| The Guild Counsel: The battle for character names Posted: 24 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous Identity is a theme that comes up a lot in The Guild Counsel column. Guild identity shapes a variety of areas, from recruitment policies and guild rules to tone and atmosphere. And for players, everything they do in game shapes their character identity. But one of the first things players select when they make their character is a name, and that's also the first thing that identifies our characters to other players. It sounds simple, but getting a name, and then keeping it, is actually harder than it sounds. And for players, not getting a favorite name can actually take away from enjoyment of the game. How important is a name? And do players have a right to keep it forever even if they aren't necessarily using it on an active character? Let's look at some of the complexities behind a simple name. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: The battle for character names  The Guild Counsel: The battle for character names originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Mac client in testing now for League of Legends Posted: 24 Jan 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, MOBA, League of Legends Although League of Legends sports a hefty player base, Mac users have been noticeably absent since the previous Apple-only beta shut down in September of 2011. Associate Producer Steve Mieczkowski has announced that a new Mac version is on its way. And once it goes live, both versions of the client will receive all content, features, and bug fixes simultaneously. The Mac client is currently playable on the game's Public Beta Environment, and it will enter an open beta phase when developers are confident with the results from the PBE test. However, players needn't wait for the open beta to try it out; in fact, Mieczkowski encourages folks to download the PBE from the official site now and help by offering feedback and finding bugs. Mac client in testing now for League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Think Tank: Should the government regulate video game content? Posted: 24 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Legal, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank While government regulation is welcomed in some corners of our lives, it's not always welcomed everywhere. After recent gun violence has been making headlines more than ever, U.S. President Barack Obama set out to "find the cause" through new funding for 23 executive orders that pertain to the origins of gun violence. Vice President Joe Biden then met with experts in the video game industry to discuss the possibility that video games themselves are the cause. And probably that rock 'n' roll music, too. Darn kids! Certainly we here at Massively have our own opinion on this matter, as video game violence legislation would affect us all. Read on past the cut to see what we have to say about government regulation for our favorite hobby. Continue reading The Think Tank: Should the government regulate video game content? The Think Tank: Should the government regulate video game content? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| DCUO opens the doors of Home Turf January 29 Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online, Housing Yesterday, we brought you the new DC Universe Online trailer that showed off features of the upcoming Home Turf DLC pack. Shortly after that, Jens Anderson took to Twitter to tease players to be on the lookout for a release date for the highly anticipated update. Luckily, the wait wasn't too terribly long; a recent official tweet revealed that Home Turf launches on January 29th. Legendary players will be able to access all the new content and grab their personal lairs next Tuesday, as can all PC players and US PS3 players who purchase the DLC. The pack will be available to EU PS3 players the next day, January 30th. Following the lead of previous DLC packs, Home Turf will cost $9.99 USD. DCUO opens the doors of Home Turf January 29 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Do you have a gaming rotation? Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 I've been looking at PlanetSide 2 rather longingly of late. SOE's MMOFPS launched back in November, and I spent a solid couple of weeks playing it quite heavily before moving on. It's one of those games that could fit pretty easily into my regular rotation if it weren't for the fact that you really need a consistent group of mates to make the most out of it. The subject of game rotations is something else I've been thinking about this week. More specifically, I'm trying to adjust mine for PS2 and a couple of other titles. What about you, Massively readers? Do you have a gaming rotation, per se, or do you just play whatever, whenever?  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: Do you have a gaming rotation? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Free for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics Posted: 23 Jan 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Bugs, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free for All Last weekend, I spent some time with Ecol Tactics, a new turn-based MMO brought to us by Games Campus. It features a lot of the same mechanics we have seen before, similar art design to other titles, and a browser-based, Flash-based accessibility that is always welcome. Sure, I was able to enjoy it for only several hours, but during that time, I noted just why Anime and turn-based combat is still successful and why Ecol Tactics is wise to take such a successful genre and launch a new title within it. Anime is easy to digest. The characters on the screen feel chunky but agile. There's something instantly likeable about the characters in Ecol Tactics. They are detailed like an army of miniature soldiers. Wisely, the developers show you some high-level spells and combat before you even get out of the newbie area. I have to admit that I looked forward to the day I would be able to lay waste to a half-dozen monsters with a single swipe of my weapon. Continue reading Free for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics Free for All: Taking my turn in Ecol Tactics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain? Posted: 23 Jan 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter Superheroes are defined by their villains. A lot of what makes Spider-man and Batman such celebrated characters is the fact that they've got no shortage of interesting opponents. DC Universe Online knew this when it launched and gave players a villainous option right from the beginning, something that even City of Heroes didn't manage until its first expansion. Not that this is the norm. Admittedly, calling anything the "norm" in a subgenre with only three launched games to go by is a bit complicated, but that's not the point. Champions Online doesn't let you take a walk on the villain side, and Marvel Heroes will launch without the ability to play a villain now or (presumably) ever. This seems a bit odd on some level. We like villains, we interact with villains as readers, we enjoy seeing what the villains will do. But does it diminish a game to lack the option, or does it diminish villains as a whole when you can play as one? Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain? A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| RIFT's newest State of the Game teases updates 2.2 and 2.3 Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Patches, RIFT As promised in last night's first part of RIFT's State of the Game, tonight's part two is coming to us from Lead Game Designer Bill "Daglar" Fisher. In it, we hear brief word of game updates 2.2 and 2.3, which will bring the Carnival of the Ascended and Dendrome content, respectively. While 2.3 will remain a mystery for now, Daglar teases new carnival games, new zone events, the expansion of the Planar Attunement system, a few PvP updates, and more with the 2.2 update. Although this State of the Game is short, it introduces Daglar to the players in this new role and lays the groundwork for what's to come. RIFT's newest State of the Game teases updates 2.2 and 2.3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Planetside 2's most-hated base showcased in recent interview Posted: 23 Jan 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, Free-to-play, PlanetSide 2 If you're a Planetside 2 player, you've probably heard about The Crown. The tactical base snuggled in the crossroads of Indar's three distinct terrains is not only difficult to conquer, but it's also a pretty big target once you take it. PC Gamer sat down with SOE Facilities Designer Corey Navage and Creative Director Matt Higby to talk about the origins of The Crown and how much thought went into giving it the reputation it has today. Of course, as with any game element, The Crown is ever-changing to accommodate strategies and gameplay that SOE observes from players. Check out the complete interview over at PC Gamer to learn more. Planetside 2's most-hated base showcased in recent interview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Choose My Adventure: My tale in the desert begins Posted: 23 Jan 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Historical, Polls, A Tale in the Desert, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Opinion, Massively Meta, Choose My Adventure Last week's Choose My Adventure poll was a real nail-biter! There were four games that were all within a few votes of each other. In the end, the winner by five votes was A Tale in the Desert, and I'm thrilled to be able to write about this game for my turn at CMA. As much as I like elves and orcs, I'm ready for obelisks, pyramids, and plenty of sand. I created my character over the weekend and began my path to citizenship. Did I make it through, or did flax farming get the better of me? Help me plan my course! Continue reading Choose My Adventure: My tale in the desert begins Choose My Adventure: My tale in the desert begins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Glitch preserves game memories via encyclopedia Posted: 23 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Miscellaneous It's slightly unusual to get a "post-game update" from a closed MMO, but then again, Glitch always was unusual. Tiny Speck wrote a post to thank players for the support and encouragement received following last month's sunset and also to let everyone know that the team is preserving Glitch's art assets and memories through the website's encyclopedia under a Creative Commons license. "When we shut off the servers on December 9th, players left thousands of notes scattered throughout the world. They were wonderful -- sometimes sad, sometimes funny, occasionally weird, and always heartfelt," the team wrote. To honor the players, the staff has included these notes in Glitch's encyclopedia on the location pages. Tiny Speck says that the encyclopedia and other assets will remain up and running even as the rest of the website spins down in upcoming months. Glitch preserves game memories via encyclopedia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Massively Exclusive: Heroes of Newerth lore trailer Posted: 23 Jan 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Lore, Free-to-play, MOBA There's a lot to be excited about for Heroes of Newerth's 3.0 update -- believe us, we've been there. S2 wants to up the frenzy level a little more, however, which is why the studio delivered a steaming hot cup of trailer for you to savor. The video mostly concerns itself with providing a thematic background to the characters' conflict and a snippet or two of the world's backstory. It then shifts into groovy slow-motion gameplay footage, although it seems over all too soon. Get pumped up for HoN's 3.0 update by watching the trailer after the jump! Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Heroes of Newerth lore trailer Massively Exclusive: Heroes of Newerth lore trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| New DCUO trailer highlights the mainframe feature Posted: 23 Jan 2013 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Video, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online DC Universe Online understands that everyone, even mighty superheroes and dastardly supervillains, needs a place to call home. Home Turf, the upcoming DLC pack, will introduce custom player housing. Players will be able to pick from a variety of themes and hundreds of items to create a hidey hole that's unique to their tastes. As well as being a good place to plan operations and bask in the warm afterglow of success, players' bases will also be the site of 1:1 PvP matches. Nobody's Secret Sanctuary or Ha-Ha-Hacienda is perfectly safe, though: Player housing will include a "new combat dimension" to keep folks on their toes. What's at the heart of every dark lair and secret refuge? Why, the mainframe of course! Skip below the cut to get a video introduction to Home Turf's mainframe feature. [Source: SOE press release] Continue reading New DCUO trailer highlights the mainframe feature New DCUO trailer highlights the mainframe feature originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Massively Interview: Piranha Games' Russ Bullock talks MechWarrior Online Posted: 23 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Interviews, News items, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, MechWarrior Online Is there anything more fun than massive suits of mechanical armor smashing into one another and firing lasers all over the place? MechWarrior Online, the free-to-play MMO-like set in the MechWarrior universe and developed by Piranha Games, would argue that the answer to that question is pretty obvious. Piranha has just today announced the addition of a new Command Hero Mech, christened Death's Knell. The mech is tiny by MechWarrior standards, weighing in at only 25 tons, but it packs four powerful lasers on each arm and is quite fast to boot. Piranha also confirmed the addition of the familiar Bitching Betty startup sequence, which should give longtime MechWarrior fans a jolt of nostalgia straight through the eardrums. We sat down with Russ Bullock, president of Piranha Games, to talk mechs, MMOs, and the future of MechWarrior Online. Check out the full interview and a video of Death's Knell in action after the break. Continue reading Massively Interview: Piranha Games' Russ Bullock talks MechWarrior Online Massively Interview: Piranha Games' Russ Bullock talks MechWarrior Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Dark Age of Camelot runs bonus weekend Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST |
| Pirates of the Burning Sea account migration is ready Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:00 AM PST |
| WildStar Wednesday talks turkey about core testers Posted: 23 Jan 2013 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Previews, News items, WildStar What is a core tester? Despite what you might think, it's not someone who tests your central muscles for overall wear and endurance. No, it's an elite group of testers that WildStar is employing to check out features that aren't ready for more public consumption, things lacking little bits of polish like "textures" or "fully functional mechanics." It's a group that Carbine Studios freely admits to copying from ArenaNet, and it's also the subject of the most recent WildStar Wednesday penned by community director Troy Hewitt. Hewitt explains that core testers are meant to be people clearly passionate about the game who are willing to sit through long lists of known issues to test features very early in the development process. The goal is to get outside feedback from an early point to see if some major idea needs a major overhaul now instead of after much of development has been finished. For more information on the testing process and some information about getting noticed by the WildStar team for this elite group, check out the full article. WildStar Wednesday talks turkey about core testers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Naoki Yoshida discusses the upcoming beta for Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 23 Jan 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV It won't be long now until long-time Final Fantasy XIV players and eager test applicants can experience the beta of the game's new version. Producer Naoki Yoshida has understandably been busy with the ramp-up, but he's taken the time to pen a new letter for the game's players that starts off by displaying all of the racial creation screens for the revamped creator. That includes showing off genders that had previously been unavailable, including female Highlanders and Roegadyns. Beyond that, the letter talks about some of the restrictions in place from the beta that are still being developed, acknowledging that some character creation options will be held back until later in testing (the team is working to vastly improve hair color and style selections, for example). Yoshida goes on to talk about the production staff's New Year festivities and a visit from some of the Mythic staff members involved with Ultima Online. There are only a few more weeks until the beta stats, but Yoshida and the rest of the staff seems to believe that it's the first step to a better new year. Naoki Yoshida discusses the upcoming beta for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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