Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/not-so-massively-cash-moba-tournaments-diablo-iiis-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website
Dota 2 celebrated the incredible sales of its world championship interactive compendium with free gifts for all players; the compendium has now sold over 266,000 units, raising the prize fund in The International to over $2,000,000 US. Third-person MOBA SMITE has recently entered the competitive tournament scene with two new weekly $1,000 tournaments. Rise of Immortals also announced its first competitive tournament since the Battle For Graxia update and revealed details of its hilariously-named ranged centaur character Murderhoof.

League of Legends revealed the new custom item set feature coming in Patch 3.7 and published a new champion spotlight video on classic ranged carry Ashe. Guardians of Middle-Earth also released its latest paid DLC character, The Mouth of Sauron, based on a character who was originally cut from the cinematic release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Diablo III celebrated the first anniversary of its release on May 15th with anniversary livestreams and a magic-find bonus for all players. The latest patch also raised the increments in which money can be sold on the Real Money Auction House to ten million in response to massive oversupply. Path of Exile revealed details of its upcoming Patch 0.1.1.0 that will add new party loot options and other features, and Star Citizen showed off its new website with a special e-commerce section in which players can buy ships for cash.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website

MassivelyNot So Massively: Cash MOBA tournaments, Diablo III's birthday, and Star Citizen's new website originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpganniversaryanniversary-eventashebattle-for-graxiabattlenetbirthdayblizzardblizzard-entertainmentCompendiumcompetitive-gamingconsolecustom-item-setCustom-Item-Setsd3dawngatediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgaslightgodgodsgothic-fantasygraxiagrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguardians-of-middle-earthinfinite-crisisInteractive-Compendiumisisjokerleague-of-legendslollord-of-the-ringslotrmiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmouth-of-sauronmultiplayermurderhoofnewsnot-so-massivelynsmone-yearone-year-anniversaryonline-multiplayeropinionpath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgskarasmitethe-jokerthe-mouth-of-sauronthird-personvalvevideovideoswarner-brosxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: PlanetSide 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/why-i-play-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/why-i-play-planetside-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/why-i-play-planetside-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 screenshot
I was this close to saving myself a lot of time by finishing this article with only a few simple words: Why do I play PlanetSide 2? Because it's fun. I'm pretty sure my boss would want me to expand on it just a bit, however, but let me drive those three words home: Because it's fun. I think we are all familiar with the word "fun," but it's something that we really don't hear enough about in MMOs. I don't think we play MMOs mainly because they're fun; I think we play them because they pull out other emotions in us, emotions like wonder or awe. They might help fill in social needs that are sometimes hard to fill out in real life. These are all positive and worthy reactions, but they're different from sheer fun.

I have oodles of fun in PlanetSide 2. Gobs of it. Barrels of fun. The fun is powerful in this one. You get the point. PlanetSide 2 actually makes me laugh to myself, makes me yell at the screen -- you know, those noises you hear from someone who is having a blast. Of course, there are a few other reasons I play PlanetSide 2 as well, so I'll fill you in on those.

Continue reading Why I Play: PlanetSide 2

MassivelyWhy I Play: PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfeaturedfpsmassively-metametammo-shootermmofpsnostalgiaop-edopinionplanetsideplanetside-2ps2sandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentwhy-i-playFri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mystical Land changes name to Villagers & Heroes, adds content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/a-mystical-land-changes-name-to-villagers-and-heroes-adds-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/a-mystical-land-changes-name-to-villagers-and-heroes-adds-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/a-mystical-land-changes-name-to-villagers-and-heroes-adds-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Villagers & Heroes
Remember A Mystical Land? Well, forget about it, at least under that name. Mad Otter and Neonga have sent out a press release announcing that the title is now called Villagers & Heroes in an effort to "better match the content and focus of the game."

The name change isn't the only change, either, as gameplay has been upgraded by the addition of player-created custom gear, new realms to explore, and new epic bosses.

Animal ranching is a thing now, too, so you can raise sheep, chicken, and pigs alongside those crops in your backyard. Additional improvements are planned for future updates, and Villagers & Heroes is also seeking your approval on Steam's Greenlight service.

[Source: Neonga press release]

MassivelyA Mystical Land changes name to Villagers & Heroes, adds content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landanimal-ranchingf2pfantasyfarmingfree-to-playmad-otterneongaplayer-generated-contentpvesteam-greenlightuser-generated-contentvillagers-and-heroesWed, 15 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/sid-meier-on-mobile-and-the-value-of-hardcore-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamersYou know you're getting old when legendary PC developer Sid Meier gives interviews about his foray into mobile gaming. It's not as bad as it sounds, though, because the man behind the Civilization series tells GamesIndustry.biz that the core gaming audience is still driving the industry regardless of platform.

"I think we've seen historically that the more casual gaming platforms and markets do have a kind of rise and fall pattern to them, whereas the hardcore gaming market, the serious gamers are much more stable, and they're going to be around for a long time and will keep playing games," Meier said.

Meier also ruminates on his approach to mobile free-to-play, which is basically the same try-the-demo-buy-the-full-game-if-you-like-it model that PC gaming has employed for decades. "It's not something like a constant stream of purchases every day, but it's more just unlocking the rest of the game and then you are done," he explained.

MassivelySid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscasualf2pfree-to-playgame-industryhardcorehardcore-gamermmo-industrymobilesid-meierTue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Vendetta Online on the iPad
I love MUDs. When I go through a several-hour long MUD session, I feel as if I took part in a greater story, and most of the fun was not based on stats or gear. MUDs let me escape into a world because they are about story first. I think I'm pretty rare, though. I can't find many other writers who seem to write about MUDs unless they are referencing them like some sort of relic from the past. The truth is that MUDs are still being loved, played, and enjoyed by thousands. Covering MUDs is as important as covering any other MMO. They're still part of the bigger picture.

I'm sure many of you reading this now could not care less about MUDs. You might have played one years ago, but generally they are seen as the cute elderly citizens of MMOdom. That's cool if that's how you feel, but now think about this: The new generation, kids between 13 and 20 years old, will look at many of our large PCs and 20 gig MMOs the same way modern gamers look at MUDs.

Continue reading The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us

MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmandelleditorialfeaturedIOSipadiphonemudMUDsmulti-user-dungeonop-edopinionpcpc-gamingrantrantssmartphonesoapboxtablet-pctabletsthe-soapboxTue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/not-so-massively-yet-another-d3-exploit-star-citizen-pay-to-wi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen paytowin debate, and MOBA news
Diablo III was hit with yet another exploit this week as players discovered a way to duplicate gold via a bug in the auction house. Blizzard responded by shutting down the auction house but did not perform a server rollback to reverse the damage. Star Citizen clarified its stance on the lifetime insurance available to veteran backers amidst debate over whether it gives early adopters an unfair advantage over other players. Path of Exile also released a new Letters of Wraeclast lore feature in its latest update, and MechWarrior Online's update 15 added a new Misery mech.

Dota 2 began preparations for its biggest world championship tournament yet with the release of a new Interactive Compendium that players can use to stay up to date with the matches. Rise of Immortals has now officially launched its Battle For Graxia revamp, and Infinite Crisis officially entered closed beta this week with the release of new champion The Joker. Finally, Smashmuck Champions released its hilarious new community-designed champion that's half platypus and half unicorn.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: Yet another D3 exploit, Star Citizen pay-to-win debate, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbatmanbattle-for-graxiabattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-robertscloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingd3dcdc-comicsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasygraxiaindieinfinite-crisisinsurancejokerkiz-studioslifetime-insurancemobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropinionpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvprise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgsandboxsci-fismashmuckstar-citizensupermanthe-jokerturbinevalvevideovideoswarner-broswonder-womanWraeclastMon, 13 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mabinogi screenshot
I try to take deeper looks at certain titles at least once a year. These are special games that prove to me that MMORPGs are still the best gaming you can participate in, pixel for pixel. Mabinogi is one of those titles. It's also one of those titles that almost makes me want to quit writing about games. Ironically, the more you write about games, the less time you have to play specific titles, games that could easily suck away hours of your life every day. These are virtual worlds with open character development and grand, sweeping storylines. If I had the time, I'd probably spend most of it in Mabinogi.

During this week's revisit, I knew I had to accomplish several things. First, I needed to clean up my quest list. Mabinogi is wonderful in the way it offers a player tons and tons of content and storylines, but they can be visited in a non-linear fashion that leads to confusion. Second, I wanted to revel in the glory that was the newly free extended inventory. Third, I wanted to check out the new systems and tweaks that have come along since I last dived into the game.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanDragonrealmsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammabinogimassively-tvmudMUD-MayNexonnexon-americarise-and-shinySandboxstreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/mmobility-exploring-a-tiny-universe-in-pocket-galaxy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pocket Galaxy screenshot
Pocket Galaxy, a new sci-fi mobile MMO, is relatively impressive at first. It's a nice looking game that feels like a cross between Dark Orbit, Asteroids, and EVE Online and seems to be pretty casual and cheap to play. These things make me happy. I've adopted a casual playstyle because of my need to be the guy who plays every single game he sees, and that has had the side effect of making casual gaming perfect for me.

For example, a Pocket Galaxy player who wants to craft more ammo for one of her guns needs to create the items by waiting a certain amount of real time that can be shortened by using cash. Many players might see this as some sort of money-grab. I see it as a casual game with the option to speed up build times, but then again... I'm patient.

Gallery: Pocket Galaxy screenshots

Continue reading MMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy

MassivelyMMObility: Exploring a tiny universe in Pocket Galaxy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddual-stick-shooterfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepocket-galaxysci-fiscience-fictionsmartphoneFri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/not-so-massively-moba-patch-week-star-citizen-hits-9-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset
This week is packed with MOBA news as almost every major title released a new patch. Infinite Crisis introduced new champions Poison Ivy and Gaslight Catwoman and announced that the game's closed beta will start in two days' time on May 8th. SMITE introduced new Norse god Fenrir the Unbound, and League of Legends released a champion spotlight on new Ice Witch champion Lissandra. Dota 2 also released new hero Elder Titan based on the original DotA hero Tauren Chieftain, and Heroes of Newerth released several months of balance changes at once in its colossal version 3.1 update.

Star Citizen celebrated hitting $9 million US in its ongoing crowdfunding campaign, and to celebrate, developers controversially gave all current backers free lifetime insurance on their ships. The title's success has also spurred EVE Online developer CCP Games to show off its own virtual reality dogfighter called EVR that uses the upcoming Oculus Rift headset.

Diablo III's first anniversary is just over a week away; details of any celebrations haven't yet been released. Developers confirmed that the PlayStation 4 version will not be getting mouse and keyboard support and that the PC version won't be getting support for analog controllers. For those of you up for some oldschool dungeon-crawling, Diablo II also announced that its ladder will be reset on May 14th this week and all players will start the game fresh again.

Continue reading Not So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset

MassivelyNot So Massively: MOBA patch week, Star Citizen hits $9 million, and Diablo II ladder reset originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbetabeta-testbeta-testingblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopccpccp-gameschris-robertscompetitive-gamingconsoled3defense-of-the-ancientsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportselder-titanesportesportseveeve-onlineevrexploitf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgothic-fantasyhon-tourhontourice-witchinternet-spaceshipsladderladder-resetleagueleague-of-legendslissandralolmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmoculus-riftonline-multiplayeropinionpatch-1.0.8playstationplaystation-3playstation-4Playstation3premiumps4pvpriotriot-gamesroguelikeround-uprounduprpgsandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlinetauren-chieftaintestingtrailertrailersvideovideosvirtual-realitywitch-doctorMon, 06 May 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Hands-on with EVE's virtual reality demo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/eve-evolved-hands-on-with-eves-virtual-reality-demo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/eve-evolved-hands-on-with-eves-virtual-reality-demo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/eve-evolved-hands-on-with-eves-virtual-reality-demo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved Handson with EVE's virtual reality demo
As EVE Online's tenth anniversary Fanfest slowly got underway, the press were led into a small upstairs room with chairs lined up and ominous-looking black headsets. The headsets turned out to be expensive prototype devkits of the Oculus Rift, a recently kickstarted PC peripheral that aims to make immersive virtual reality affordable for gamers. VR headsets are traditionally heavy monstrosities costing thousands of pounds and usually have input processing lag that make them unsuitable for high-action gaming, but the Oculus Rift is a light and highly responsive device currently clocking in at a more reasonable $300.

We were sat down to take part in a demo of EVR, a new virtual reality multiplayer dogfighter that uses art assets from EVE Online. It was an incredibly immersive experience for those of us unfamiliar with the Oculus Rift, and even members of the press who had used the device seemed impressed with the game. Fanfest attendees were equally excited when a trailer for EVR was shown at the EVE Keynote on Friday, and many attendees got to try the game first hand last night. But what impressed me the most was the story behind the demo's creation and the possibilities that Oculus Rift could potentially open up if support for it were brought to EVE Online.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give my hands-on impressions of EVR, delve into the story behind its creation, and speculate on how Oculus Rift support could revolutionise EVE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Hands-on with EVE's virtual reality demo

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Hands-on with EVE's virtual reality demo originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-percent20-percent-time20-timedogfightingeveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-keynoteeve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eve-virtual-realityeventevent-coverageevrfanfestfeaturedgoogleicelandjon-landermassively-event-coverageoculus-riftrekyjavikstar-citizentrailerunity-3dvideovirtual-realitySun, 28 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: War Thunder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/rise-and-shiny-war-thunder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/rise-and-shiny-war-thunder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/rise-and-shiny-war-thunder/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

War Thunder screenshot
War Thunder, a new instanced-based WWII flying battle, uhm, thingy, didn't really seem that appealing at first. It looks nice, and yes, the planes can be controlled in a few different styles ranging from an FPS twitch style to a more "realistic" mode, but I was worried it would be just another slogging grind until I was able to have any fun. There's some truth behind my worry about the grind, but overall I had an incredible time in the game. The only real shame is that I didn't get to put as much time in it as I would have liked. The game had infrequent connection issues, but when they cropped up, they lasted a while. Even so, each match lasted long enough to give me a pretty good taste of combat.

I stuck with the "arcade" style of gameplay. It's a simpler way to control the planes that allows players to point the mouse pointer for control. You might need to land for repairs and take off again, but it's as simple as slowing down until you touch down. I started to take the more realistic mode's tutorial, but as soon as it told me I had to manually control much more of the plane's controls, I gave up. Call me a wimp, but I just wanted to shoot planes.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: War Thunder

MassivelyRise and Shiny: War Thunder originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvrise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideowar-thunderwar-thunder-world-of-planesworld-of-tanksworld-of-warplanesworld-war-2World-War-IIwwIISun, 28 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/mmobility-revisiting-the-lost-titans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Lost Titans screenshot
It's pretty impressive that The Lost Titans, a new browser-based MMO by ZQGame, launched in China and was supporting 600 servers within six months, but China is a unique, browser-eating beast. I've talked about the foreign browser market before and often marvel at how so many players in the West scoff at browser games. It's not as though "browser" is a genre; it's a delivery system. But here we are, getting ready to scroll through comments to read about how "browser games" suck. That's like saying, "MP3s are bad music."

Still, I cannot deny that some browser-based games do indeed suck. In fact, the last time I played The Lost Titans live, I found myself so bored I almost could not finish the stream, but I thought I'd try again with a fresh perspective. Despite finding many of the same issues I had before, I was surprised at how much further the game has come. I sat down with ZQGame's Laura Stephens during this latest livestream to talk about the game.

Continue reading MMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans

MassivelyMMObility: Revisiting The Lost Titans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcash-shopfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepvpsmartphoneThe-Lost-TitanszqgameFri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My favorite female armor sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brienne picture
Of all of the crazy characters from HBO's Game of Thrones, Brienne is easily my favorite. Why is she my favorite? It's not because she's just heroic or brave or any of the things that people often attribute to her; it's because she's a survivor. Much of that survival comes from her armor and the fact that she knows well enough to be able to protect herself! The actress Gwendoline Christie has talked about how uncomfortable the armor is to wear. I've heard the producers say that the metal skin is supposed to look sort of mismatched, and I love that. It only makes it stronger.

I often wish MMOs represented armor in better ways, especially for female characters. Some MMOs do a better job than others, and some MMOs do a decent job some of the time. Here are some of my picks for my favorite armor sets for female humans, orcs, goblins or... well, you get the point.

(Please don't post Game of Thrones spoilers in the comments section.)

Continue reading Free for All: My favorite female armor sets

MassivelyFree for All: My favorite female armor sets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancostumesdesigneverquestEverQuest-2f2pfeaturedfemale-armorffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivGuild-Wars-2illyriadmudopinionRolePlayingRyzomVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Game of Thrones Ascent screenshot
Nothing seems to suck me into a game more than a good story. The brilliant thing is that the story doesn't have to be complicated or intense as long as it's original and easy to follow. I want characters to meet, locations to discover. I need to immerse myself into a story more than I need to raise a level or obtain powerful loot. In this edition of MMO Blender, I wanted to use three main games as prime examples of systems that, when combined together in some form, would deliver the best story-driven experience I can imagine.

There are several factors to consider: story, movement, character, and interaction. I want to use War of Dragons as an example of movement in a mostly text environment, Gemstone IV for character and interaction, and Game of Thrones Ascent for story. Hopefully, when I am done, I'll have convinced someone to give me a few million dollars to create this dream MMO.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text

MassivelyMMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designbeau-hindmanbrowserfavorite-mmofeaturedgame-designgame-mechanicsgame-of-thronesgame-of-thrones-ascentgemstone-ivmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymudopiniontext-basedwar-of-dragonsFri, 19 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/hands-on-with-arena-of-heroes-turn-based-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Handson with Arena of Heroes' turnbased gameplay
During the last week, I've witnessed two excellent unions: My good friend married his college sweetheart, and a MOBA reached out to the ranks of turn-based gaming. Sure, the former had an open bar, but no amount of free booze can quench my desire for something new within the MOBA genre. Enter Arena of Heroes, a new turn-based free-to-play MOBA that can be played on PC, Mac, iPad, and eventually, on Ouya, iOS, and Android.

I spent the morning with Sneaky Games CEO David Godwin and Zattikka Director of Product Alexandra Tinsman to find out why this game will make me bring my iPad everywhere I go.

Continue reading Hands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay

MassivelyHands-on with Arena of Heroes' turn-based gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexandra-tinsmanandroidarena-of-heroesdavid-godwinfeaturedhands-onMOBAouyapcpreviewpreviewssneaky-gameszattikkaFri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/free-for-all-ecol-tactics-online-beta-shows-weak-combat-fun-st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ecol Tactics Online screenshot
I took a look at Ecol Tactics Online not so long ago and mostly enjoyed what I found. When the game recently launched into open beta, I knew I had to check it out again. It's possible that the game I experienced before the open beta would be vastly different from the one I'd find later on, but everything felt familiar even though I was given access to higher-level play and cash shop.

I enjoyed the storyline and quest text much more this time around. Last time, gameplay appeared pretty standard, but now that I know what to expect with combat and performance, I can enjoy the story a bit more. But a player can ignore the story completely and still find the game enjoyable. That's an issue with many MMOs in general. A lot of the time the story has no bearing on a player's character. This time I slowed down and read up most of the quests I came across and discovered some pretty cute tales and toons.

The combat is still fun as well. Of course, turn-based combat is what this game is all about.

Continue reading Free for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat

MassivelyFree for All: Ecol Tactics Online has a fun story but weak combat originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopecol-tacticsecol-tactics-onlinef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgames-campusopinionTurn-basedvelvet-ropewakfuWed, 17 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Dino Storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/rise-and-shiny-dino-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/rise-and-shiny-dino-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/rise-and-shiny-dino-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dino Storm screenshot
I have a real love for finding tiny, unknown, indie titles -- especially ones that are obviously made for younger gamers -- and playing them for a write-up. It's one of the perks of the job; I get to dig up these gems and tell thousands of people about them. Games like Dino Storm also serve to remind me about why I got into blogging about games before I was ever paid to do it. There are virtual worlds to discover out there, and I find that thrilling. I especially like it when they boast this level of quality.

Dino Storm might not challenge a more mature player, but it's surprisingly complex. It's got everything it needs to be considered a full-fledged MMO, but it also keeps in mind that younger players need a little help along the way. You'll play the role of a cowboy or girl who rides around on the backs of well-animated dinosaurs ranging from tiny to massive, and you'll also hunt after all sorts of quests and goods.

I did have a few small issues with the game, but the development team seemed willing and ready to patch them up.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Dino Storm

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Dino Storm originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-based-combatbeau-hindmandino-stormdinosaursf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onkids-gameskids-mmolivestreammassively-tvriftrise-and-shinystreamthe-aurora-worldtwitchtwitch-tvvideoWarhammer-OnlineSun, 14 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Villagers and Heroes screenshots
Villagers and Heroes, formerly called A Mystical Land, surprised me. I had gone several weeks if not a few months without logging in to the game for longer than a half an hour, so you can imagine my surprise when I realized that the game not only had been improved but had added systems that I thought it never would. In other words, the game was suddenly a world, a fully realized browser-based MMORPG. Despite my feeling that the game was going to languish in state of semi-completion, suddenly it had housing, more crafting, a better UI, and a fully stocked cash shop.

I've streamed the game before, but now I find myself logging in a lot more than ever. And now, after hosting a livestream with associate designer Cameron England (embedded after the cut), I'm really having fun with the game and have noticed that it offers a lot more than games that are much more well-known.

This is why I play Villagers and Heroes.

Continue reading Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes

MassivelyWhy I Play: Villagers and Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcameron-englandcraftingeditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromad-otter-gamesmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionSandboxvillagers-and-heroeswhy-i-playFri, 12 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Wind: Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/second-wind-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/second-wind-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/second-wind-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Champions Online screenshot
I remember playing and disliking Champions Online when it first came out. My wife and I had the same reaction when we both thought it looked funky and played oddly. It was as though the game was attempting to be some sort of kitschy '60s-inspired comic book game, so it was hard to take it seriously. It just wasn't that much fun. Granted, that was a long time ago, and since then the title has changed hands, been patched up, and been smoothed over. I've played it off and on since my first experience but always felt it lacked... something.

I knew I needed to give it a second chance, and what better avenue to do it in than this very column? I've been really diving into it over the past few weeks, and I've discovered that the game is actually really good. And really fun. And that it looks good! I streamed it live just to double check, and sure enough, the game holds up well and made me so happy that I continued to try it out. I even subscribed! (Will wonders never cease?) So today, I want to tackle the game from a fresh, newbier perspective than the one taken in our weekly superhero column, A Mild-Mannered Reporter, where Eliot has been chronicling the playerbase's frustration with the game's content-update shortcomings.

Be sure to check out the embedded livestream later in the article. It really shows off how fun the game can be, as well as covers some of its finer details.

Gallery: Second Wind: Champions Online screenshots

Continue reading Second Wind: Champions Online

MassivelySecond Wind: Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanchampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpost-launchpwere-reviewreviewroundtablesecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windsuperherosuperheroestranscriptupdated-impressionsFri, 12 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/mmobility-dragon-eternity-shines-on-the-ipad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Eternity iPad version screenshot
Dragon Eternity has always been a pretty neat browser-based game that drew me in more with its mechanics and UI design than with its actual gameplay. Frankly, the game is a grind. You'll be sent on quest after quest that is basically kill-ten-whatever, with the occasional gather quest thrown in for good measure. I wasn't terribly thrilled with it before, but I did find myself occasionally enjoying it. The artwork in the game is beautiful. That alone is a reason to poke my head into the title once in a while.

Now that a new iPad version has been released, I just had to give it another go to see if it felt the same as before. I have to say, how you interface with a game can really make a difference. Sure, the grind is still there, and the quests are generally the same at higher levels as they are at level one, but the iPad works awesome.

That's not all, however. I also participated in PvP combat for the first time and found out exactly where the game shines.

Continue reading MMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad

MassivelyMMObility: Dragon Eternity shines on the iPad originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddragon-eternityfeaturedipadmagic-the-gatheringmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomobile-versionopinionphonesmartphoneFri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST