MMO Updates

Leaderboard: The Repopulation vs. Origins of Malu
Cryptic prepping new Champions 'mega-event'
Xsyon aiming for wider audience on Steam's Greenlight
ArcheAge to launch with subscription model in Korea
The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013
Square teases full FFXIV Realm Reborn opening cinematic [Updated]
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature?
MMO Week in Review: Superhero spin-offs
DCUO livestream shows off new Home Turf housing mechanics
EVE Evolved: Fitting Minmatar cruisers for PvP in Retribution
SilentFuture retools Earthrise's network layer, GUI, and gameplay
Rise and Shiny: Deepworld

Leaderboard: The Repopulation vs. Origins of Malu

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Sandbox, Leaderboard

Leaderboard - The Repopulation vs Origins of Malu

So last week we asked which upcoming sandbox you'd most likely play, but as was correctly pointed out by an astute commenter, we inadvertently omitted a couple of promising indie projects.

First up is The Repopulation, a game that features extensive city building, an entertainer skill set, and a bunch of other stuff that will probably remind you of Star Wars Galaxies. Next is Origins of Malu which boasts scary stalker AI, a gorgeous sci-fantasy aesthetic, and interesting takes on PvP and, gasp, possible permadeath!

Today's Leaderboard asks which of these upcoming indie sandboxes you'll support. Cast your vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: The Repopulation vs. Origins of Malu

Leaderboard: The Repopulation vs. Origins of Malu originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cryptic prepping new Champions 'mega-event'

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 07:30 AM PST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online

Cryptic has tweaked its Champions Online website with news of a forthcoming in-game event. First up is a rather mysterious in-character blurb and an associated discussion thread. The shenanigans are scheduled to begin on January 11th, and Cryptic will be giving away free costume pieces to celebrate.

The "mega-event" will feature new adventures released every couple of weeks that include new missions and new items, and the festivities will eventually culminate in a custom alert. Cryptic is also touting its Grav Bike Arsenal lockbox. You'll find more info on that at the official Champions website.

Cryptic prepping new Champions 'mega-event' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Announcement

Xsyon aiming for wider audience on Steam's Greenlight

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox

Notorious Games needs your help to bring its Xsyon sandbox MMO to a wider audience. The title has a new Greenlight page on Valve's Steam digital download service and the post-apocalyptic survival MMO is seeking enough "yes" votes from the community to make it available to Steam's 40 million-plus users.

Xsyon is "an entirely player driven online game with a living and changing environment." Gameplay involves the formation of tribes, the shaping of landscapes, and the construction of towns, not to mention variations on typical MMO questing, gathering, and hunting.

[Source: Notorious press release]

Xsyon aiming for wider audience on Steam's Greenlight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge to launch with subscription model in Korea

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:30 AM PST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge, Sandbox

A Korean website called Inven has spilled the beans regarding ArcheAge's business model. According to a leaked photo from a convenience store, the highly anticipated fantasy sandpark will feature a monthly subscription.

Steparu reports that the listed prices will change after the game's open beta test, while MMO Culture says that they're cheaper than Blade & Soul and comparable to the Korean version of Aion. The site also says that a cash shop "is expected to be added soon."

Developer XLGAMES has issued no further comments on a western release of ArcheAge nor a possible western business model.

ArcheAge to launch with subscription model in Korea originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Steparu

The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST

Filed under: Polls, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, The Stream Team

It was bound to happen. And we totally understand -- really. We've all been there, so there are no judgments coming from us. Besides, you might have even made it longer this year than last. Perhaps this could be one of those times when we say it's the thought that counts. After all, those pesky resolutions seem made to be broken, don't they?

I'm actually not doing too badly, relatively speaking. Luckily, some of my resolutions revolve around The Stream Team, so I have maintained my record on those. Experience crazy technical glitches? Check! Got that one rolling early on. Watch more Massively TV each week? Pfft, bring on something hard to do! Oh, here's one -- team up with another livestreamer for two hours of amusing antics? Well, you'll just have to check past the cut to see whether I succeeded at that one. And while you are there, let us know how long your resolutions held out.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013

The Stream Team: Broken resolutions edition, January 7 - 13, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square teases full FFXIV Realm Reborn opening cinematic [Updated]

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:30 AM PST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, News items, Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn full cinematic

Square has released the full opening cinematic for its Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn reboot. The clip clocks in at well over eight minutes, the last three of which contain never-before-seen footage.

The new stuff includes a couple of heart-pounding chocobo calvary charges, glimpses of the game's unique races, and plenty of scenic shots from around the lush fantasy world. Have a look for yourself after the break.

[Thanks to William for the tip!]

[Update]: Square has also sent out a press release revealing signups for A Realm Reborn's beta test.

Continue reading Square teases full FFXIV Realm Reborn opening cinematic [Updated]

Square teases full FFXIV Realm Reborn opening cinematic [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: YouTube

The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature?

Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST

Filed under: Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, RIFT, ArcheAge, Sandbox, Age of Wushu

Non-combat features don't get a lot of love in popular MMOs these days, but there have nonetheless been some interesting experiments in this department over the years. From RIFT's housing to Star Wars Galaxies' Entertainers to Lord of the Rings Online's music system, several genre titles have strayed from the straight and narrow of violence and character progression.

Upcoming titles like Age of Wushu and ArcheAge are adding new wrinkles as well, so for today's Daily Grind we'd like to hear your thoughts on non-combat MMO features. Specifically, which one is your favorite?

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: What's your favorite non-combat feature? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Week in Review: Superhero spin-offs

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 05:00 PM PST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

City of Heroes just doesn't seem to want to die quietly in a corner as instructed. This week, sources speaking under condition of anonymity leaked what they claimed were Paragon Studios' pre-shutdown financials, provoking a rare response and denial from the normally tight-lipped NCsoft. Undaunted if not entirely united, fans are proceeding with not one but two City of Heroes-inspired spin-off MMOs: The Phoenix Project and Heroes and Villains.

Super-jump past the break for a look at the rest of this week's top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Superhero spin-offs

MMO Week in Review: Superhero spin-offs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DCUO livestream shows off new Home Turf housing mechanics

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 04:00 PM PST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Consoles, DC Universe Online

If you're a fan of superheroes, player housing, or superhero player housing, you're going to want to take a look at the latest livestream vid on the official DC Universe Online TwitchTV channel. On Friday, SOE's Jens Andersen and Andrew Bushman played around with the game's new housing system in a 19-minute excursion that you can watch after the break.

The duo explained a bit about obtaining and accessing DCUO's new superhero lairs, and they also pointed out that you don't have to be a paying customer to get some personal space. Free players will get a small apartment to call their own, while Legendary members will have more options and more available swank.

The housing mechanics will debut with DCUO's latest DLC offering, Home Turf, which is scheduled to release in early 2013.

Continue reading DCUO livestream shows off new Home Turf housing mechanics

DCUO livestream shows off new Home Turf housing mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Home Turf livestream

EVE Evolved: Fitting Minmatar cruisers for PvP in Retribution

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:00 PM PST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, EVE Evolved, Guides, Sandbox

Ever since EVE Online's PvP-focused Retribution expansion landed last month, I've spent most of my play time hunting for kills in cheap PvP cruisers and loving every moment of it. The standard tech 1 cruisers used to be underpowered ships that new players used as a stepping stone into more capable battlecruisers or tech 2 cruisers, but Retribution buffed them to ridiculous proportions. Every tech 1 cruiser was given extra module slots and stats, and the low-tier cruisers were buffed up to the same level as the highest-tier hulls. Believe it or not, these cheap ships that new players can comfortably fly with just a week of skill training have become competitive PvP ships.

In the first two editions of this ship fitting series, I put together new ship setups for each of the Amarr and Gallente tech 1 cruisers. This week, I've been zipping about the universe at high speed in the Minmatar cruisers and putting together effective ship setups that can take down some huge prey. The Stabber has been transformed into a competent miniature Vagabond that can keep enemies at arm's length and nibble them to death, and the tanky Rupture remains a highly effective close-range brawler. The Bellicose now excels in an anti-tackler role, and the Scythe is a throwaway remote repair platform that uses speed to stay safe on the battlefield.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give PvP setups for the four recently revamped Minmatar tech 1 cruisers.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Fitting Minmatar cruisers for PvP in Retribution

EVE Evolved: Fitting Minmatar cruisers for PvP in Retribution originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SilentFuture retools Earthrise's network layer, GUI, and gameplay

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Earthrise, Sandbox

So Earthrise is officially a thing. Again. The sci-fi sandbox initially launched early in 2011, and at the time, we thought it needed quite a bit of work.

Two years later, quite a bit of work has apparently happened, as the game's new publisher is gearing up for a reboot and stage one of its alpha test. SilentFuture says that it focused on fundamentals while retooling the game. Specifically, "a new network layer was implemented," and the original Flash-based GUI was replaced with a customizable HTML5 version.

The firm is also "focusing [on] the RPG factor with third-person fast-paced action combat" that is "more cooperative and shooter-like." Finally, the business model is now fully free-to-play and funded by microtransactions that allow for personalization without "affecting the gameplay."

There's no launch date yet, but you can sign up for an alpha/beta tester position at the game's official website.

[Source: SilentFuture press release]

SilentFuture retools Earthrise's network layer, GUI, and gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny: Deepworld

Posted: 06 Jan 2013 11:00 AM PST

Filed under: Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Launches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Mobile, Mac, Casual, Rise and Shiny, Sandbox, Crafting

When I first got my hands on Deepworld, a new iOS sandbox MMO by Bytebin, I knew I was holding something unique. Sure, it took some cues from Minecraft and came from one of my least favorite schools of design -- steampunk -- but it was being built by a young team of indie developers who simply wanted to make a world that was free-form, open to a player's creativity, and multi-platform. After spending some time with the game, I'd say that they have mostly succeeded.

There are some issues with the game, and I have played enough indie titles to know how rough games can be when launch rolls around. So far, however, the issues are relatively minor and could be easily fixed.

Gallery: Deepworld screenshots