquired by the investment firm Columbus Nova. This change allows the company to publish online games on multiple gaming platforms, including the XBox. Smedley also assured players via Twitter that all of the games in the company's portfolio are staying and will continue to be a part of the new company. Here's the full announcement plastered on the official forums of each of the company's games:
              Dear Players, Partners and Friends,

              Today, we are pleased to announce that we have been acquired by Columbus Nova, an investment management firm well known for its success with its existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies. This means that effective immediately SOE will operate as an independent game development studio where we will continue to focus on creating exceptional online games for players around the world, and now as a multi-platform gaming company. Yes, that means PlayStation and Xbox, mobile and more!

              As part of this transition, SOE will now become Daybreak Game Company. This name embodies who we are as an organization, and is a nod to the passion and dedication of our employees and players. It is also representative of our vision to approach each new day as an opportunity to move gaming forward.

              So what exactly does this mean for you? It will be business as usual and all SOE games will continue on their current path of development and operation. In fact, we expect to have even more resources available to us as a result of this acquisition. It also means new exciting developments for our existing IP and games as we can now fully embrace the multi-platform world we are living in.

              Our games and players are the heart and soul of our organization, and we are committed to maintaining our portfolio of online games and pushing the limits of where we can take online gaming together.

              Thank you for your continued support. See you in game!

              The Team at Daybreak

              MassivelySmedley announces SOE is no more, becomes Daybreak Game Company originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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