| Guild Wars 2 WvW changes delayed until March Posted: 06 Feb 2013 09:00 AM PST |
| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What makes a superhero game? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Culture, Lore, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter If I want, I can play the same character in Champions Online that I play in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Pick one, any one will work. I can also recreate my Shaman from World of Warcraft, my Dervish from Guild Wars, or my captain from Star Trek Online. And I don't mean that I can just recreate them within a fair margin of mechanical error; I mean that I can straight up cop the same origin story and everything. That being said, the characters in their original settings are not superheroes. That brings us to an interesting situation. Superheroes are in no small part defined by their abilities, but in another setting, those abilities are in no way out of the ordinary. So it's interesting to try to define what makes one game with mages and robots and supernaturally skilled swordsmen a superhero game while another one isn't. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What makes a superhero game?  A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What makes a superhero game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2 Posted: 06 Feb 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift If I was to make a list of the top, oh, five or 10 MMO developers who I admire, Scott Hartsman would be on there. It's not just that I appreciate that he's one of the few human beings who is shorter than I am, but that he's had a remarkable career full of accomplishments that I respect. EverQuest II and RIFT both owe a great debt to the leadership of Hartsman, which is why it was a sad shock to hear that he was leaving Trion Worlds for unknown pastures. And thus we begin a new year of RIFT, teetering between uncertainty and promise. For as severe as Hartsman's departure will be felt in the development of the game and in its community, we're also looking ahead to the title's third year of operation and a new update that looks to add even more delectable treats on top of this fantasy buffet. So today we're going to say goodbye to Scott and hello to Update 2.2 as we look at the recent state of the game post. Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2 Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WildStar reveals 2013 launch window, ambitious plans to make MMOs fun again Posted: 06 Feb 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, WildStar WildStar has won Massively's "most anticipated MMO" award for the past two years, even edging out Guild Wars 2 for the title in 2012. No pressure or anything, right? Fortunately, the game won't have an opportunity to go for three: As announced in this morning's state of the game letter, we can expect WildStar's closed beta within the next three months and a launch at the end of 2013 if all goes well during the testing process. To mark the occasion, Carbine Studios invited press to the equivalent of a video game debutante ball in San Francisco to see just how much the sci-fantasy sandpark MMO has grown since our last tour ( nearly two years ago). I escaped my Editor-in-Chief cage to attend the event and play the game, interrogate the developers, and judge whether those anticipated awards were well-deserved after all. Enjoy the fruits of my sneak peek!  | The 'biggest game on the planet': WildStar's boundless ambition
Who better to explain WildStar's philosophy and mechanics than Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney? I give my impressions of his talk, the demo, and my hands-on, then ruminate on the game's iterations, innovations, and ambitions. |  | Slap a rocket on a pig: WildStar's modding and PGC community
Carbine's Troy Hewitt outlines WildStar's grand plans for a massive modding community, a UI developer tool for the masses, player advisory committees, and player-generated content. "Social" is clearly not just a buzz-word. |  | You can't take the sky from me: WildStar's Exiles
You can't dip into a setting like WildStar's without hearing the familiar chords of Firefly's opening theme; the game's two factions brazenly mimic that IP's rustic space cowboys and refined imperial aristocracy. Here's a look at the Exiles. | WildStar reveals 2013 launch window, ambitious plans to make MMOs fun again originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Allods Online's "biggest end-game expansion" to launch in March Posted: 06 Feb 2013 05:45 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Dungeons Gala Networks Europe has announced the largest end-game expansion for Allods Online coming this March 12, 2013 to all American and European servers, including German, French, and Polish servers. Entitled Lords of Destiny, this expansion will bring eight all-new astral allods with new 6-man dungeons for each. The public test server will open later this month, giving interested players the chance to try the content out beforehand. Check out our gallery below which shows off 11 new screenshots for the expansion. [Source: Gala Networks Europe press release] Allods Online's "biggest end-game expansion" to launch in March originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Are you a graphics snob? Posted: 06 Feb 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous When it comes to MMOs, looks are important. Kind of. Sometimes. Sure, you hear the argument from some that great content can overcome any visual limitations, but that's not true for everyone. There are those who must have the highest fidelity if they're going to grace a game with their eyes. They are the graphics snobs. Have you ever found yourself poo-pooing a game on its looks alone? Are animations and avatar appearances a make-or-break factor in your enjoyment of a title? Does it physically pain you to play earlier-era MMOs due to how crude they look? Do you work in the technical specifications of your graphics card into every conversation you have? Then you might be one of these... visually selective folk. It's OK. I don't judge. I've been known to shut down a game right away if it looks uglier than sin. So where does your visual tolerances lay -- and are you a self-admitted graphics snob?  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: Are you a graphics snob? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost Posted: 05 Feb 2013 05:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Lore, News items, PvE, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles Well, my goodness! We've got a week of the Flame and Frost prelude patch behind us, and what a week it's been! The patch notes for this sucker were impressive; for a relatively minor patch, the Flame and Frost prelude brought in a lot of tweaks and updates. I'm kind of glad for that, as quality of life additions were top on my list for hopes for Guild Wars 2 in 2013. I'm very pleased with ArenaNet for shoring up the content that's already out rather than leaving it be in the rush to get out new content. So! Let's take a look at what ArenaNet brought us in the past week. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EverQuest II starts its new year with new challenges and dungeons Posted: 05 Feb 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Another expansion is out for EverQuest II, but this is no time for the game to rest upon its laurels. Producer Holly Longdale recently took to the game's forums to make it clear that the developers have big plans for the game in 2013, and they've been hard at work since December putting together a long-term plan for what will happen over the next year. That starts with a new patch on February 26th. The update will include a new two-group dungeon in Wurmbone Crag along with a raid version of Dreadcutter. Beyond that, there's improved bag functionality as well as new daily, weekly, and monthly objectives for players to complete for special rewards. And that's not even the next big game update, which is scheduled for some time in the spring. Even though we're in the second month of the year, it's the start of a new cycle for EverQuest II's development, and hopefully players will be pleased with what it has to offer. EverQuest II starts its new year with new challenges and dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Just how safe is your online account? Posted: 05 Feb 2013 04:30 PM PST Filed under: MMO industry, Miscellaneous This week is Gamer Safety Week, and we hope you got your Gamer Safety Week shopping done early because the malls are packed! The Merchant Risk Council's (MRC) Gamer Safety Alliance (GSA) wants to help you be the safest online netizen that you can be by raising awareness for this second annual event. After a few bad years of an account hacking epidemic in online games, this year's Gamer Safety Week theme is "account safety and security in the online world." Tips include adding security proofs to your accounts, keeping hardware and software updated, utilizing phishing filters, creating strong passwords, and more. You can read more about keeping your online accounts safe at the MRC's website. Just how safe is your online account? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Forge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next Posted: 05 Feb 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, PvP, News items, Dev Diaries Forge isn't your typical MMO, set up as a straightforward PvP arena without niggling little issues like outside quests to get in the way. The development team behind the game has been looking at its current state, and in the newest address to the players they state what the game is doing wrong and how to fix it. The diary makes it clear that while the number of people playing Forge is down, they believe a lot of that has to do with the steep learning curve new players experience. To fix this, there are plans for a new starter area in which players can practice against bots to get accustomed to the combat and the game mechanics. The team also plans to improve the tutorial and the UI so that what an ability does is more transparent. For players already at the higher end, this is still good news -- the matchmaking system will be updated, visual customization will be improved, and you'll be able to respec at any time to ensure that you aren't stuck with poor choices forever. Check out all the details in the latest development diary. Forge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MechWarrior Online shows off its pretty new baby Posted: 05 Feb 2013 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, MechWarrior Online Would you call your multi-ton death machine a pretty baby? If you're playing MechWarrior Online you just might, especially since that's the name of the newest hero 'Mech introduced to the game. Considering the machine is loaded with an LRM 15, a PPC, two lasers, and a high top speed for a 80-ton 'Mech, we can see why you might coo affectionately that it's your pretty little darling yes it is. But maybe your existing 'Mech is already the apple of your eye. That's all right, there's still plenty to like in February. The team at Piranha Games is working on a UI overhaul for the MechLab to allow players a clearer picture of what happens when upgrades are slotted in. There's also the third phase of matchmaking, new patterns for decorating your machine of choice, and performance improvements for all computers. But if you're still excited at the thought of a pretty new machine to pilot, you can check out a trailer for the prettiest of all babies past the cut. [Source: Piranha Games press release] Continue reading MechWarrior Online shows off its pretty new baby MechWarrior Online shows off its pretty new baby originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EVE Online gives a report card to Retribution ships Posted: 05 Feb 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Economy, Expansions, Dev Diaries, Sandbox "The introduction of new ships always sparks considerable initial interest and Retribution was no exception in that regard," CCP Recurve wrote in a new EVE Online dev post today. "Hundreds of billions were spent on blueprints and manufactured ships." The article analyzes the popularity between the five new ships (one mining frigate and four destroyers), noting that the Algos and Corax have proven to be more desirable in PvP. The Venture both sold more blueprints and was destroyed more than the others since the expansion launched, although the mining frigate did account for a sharp uptick in harvested gas overall. If breaking down stats and crunching all sorts of interstellar numbers are your thing, then check out the post for the nitty-gritty details on these ships' performances. EVE Online gives a report card to Retribution ships originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Take a gander at DDO's Update 17 screens Posted: 05 Feb 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Patches, Free-to-play Players will be experiencing the new and improved Gianthold when Dungeons and Dragons Online releases Update 17 this month. Turbine's launched a new page dedicated to the update, and that page contains many, many pretty pictures that convey story and wonder in a digitized format. Check out 10 of these new screenshots in the gallery below, and while you're at it, why not read up on our recent tour of Update 17? Take a gander at DDO's Update 17 screens originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Initial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage Posted: 05 Feb 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Sandbox A lot of stuff has been happening in the world of DayZ here lately, and creator Dean " Rocket" Hall has uploaded a fresh video dev blog to bring all of you zombie sandbox survival sim fans up to speed. Hall is joined by production assistant Matt Lightfoot, and the duo have a quite a lot to talk about over the course of the dev blog's 15-minute running time. Topics include major map improvements, the new clothing system, a streamlined UI, and the newfangled ability to spawn loot inside buildings. See for yourself after the break. Continue reading Initial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage Initial DayZ video blog shows new stand-alone footage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth Posted: 05 Feb 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Aion, Lineage, Lineage 2, MMO industry, Guild Wars 2, Blade & Soul, Miscellaneous NCsoft just released its fourth quarter 2012 earnings report, and things are looking pretty good across the board for the multi-MMO company. NCsoft's earnings are up both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year due to the releases of Blade & Soul and Guild Wars 2, not to mention "record-breaking annual revenues" from Lineage. Guild Wars 2 accounted for 45% of the company's sales in Q4, followed by Lineage (24%) and Blade & Soul (10%). ArenaNet's newest game increased the North American market from 16% in Q3 to 25% in Q4. It's not completely sunshine and roses, however. Lineage II and Aion both experienced declines during the period. NCsoft's net income was in the red for the quarter and its stock has slid since September, losing half of its value in the process. [Thanks to Paul for the tip!] NCsoft earnings report shows healthy growth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| BioWare details SWTOR's Galactic Reputation system Posted: 05 Feb 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dev Diaries If your Star Wars: The Old Republic avatars are tapped out in terms of advancement opportunities, take heart! The game's 1.7 patch will introduce a new Galactic Reputation system and associated reward items to keep you busy. The latest BioWare dev blog has all the details, including bits about earning rep points (via consumable trophies) and niceties like legacy titles and other perks. The reputation system is accessible to both free players and subscribers, though the latter group do get a 50% bonus. BioWare details SWTOR's Galactic Reputation system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack Posted: 05 Feb 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Free-to-play, Jukebox Heroes, Music I'm going to be honest with you: I've been putting off this particular column for months now. I've been dreading it, really. Because what I say next is probably going to turn off a lot of you who seem to worship this score like nothing else I've seen: I only kind of like Age of Conan's soundtrack. It's not really my favorite, nor in my top 10. And I know that this goes really against the feelings for this score that I've seen professed in Jukebox Heroes and elsewhere. You know what? That's OK. Musical preferences are some of the most subjective things in the world, and we can't be expected to like everything, right? If Age of Conan's soundtrack gets people listening to more MMO (and even video game) scores, then that's a win for our niche-within-a-niche-within-a-niche hobby. This score (and all of Age of Conan's subsequent music) was composed by Norwegian Knut Avenstroup Haugen. He won several awards for his work on the game, including the International Film Music Critics Association Award for Scoring Excellence. If you're interested in the man, Massively's Jef Reahard did an interview with him back in 2010 that makes for good reading. Otherwise, let's head onward and I'll share my personal favorites from the original game score! Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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