Landmark

I like Landmark and am looking forward to EverQuest Next. There, I said it. It should be no surprise. And as such, I certainly have a vested interest in how these games fare throughout their development and launch. I want to see them succeed. But the thing is, so should you -- whether or not you actually want to play them.

Unfortunately, it seems all too fashionable lately for folks to tear something down instead of build it up. So often when I'm following the discussions about EQ Next and Landmark, I hear plenty of reasons why folks don't like the games, and the reasons frequently have nothing to do with the games themselves. Detractors are going on about longstanding gripes and grudges instead of judging the games on their own merits (a practice that the whole world could certainly do without). Amid all the scathing comments I've heard directed at SOE for slights real and imagined, one recently gave me pause and made me reflect on the reasons that supporting these two MMO endeavors is worthwhile.

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Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Wednesday, January 21st, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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You guys! Even though Christmas is well and over, you're still sending me wonderful screenshot presents! I'm blushing. I don't even know what to say other than, "You rock! Also, no butt pictures!"

Our first non-posterior shot is from reader Jake, who braved the heart of a volcano for this vista: "Here's a picture of my Dracolyte in Trove after having finished a really cool dungeon that took me down into the depths of a volcano. After a while, you start to see similar dungeon types repeated, but this was a new one for me. I kept expecting to see a conflicted hobbit contemplating a ring as I descended the volcano, but alas, nothing but lava beetles and an ember dragon."

What will we find when we descend into the rest of our player-submitted screenshots for this week? Hopefully more than lava beetles!

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Last week Massively's MJ showed off the first hour of Landmark gameplay on a brand-new character with no extra perks, and she got surprisingly far, crafting some new equipment and conquering some wildlife. As promised, she'll spend the second hour of this beta tutorial experience checking out the caverns. Is it possible to enjoy exploration below the surface as a new player without all the fancy armors and weapons? Tune in at 8:00 p.m. to see as she descends into the depths of the island. And be sure to grab your own key to join her on the adventure!

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Wednesday, January 14th, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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If you've been following Landmark's development, then you know that the game as it stands now is pretty different than when alpha launched. And those who haven't ventured forth into the wilds of this sandbox since last winter -- or have never set foot in it at all -- might be wondering about the Landmark experience from the eyes of a brand-new character just starting out. How long does it take to get your tools? How well can you survive? Massively's MJ is here to help answer those very questions! She's starting out on a brand-new character without any founder perks to walk you through what you can expect when you log into the beta for the first time. Join us live at 8:00 p.m. for this first installment of Landmark beta tutorials.

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Wednesday, January 7th, 2015
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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Happy New Year! It makes sense to start this new year off by talking about a new game, right? And let's face it, after the fabled PvE content update, Landmark feels like a new game! This massive addition to the core of the sandbox has been live for two weeks now; that means two weeks of spelunking, salvaging, and more often than not, surviving. While it's true we got a preview of the update back on the day, that peek involved neither the cavern system nor crafting. And it certainly didn't contain nearly enough time! So now that I've had the chance to canvass the caverns, play with particle emitters, kills various critters, and concoct some new crafted items, how is it? How are things in the not-just-about-building game doing? Do these new systems offer more staying power as the closed beta continues on? Let's give Landmark its two-week PvE checkup!

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What's more fun than finding treasure? Why, stumbling across ancient ruins while seeking said treasure! It's no longer a matter of just exploring the surface of Landmark; now Massively's MJ can delve deep down into the core of the islands in search of wondrous sights and valuable treasures. The new cavern system is truly an explorer's paradise, with nooks and crannies to poke into and trinkets and baubles to collect. Oh, and plenty of critters to combat as well! MJ waves goodbye to the old year by heading out on an expedition to map out various caverns and collect as much treasure as she can. Join us live at 7:00 p.m. to see if she survives spelunking this final night of 2014.

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Wednesday, December 31st, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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As I've done for 2013 and 2014, I'm going to use the turn of the year as an excuse to look ahead at what MMO releases we may have to look forward to enjoying in the next 12 months. As always, it's a mixture of research, guesswork, and weeks of anguished ranking to come up with 10 titles that I think will define the new year.

After the huge launch year we had in 2014, 2015 will most definitely be a smaller year for big-name releases. That doesn't mean it will be a complete write-off, but perhaps it will challenge us to look beyond the heavy hitters to find more diamonds in the rough.

A couple of notes before we launch into the list, if you please! First of all, I limited this list to MMOs that at least have a shot of launching in 2015; games that are popular but are definitely not going to make it this year had to be excluded. Second, I am expanding the "honorable mentions" section this year to include more upcoming MMOs and my brief thoughts on them. So you are really getting 50 games for the effort of reading 10! You are welcome.

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Although they've gotten most of the attention, mobs were not the only thing introduced in Landmark's latest update. In fact, the linking and triggering system is a huge deal, especially for folks like Massively's MJ who want to create a dynamic world full of adventures. Add on top of that all the cool new particle effects and the possibilities explode! Don't know much about this system? Then join us live at 5:00 p.m. as MJ shows off how easy linking and triggering is to use and demonstrates a few of the particle effect emitters.

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Friday, December 26th, 2014
Time: 5:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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OK, so Landmark's PvE does not include any lions, tigers, or bears as the original phrase indicates, but there are still some hungry critters who want to munch on you if you get too close. Along with the slaugs, wisps, and chompers, there are abominations and fiery fungi waiting down in the caverns to bring death to adventurers. And you know what that means: Massively's MJ is going to dive down into the thick of it to find some! She'll be excitedly exploring the new cavern system while trying to dodge death around every turn. Join us live at 6:00 p.m. for a first look at Landmark's long-awaited PvE, then experience it for yourself by nabbing your own beta code!

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Friday, December 19th, 2014
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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If you're a fan of SOE's MMOs and also a fan of Christmas, good news! SOE's MMOs also have Christmas! The studio posted a roundup of its holiday festivities earlier today:

• EverQuest II: The Frostfell Wonderland Village returns this year along with a brand-new quest called The Great Candy (Cane) Chase.
• DC Universe Online: Players will confront Larfleeze's Orange Lantern Corp. Old feats and rewards are back, as are "new base items, styles, a feat, and collection."
• PlanetSide 2: It's Auraximas, which means it's time to murder snowmen. Special camo will also be on sale in the in-game store because of course it will be
• EverQuest: Frostfell in this classic MMO brings Santug Cluagg and a host of new quests rolled out in phases.
• Dragon's Prophet: Celebrate the The Silver Dragon Festival through January 15th.

A moment of silence, of course, for the SOE games no longer with us after this year's purge. Ahem.

If you're more the type to moon after Landmark and its futurespawn, EverQuest Next, check out MJ's hands-on with Landmark's PvE content update, which launches today. And peek back early next week for Massively's traditional MMO holiday event roundup for all the big games across the genre.

We've waited a long time for the chance to have our faces eaten off by vicious monsters in Landmark, and now that opportunity is almost here! After a bit of delay, the infamous PvE patch is heading into our favorite sandbox today. This is seriously going to be a game-changer. Of all the patches throughout the whole year, this one is the biggest -- surpassing the August PvP update and even the original alpha launch, at least according to Creative Director Dave Georgeson. And he's not kidding! I got to check out Landmark's new mobs, linking and triggering, armors, props, and more with Georgeson and Senior Producer Terry Michaels. I didn't think it was possible to be even more excited for this patch, but I am! Can I hear a squeeeee?!

Oh, and for everyone who is waiting anxiously for EverQuest Next news, here's a tidbit from Georgeson you might enjoy:

When we get to those game mastering systems [after the start of the year] that means we are working on EQN full time. Because those are the systems we need for EQN, and that's what we're building when we're building those game mastering tools. So we're so close to transitioning the team almost entirely to EQN, and then we'll take the elements that we build for EQN and port them over into Landmark, but our focus will shift almost entirely to EQN after the new year.

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With such a monster update coming to Landmark, SOE was open about the possibility of troubles and a delay. After keeping the community updated on progress and pitfalls over the weekend, Creative Director Dave Georgeson confirmed it: The PvE patch is delayed until Wednesday, December 17th, at 1:00 p.m. EST. Apparently the mobs themselves are scared of the introduction of players -- as well they should be! Mobs were found all clustering in a single cave. To fully fix this, SOE has to regenerate the islands. But don't worry, builders; there is no claim wipe involved, just time. Once the servers are up and running, watch for a Stream Team tour to check out the new Landmark wildlife.

Landmark as you know it is going the way of the dodo and dinosaurs -- not that there ever were any dodos or dinosaurs in Landmark. There wasn't any wildlife at all. But that's the point: Come Monday, the game is changing in a major way with, among other things, the addition of PvE and mobs. Multi-tiered islands, deep cavers with independent biomes, gaveyards, and underground ley lines for travel... calling it a whole new world is not very far off. *cue Disney music* So Massively's MJ is taking one final stroll through the islands to soak up their final hours as they are, all so she can tell all the young whippersnappers, "Back in my day we didn't have no mobs, and we had to walk the whole way, on our feet!" Join us live at 1:00 p.m. for a last look at this version of Landmark, and get your beta code to take part in its rebirth.

Game: Landmark
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Saturday,December 13th, 2014
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

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So next week's Landmark update is big. Real big, according to SOE's Dave Georgeson. The patch includes "caves down to the world core," salvaging, crafting tweaks, transportation systems, monsters, new loot, and more.

Georgeson also cautions that SOE "fully expects this update to be problematic." He says that the firm will keep players updated via Twitter and that it will announce on Sunday whether or not the update will occur on Monday as currently planned.