One Shots

Ask Massively is apparently the mouthpiece through which Massively communicates its reasons for unpopular decisions to you, the reader. And by "Massively," I of course mean "Eliot," since I'm the only person who writes this column (and have been for over a year, apparently). So instead of my usual somewhat flippant tone in opening off a column, I'm just going to be direct and say that we're discussing one of the site's long-running and beloved features that's finally shuffled off this mortal coil.

You probably all know what I'm talking about already, so go ahead and jump past the break for the explanation and a bit of discussion. As always, your questions are welcome in the comments or via mail to ask@massively.com for inclusion in a future installment of the column, hopefully one in which I go back to posting public domain artwork as the header before rambling on about elephants. I like those introductions better.

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We bid a final farewell to One Shots yesterday, but we couldn't let almost four years and 1,500 reader-submitted screenshots go without a little nod to some of our favorites.

First up, of course, is the first-ever One Shots entry. Liz Harper had this to say about the image:

I wanted to start our daily screenshot feature on Massively off with something, well, massive. A memorable, recognizable, and important scene from MMO history... and while you may all argue with me about what makes this particular shot important, it was the first thing that came to mind. Here we see a group of City of Heroes players gathering at City Hall in Atlas Park to "salute the memory and inspiration that is Christopher Reeve on the 2nd anniversary of his death." It's rare to see an in-game event that brings players together for a cause other than slaying dragons and similar.

Ready for more? Follow along after the jump for more of the best of One Shots!

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Our last reader submission for One Shots comes from Xarrin, Massively reader and Star Wars Galaxies fan:

I'm pulling this screenshot out of some forgotten folders to commemorate One Shots' passing. This is Ockom, my favorite Star Wars Galaxies character, standing outside of his newly purchased and placed home on Naboo.

Although there were other homes in the vicinity, the neighbors who never failed to show up were wandering fambaas like this one. Thanks for running One Shots as long as you have, guys. It's been a joy.

We'll be wrapping things up tomorrow with a final look at One Shots -- we'll feature some of the best submissions from the past four years, so watch for that and thank you all for your screenshots!

Massively reader Redwense is doing his part to bid farewell to One Shots with a screenshot of a party in Lord of the Rings Online. To accompany this image from the 2010 Yule Festival in the Shire, he noted, "Here's a screenshot to thank Massively for such a wonderful column!"

Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what we've got planned!

For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

We've got another World of Warcraft screenshot on today's One Shots, thanks to Massively reader Tim:

Back in the days of The Burning Crusade, when I still played, I caught myself looking at an amazing scene while flying around to turn in some reputation quests. Aldor Rise looked like a scene from a painting, and my screenshot button agreed.

We've got a little surprise for you -- this is One Shots' final week. Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what's new!

For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Today's One Shots image comes to us from a Massively reader and World of Warcraft player:

This is my guild, Chaos Factors, buffing up for the Golemagg pull in Molten Core. I can name a dozen people in this pic -- for instance, the raid lead Gnome Mage who obsessed over his "Mage camp," the Night Elf Hunter for whom the Feign Death cooldown was tragically too long, and the Hunter off in the distance who is my roommate!

We're leaving the One Shots theme up to you this week! There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Today's One Shots comes to us from the land of the absurd -- a wonderful place. Massively reader Ehra enjoyed a bit of silly fun in EverQuest II:

I decided to try out EverQuest II last week (having a great time, by the way), and the other day I was greeted to a server-wide message from GM Euronyma about a racing event that was beginning. I zoned into the Thundering Steppes expecting some good-natured, wholesome competitive sportsmanship and instead received a giant GM Ratonga throwing cows at players. Arguably better.

We're leaving the One Shots theme up to you this week! There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

We wrap up this week's One Shots with a trip back to Age of Conan's Khitai, thanks to Poordevil:

This was taken overlooking the Gateway to Khitai just outside The Breach, a solo instance located in the mountains behind me.

That's it for aerial week here on One Shots! Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Today's One Shots screenshot comes with a bit of a mystery. Massively reader and Guild Wars fan Connor visited Pre-Searing for this image:

Here's a picture of Barradin's Estate in Pre-Searing Guild Wars, aerial-style! I always loved Pre-Searing; it has a peace and calm to it. Yep, I did take this myself -- if you Google around, you can find out how.

We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see!

Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes offers its players a wide variety of mounts, including several with the ability to take flight. Massively reader Korvin took advantage of this to add to our One Shots lineup:

This is the Kojan archipelago, and the place is Jalen's crossing, not so far from Caia'l Brael, the starting place for Wood Elf and Raki races. Here you can hire a flying pegasus to get yourself to Arks of Harmony (the group of floating islands in the screenshot). Jalen's Crossing is a gigantic bridge that connects Youthgreen island with the eastern islands and was built and protected by Raki. Raki are a foxlike race whose members fled their homeland after it was destroyed by the Ulvari. The Arks of Harmony became their safe haven and a place to store important information on how to protect themselves from future threats.

We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see!

Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

You can't get much more aerial than a shot of the moon and stars emerging after sunset, and that's exactly what we have today thanks to Massively reader Helchi:

Hi! I saw this landscape in Lord of the Rings Online and thought I would share it. Too bad I couldn't remember the "hide UI key" fast enough because 10 seconds earlier was a much prettier shot!

We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Ready, set, go!

Today's screenshot features a name we don't often see in One Shots: Second Life. Massively reader and SL fan Kaozz sent us this unusual view from on high:

This is not something you see every day, kind of like a tribute within a game. I thought I'd submit this very cool picture from Second Life. It is an aerial view of a player-created sim called Electrobit City. I thought it was just awesome.

We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. Ready, set, go!

Our One Shots screenshot today was taken in Age of Conan by Mike, who spent some time on high checking out the best view possible:

OK I admit this isn't exactly an aerial shot, but in AoC this is about as close as you can come to one. This is my Ranger Zothan high on top of the Great Wall of Khitai overlooking the valleys and mountains of the beautiful nation. You can actually climb even higher, but the view will be blocked by the windows, so this is the best view in AoC.

We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

We're all about aerial shots this week, and we're starting with a submission from Massively reader Chaz:

This screenshot is one of the airships in Dungeons and Dragons Online flying over the Stormreach Marketplace. They act as guild halls for guilds, and you can see them traveling above the world night and day.

Now it's your turn! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

Our final One Shots image comes from Massively reader Indigostorm, who has a strong appreciation for the danger inherent in this RIFT starting zone:

One of the major things that brought me to RIFT was the stunning graphics. This is my favorite view of the starting zone -- what is a screenshot without a death rift?! It is also the background for my Twitter account.

That's it for starting zone week here on One Shots, and we're ready to take to the skies! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!