Wednesday, January 2, 2013

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Yoshi-P says something's happening with FFXIV on January 7

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST

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Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn producer teases something's coming January 7th
With the exception of some lucky alpha testers, Final Fantasy XIV players didn't have a game to play over the holidays. The title shut down a couple of months ago in preparation for its rebirth as A Realm Reborn. Now, however, it looks like FFXIV fans have something to look forward to come next week.

In a New Year's greeting that talks about the release of FFXIV's next incarnation in 2013, producer Naoki Yoshida tells players to mark January 7th on their calendars. Unfortunately, he gives no other information beyond this teaser, so the significance of the date is up in the air. Will it be a beta test, a launch, or something else completely? We just can't say, but we will keep you updated when we find out!

MassivelyYoshi-P says something's happening with FFXIV on January 7 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mechanist says no to huge pauldrons, revamps City of Steam NPC duds

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST

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City of Steam - Nexan guard uniforms
It didn't take Mechanist Games long to release its first City of Steam dev journal for 2013. Today's steampunk browser title update focuses on an NPC uniform revamp, and while clothes aren't quite the stuff of epic MMO legend, we must admit to digging the new Victorian duds.

The NPCs in question are Nexan guards, the original outfits for which featured gigantic shoulder pauldrons and some sort of checkerboard faux pas motif. The new uniform is noticeably sleeker, "much more respectable, and far less gaudy," according to the devs. Have a look for yourself at the official City of Steam website.

MassivelyMechanist says no to huge pauldrons, revamps City of Steam NPC duds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST

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Image
Blade & Soul's newest endgame dungeon release is called The Spiral Labyrinth, and Steparu has posted an extensive look at the content complete with multiple videos.

The dungeon features three floors, each of which ends in a boss fight, and there's a bit of randomization in the mix, too. Each time your party enters a particular room, you'll need to fight a miniboss. Defeating him triggers a random door which leads deeper into the dungeon level and eventually to the floor boss.

With a new dungeon comes new drops and new equipment. Steparu says that farming The Spiral Labyrinth will likely be necessary to compete in the game's upcoming PvP content. Have a look at the dungeon's first minotaur boss after the break, then head to the source link for several more gameplay videos and analysis.

Continue reading New vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon

MassivelyNew vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge's Korean OBT features lengthy queues, intro cinematic released

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST

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ArcheAge - portal from opening cinematic
ArcheAge's Korean open beta is finally here, and XLGAMES has a lot of fans banging on its front door for a chance to test drive the new sandpark title. According to ThisIsGame, the firm opened 20 servers, some of which feature entry queues ranging from 500 to 2,300 players.

Steparu is hosting a look at the game's intro cinematic which features a "Nuian goddess summoning a gigantic portal and sacrificing herself to save her people." Check out the two-minute clip after the cut.

Continue reading ArcheAge's Korean OBT features lengthy queues, intro cinematic released

MassivelyArcheAge's Korean OBT features lengthy queues, intro cinematic released originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is it worth investing in the mid-game?

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST

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The Daily Grind Is it worth investing in the midgame
One of my new year's resolutions is to dust off my lowbie Warden in LotRO and get her to the level cap. I'm heartened by the thought that the devs have smoothed out several of the zones, such as Evendim and Moria, as well as extended the awesome open tapping and remote looting to the entire world.

Yet a vast majority of MMOs, once established, focus almost exclusively on the endgame when it comes to adding content and features. It might make sense from a numbers perspective: When most of your steady playerbase is at the cap, that's where most of the effort should go. But does that come at a cost of alienating new players who have to go through an aging mid-game before getting to the good stuff?

So what do you think: Is it worth investing in the mid-game or not?

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: Is it worth investing in the mid-game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Torchlight 2 has sold more than a million copies

    Posted: 01 Jan 2013 06:00 PM PST

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    Torchlight 2 has sold more than a million copies
    If you're the proud (or maybe humble; that's OK too) owner of a copy of Torchlight 2, you're far from alone; Runic Games recently announced that over a million copies of the game have been sold.

    If you're not the proud (or maybe humble) owner of a copy of Torchlight 2 but have been toying with the possibility, this is a pretty good time to pick it up. Steam, known for its annual wallet-eating sales, has marked the game down to $9.99 (or 50% off). You can also pick up Torchlight for a measly $3.74 if you're the kind who likes to test out the original.

    MassivelyTorchlight 2 has sold more than a million copies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Rumor: Blizzard's Titan is not a new IP and could be heading to consoles

    Posted: 01 Jan 2013 05:00 PM PST

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    Dare we dream?
    What is Titan? All we know about it right now for sure is that it's being developed by Blizzard, and we've been told on occasion that the game is not a new installment of one of Blizzard's existing franchises. But that may not be the case. According to rumors collected by the fans over at Titan Focus, Titan may indeed be a spinoff of an existing IP and might even be aimed at the console market.

    The hints have been coming from a fan known in the community for being fairly reliable in his rumors, lending this some credibility, but it's still just a rumor at this point. If it's true, then we can expect the game to be tied to one of the existing Blizzard franchises, albeit not as a direct sequel. Considering how quiet the studio has been on the project for some time, we can only hope that the surfacing rumors are a sign we're getting closer to some hard information.

    MassivelyRumor: Blizzard's Titan is not a new IP and could be heading to consoles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis

    Posted: 01 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST

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    The Soapbox The heartbreak of altitis
    In the MMO culture, there are those who alt and those who don't. Sometimes there's a hilarious rift between the two factions, as one side can't understand why you wouldn't want to try out all of the game's classes and the other side can't understand why you wouldn't specialize and excel in a single character.

    I'm one of those who alt, which is a blessing as much as it is a curse. I blame City of Heroes for starting me out on the path to altoholism. C'mon, it was simply impossible to play that game and not be rolling a new superhero concept every other day. By the time I moved on to more "traditional" titles, I was hooked on the idea of alts.

    It's a curse as much as it is a blessing. I'll be the first to advocate that alting can give you a wider perspective in a game, offer you more play flexibility, and perhaps keep you in a title far longer than if you played a single character until you burned out. But there's a darker side to it, a path to heartbreak. For those of us who alt, this is the unspoken danger that lurks in every reroll.

    Continue reading The Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis

    MassivelyThe Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2

      Posted: 01 Jan 2013 11:00 AM PST

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      Flameseeker Chronicles Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2
      It's the dawn of a brave new year. Guild Wars 2 is still in its infancy, really -- ArenaNet's work in this year will do a lot to shape the future and lasting impact of the game. With apparently an expansion's worth of content coming out in January and February, this certainly promises to be an exciting year. I don't know whether the following things are predictions or hopes, but they can't be all that much more inaccurate than fondling sheep guts.

      Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2

      MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MMORPG News

        MMORPG News


        Eudemons Online: Free Homage Gift Pack Giveaway!

        Posted: 01 Jan 2013 10:55 AM PST

        Free Homage Gift Pack Giveaway!

        The latest expansion pack of Eudemons Online, Cult of the Shadowed Sun, is going to be launched on 28th Dec. To ensure better gaming experience, in terms of lower latency and zero queuing time, we also open up a brand new server - "Cancer". In order to celebrate the grand launch of the new expansion pack and the new server, TQ Digital teams up with MMORPG.com to bring up a homage gift pack for players who create new characters in the new "Cancer" server.

        General: Some Year-End Wondering

        Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:13 PM PST

        Some Year-End Wondering

        As 2013 dawns, many of us take a look ahead and speculate about what is to come, something akin to looking into the crystal ball. In The Free Zone today, we take a look at a few topics that are sure to be big discussion items throughout 2013. Check it out!

        Elder Scrolls Online: Socially Connected on a New Level

        Posted: 31 Dec 2012 09:34 AM PST

        Socially Connected on a New Level

        One of the things that many game makers are coming to grips with is the inclusion of social 'connectedness' in today's MMOs. In our latest Elder Scrolls Online column, we take a look at how TESO devs are making sure their game has all the social connectivity that anyone could possibly want. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

        General: Som's Best of 2012

        Posted: 30 Dec 2012 07:35 PM PST

        Som

        2012 is nearly over and it's always fun to take a look back at the games that we spent lots of hours enjoying. We'll be spending this week talking about the games that we, the staff of MMORPG.com, caught our attention in the year that was. As ever, join the conversation in the comments. Som weighs in with his choices on this first day of 2013. Read on!

        Guild Wars 2: A New Year, A New Character

        Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST

        A New Year, A New Character

        As 2013 looms on the horizon, many Guild Wars 2 players are starting to think of rolling a new character. In today's GW2 column, we take a look at that and what type of characters might be a great fit. Check it out and then let us know what type of character you're planning to start in the comments.

        General: Bill's Best of 2012

        Posted: 31 Dec 2012 05:46 AM PST

        Bill

        2012 is nearly over and it's always fun to take a look back at the games that we spent lots of hours enjoying. We'll be spending this week talking about the games that we, the staff of MMORPG.com, caught our attention in the year that was. As ever, join the conversation in the comments. First up, Managing Editor Bill Murphy's list.

        World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria: The Thunder Road

        Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:25 AM PST

        The Thunder Road

        Over this past holiday season, Blizzard gifted its World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria fans with the news that patch v5.2 would be bringing a hefty list of much-desired changes to the game. We take a look at some of the most significant ones in our latest WoW Factor. Read on!

        Hello Kitty Online: Very Much a Niche MMO

        Posted: 30 Dec 2012 11:06 AM PST

        Very Much a Niche MMO

        Hello Kitty is one of the most enduring animated characters of all time. We've been playing Hello Kitty Online to see how it stacks up to its legacy. See how HKO fares in our latest review.

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