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[Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/marvel-heroes-prepares-for-the-end-at-the-beginning/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning
With early access to Marvel Heroes coming on May 28th and the actual launch a few days later on June 4th, the Gazillion team is on super-high alert. CEO David Brevik talked with us about the final additions that the team is putting in place, saying that most of the features are complete at this point.

Brevik most wanted to talk about Marvel Heroes' endgame. Interestingly enough, the main PvE story will take your character only about halfway to the level 60 cap. After that, Gazillion expects players to fully rely on a robust endgame to finish the journey.

The endgame is made up of three primary PvE activities (in addition to PvP): daily missions, group challenges, and survival challenges. Daily missions, which can be soloed or done in a group, are unlocked in a chain. The five-man group challenges only have a single entry at this point, although there are several variations on that challenge. Then the survival challenges can take groups of 10 to 15 players and pit them against waves of increasingly difficult foes. Difficulty for these wave battles can be lowered by grabbing shards and defeating enemies, and depending on how well your team performs, the boss could be a pushover or insanely tough. Gazillion is placing a premium on randomness and variety to keep things fresh, so don't expect all similar-looking mobs to actually be the same!

Read on for all of the last-minute changes that players will encounter when they take on their superhero personae next month!

Continue reading Marvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning

MassivelyMarvel Heroes prepares for the end at the beginning originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmocabledavid-brevikendgamef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgazilliongazillion-entertainmentiron-manmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemuosecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesThu, 16 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

STO Mars Utopia Planitia Yards
Now that Star Trek Online's expansion, The Legacy of Romulus has moved into open beta on the Tribble test server, I think it's high time I wrote about one of the biggest changes the game has ever seen. It's not just about what will occur in the game's story; it's how the story is being told.

Players who create a Romulan faction character when Star Trek Online launches the expansion on May 21st will experience something that simply hasn't been seen before in the game. Fair warning: I'll be writing a fair amount about what happens within the first dozen levels of gameplay, so if you're holding out to be surprised, know that there are spoilers after the jump!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boffbridge officerscaptains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdoffduty officerduty officer systemexpansionf2pfactionfactionsfeaturedfederationfree-to-playkdfklingonslegacy of romulusopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereputationromulan republicRomulanssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarfleetstoStoryOfTheYearstorytellingtovan-khevMon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are there games you would play if you could skip to the end?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-daily-grind-are-there-games-you-would-play-if-you-could-ski/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-daily-grind-are-there-games-you-would-play-if-you-could-ski/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-daily-grind-are-there-games-you-would-play-if-you-could-ski/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

All right, they just released this gear, that probably shouldn't get handed out at the front door.
Most of the time I can't really recommend starting new in Final Fantasy XI, which is a shame. It's not that the game is bad, nor is it lacking in things to do once you're at the level cap. No, it's just painful to get to the level cap. If you could somehow skip months of tedious leveling and just get straight to the broad and varied endgame, you would be set. Which sounds dangerously close to an endorsement for leveling services, but that's not the point.

We all have games that we like, but not enough to fully commit to in terms of leveling. Some of these are games that are great at the cap, but we'll never see them. Of course, some would argue that if you're not willing to put in the work to level, you're not going to be willing to play the game at the top either. So are there games you would play if you could skip straight to the end of the leveling game? Or would that defeat some of your attraction to MMOs?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are there games you would play if you could skip to the end? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindendgamelevel-progressionlevel-skiplevelingleveling-gameopinionskip-to-the-endtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 04 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allods Online explains designing a raid in great detail]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/allods-online-explains-designing-a-raid-in-great-detail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/allods-online-explains-designing-a-raid-in-great-detail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/allods-online-explains-designing-a-raid-in-great-detail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Who knows you might even see this guy?
Have you ever wanted to know exactly what goes into designing a new raid for Allods Online? Because there are apparently a lot of moving pieces at play. The latest article from the community team is penned by one of the game designers, and it explains extensively just what is involved in bringing a raid from the concept stage to the actual playable level.

For Allods Online, the first step is the writing team coming up with a concept for the raid that makes sense in the game world and ties into major figures. That leads to the creature and object designers getting a sense of how much can be done for any given raid -- how many new enemies can be created, how many bosses can be made, how big the maps can be. From there it's on to layout and battle mechanics. For a more in-depth overview, take a look at the full entry on the official site.

MassivelyAllods Online explains designing a raid in great detail originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allodsallods-onlineastrum-nivaldesignf2pfantasyfree-to-playgala-netgame-designgpotatomail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesraid-designFri, 03 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Why broken economies hurt guilds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-guild-counsel-why-broken-economies-hurt-guilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-guild-counsel-why-broken-economies-hurt-guilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-guild-counsel-why-broken-economies-hurt-guilds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Guild Counsel Why broken economies hurt guilds
I have to admit, I read the recent article by Ramin Shokrizade on the pre-endgame economy of Guild Wars 2 and shrugged. He made a lot of great points, but the problems with GW2's economy are really not that unique. One of the biggest dilemmas is the fact that dropped items, like weapons and armor, really don't have any value prior to the endgame. As in many MMOs, the broker or auction house is flooded with pre-endgame armor and weapons and there's just no demand for it.

There are several design flaws that play a role in why dropped items, and virtual economies in general, feel stagnant. Let's look at a few common problems in MMOs today and see why broken economies actually hurt guilds as well.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Why broken economies hurt guilds

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Why broken economies hurt guilds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceeconomieseconomyeqeverquestfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-wars-2guildsgw2leadershipopinionthe-guild-counselThu, 02 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Fanfest 2013 day two: World of Darkness, Odyssey, and EVE Virtual Reality with the Oculus Rift]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/eve-fanfest-2013-day-two-world-of-darkness-odyssey-and-eve-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/eve-fanfest-2013-day-two-world-of-darkness-odyssey-and-eve-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/eve-fanfest-2013-day-two-world-of-darkness-odyssey-and-eve-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Fanfest 2013 day two World of Darkness, Odyssey, and EVE Virtual Reality with the Oculus Rift
EVE Online's tenth anniversary Fanfest promised to be its biggest yet, with over 1,400 players packed into Iceland's Harpa convention centre to find out the latest on EVE Online, DUST 514, and World of Darkness. The first day focused mainly on DUST and its link with the EVE universe, but today the focus largely switched back to internet spaceships. There were plenty of roundtable discussions, and the CSM and Alliance panels were as awesome as ever, but it was the EVE Keynote that really blew the crowd away.

The day got off to a good start with the highly anticipated World of Darkness talk. Most fans were probably expecting to see more airy game design ideas and another shiny trailer, but this year CCP just came out and put all its cards on the table. We saw that the game is still firmly in pre-production, with much of the previous work going into developing the engine and cool content creation tools and shaders. While I was initially disappointed at the lack of gameplay progress or shiny cinematics, I found this approach of being open and direct with fans very refreshing. As I told WoD art director Thomas Holt, honest beats shiny every time.

Read on for a full run-down of the EVE reveals from the second day of EVE's tenth anniversary Fanfest, including in-depth details of the Odyssey expansion's features.

Continue reading EVE Fanfest 2013 day two: World of Darkness, Odyssey, and EVE Virtual Reality with the Oculus Rift

MassivelyEVE Fanfest 2013 day two: World of Darkness, Odyssey, and EVE Virtual Reality with the Oculus Rift originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryarchaeologyarcheologyccp-soundwavediscovery-scannereveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eventevent-coverageevtfanfestfeaturedgraphicshackinghilmarhilmar-peturssonhilmar-veigar-peturssonicelandisotopesjon-landerjump-effectjumpingkeynotemassively-event-coverageminingoculus-riftodysseyorepreviewpreviewsprobeprobesprobingpvepvprekyjavikscan-probesscannerscanningstarbase-fuelstargatestargatesten-yearsthomas-holtvideovideoswodworld-of-darknessFri, 26 Apr 2013 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is endgame progression to you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind How important is endgame progression to you
For some players, the real meat of an MMORPG begins when you don't have any more pesky levels to worry about. Leveling is training, but using all that training to clear through the hardest content in the game is what you signed up for. Whether it's in World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2, these players feel that the real push is to have the best possible gear and optimize your character specialties.

For other players, the endgame is just an addition, sometimes even an unwelcome one. Having the best gear or the best build is nice, but it's not worth pursuing at the detriment of your enjoyment. Far better to just do dailies in Star Wars: The Old Republic or level a new character in Champions Online. These players can be just as dedicated to the game, but they just don't care for the endgame push.

So which category do you lean toward? Is the progression track at the top what you live for, or is it just a distraction? How important is endgame progression to you?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How important is endgame progression to you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-in-slotchallengeculturedaily-grindendgameendgame-progressionlevel-caplevelsopinionoptimizationtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies
Nobody likes doing dailies. Dailies are a grind. Dailies are just something game designers use to keep players occupied until new content comes out. I've heard all those phrases before, and if dailies fall into one of those general categories, I don't do them. It is possible, however, that if doing dailies will help me acquire a significant reward (such as credits to buy that lightsaber hilt I've been eyeing), then I might overlook the grind to do the dailies anyway. But the key factor has to be time. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, time is your biggest investment. Despite what some players will tell you, there's a multitude of things to do at endgame. Unfortunately, a single player cannot do all of them all the time. You have to choose, and time to completion (or better yet, time to fun) weighs heavily in the decision-making process.

Let me help make one of those decisions for you: Don't do the GSI dailies.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredailieseaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playGalactic-Solutions-IndustriesGSIguidehutt-cartelhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fiseeker-droidstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 16 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New raid included in today's Secret World patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/new-raid-included-in-todays-secret-world-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/new-raid-included-in-todays-secret-world-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/new-raid-included-in-todays-secret-world-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

New raid included in The Secret World's patch
Amid the general bug squashing and polishing released in today's patch, The Secret World has tucked away a tasty little morsel of content: an all new lair raid encounter. A weak point between realities has been discovered out in the Kingsmouth wreckage, and groups of 10 adventurers can enter the extra-dimensional prison, The Island of Stillborn Stars, to face Eidolon of the Outer Dark.

Bits of housekeeping also included in the patch were fixes to several exploits in lairs, dungeons, and PvP as well as assorted bugs (say goodbye to area spam when anyone nearby uses a reconstructor and black screens after using the Helevator). Players will also find a brand new item for sale at the Envoy of Ca' d'Oro. For a full listing of all the changes, check out the official patch notes.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyNew raid included in today's Secret World patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-fixesbuy-to-playfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorlairlairsmythologynew-raidpatchsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswMon, 15 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New reputation in Star Trek Online takes the fight to the Tholians]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You have to wonder if Tholian captains ever get tired of the whole web thing.
Nukara Prime is not a pleasant place in Star Trek Online. It's covered in Tholians, for starters, and it's got all of the charming amenities of a warzone. Then it gets even worse when you realize it's a Class Y or "Demon" planet, and you don't get a nickname like "Demon" for being ideal beachfront property. So naturally players will be expected to head there when Legacy of Romulus launches in May, and they'll have plenty of extra incentive with the new Nukara Strikeforce reputation.

The new reputation will work much like other reputations in the game, giving players a variety of new ground and space item sets to earn in exchange for Nukara Marks. Players can also look forward to existing endgame activities involving Tholians to start giving out Nukara Marks, and they'll have the opportunity to exchange old rewards for large piles of marks as well. So your bridge crew probably won't be happy that shore leave is on Nukara Prime, but your captain will have plenty of new rewards to pick up.

MassivelyNew reputation in Star Trek Online takes the fight to the Tholians originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosendgameendgame-activitiesexpansionf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewspweremusreputationromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoFri, 12 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Jumping from casual to endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-guild-counsel-jumping-from-casual-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-guild-counsel-jumping-from-casual-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-guild-counsel-jumping-from-casual-to-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Guild Counsel Jumping from casual to endgame
It's a classic scenario that's all too common: A guild builds up a solid roster, with enthusiastic members, and decides to make the leap from casual to hardcore. But that leap can sometimes become a free-fall spiral and a potential guild-breaker.

How does a guild shift gears and go from easygoing to endgame? Let's look at a few ways to make it work and avoid the growing pains in the process.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Jumping from casual to endgame

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Jumping from casual to endgame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecasual-guildscasual-to-hardcoreendgamefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildshardcore-guildsleadershipopinionraidingraiding-guildsthe-guild-counselThu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Exploring The Secret World's endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/chaos-theory-exploring-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/chaos-theory-exploring-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/chaos-theory-exploring-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory Exploring endgame
Throughout my tenure as the Chaos Theory author, I've ruminated on a number of Secret World subjects that personally interest, intrigue, or otherwise affect me. I've covered ARGs, different issue updates, sabotage quests, the conversion to buy-to-play, ambiance, and more. I've even expounded on things I'd like to see in game, like housing and vehicles. But one thing I haven't covered with much detail are areas that don't have much personal relevance to me... yet.

While it makes sense to talk most about my personal experiences, The Secret World offers so much more than what I have delved into. There really are different strokes for different folks, all wrapped up within the one world. So this week we are exploring an area that captures the attention of others if not mine: endgame.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Exploring The Secret World's endgame

MassivelyChaos Theory: Exploring The Secret World's endgame originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionsbuy-to-playchaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonendgamefactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorilluminatimythologynightmare-modenightmare-mode-dungeonsopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theoryskill-basedsubscriptionlesstemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorytheorycraftingthree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonMon, 08 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
With its exploration-focused Odyssey expansion on the way, EVE Online is about to be hit with a deluge of players (new and old) venturing into the unknown. The expansion will introduce the yet-to-be-revealed Discovery Scanner and will add a ton of new exploration content all across New Eden. Odyssey aims to follow the lead of 2009's Apocrypha expansion, which saw hundreds of corporations lead lucrative expeditions into uncharted wormhole systems. We don't yet know whether the expansion will open new systems for exploration, but when Odyssey goes live, the race will be on to find and lay claim to all the goodies hidden in deep space.

With no stations to dock at in wormhole space, corps currently have to store everything in destructible starbases that aren't really up to the task. Player-owned starbases were released in 2004 as sandbox-style tools for tech 2 industry and alliance territorial warfare. They were never intended to be the sole base of operations for an entire corporation, so they suffer from some pretty severe security and usability flaws as a result. Theft from ship and item hangars in wormhole space is commonplace, setting up corp roles for them is a nightmare, and living exclusively in a starbase provides a daily dose of frustration players could seriously do without. CCP has been planning to completely overhaul player-owned starbases for years, but some of today's issues can't afford to wait any longer.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the chronic problems faced by starbase-dwelling explorers and how CCP plans to temporarily fix some of them for Odyssey.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved title image
When EVE Online's upcoming Odyssey expansion was officially announced last week at PAX East, the anticipation from players was almost palpable. Odyssey aims to follow in the footsteps of 2009's blockbuster Apocrypha expansion by revamping the exploration system and filling the void of space with thousands of new hidden treasures. We've been promised new ships, a new scanner mechanic with sleek new UI and additional functionality, and a rebalancing of industrial resources across the game.

Though CCP is saving most of the expansion reveals for next month's EVE Fanfest and beyond, we can make some fairly educated guesses on what the expansion will contain from the press release and teaser site. It's pretty much a given that we'll get some kind of new exploration ship, and there's pretty strong evidence that moon minerals will be changing somehow. We're also almost guaranteed to get new faction battlecruisers, and the evidence is mounting that Jove space may finally be about to open for exploration.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the evidence for Jove space finally opening, explain why we desperately need a new scanning system, and make some educated guesses on what else the Odyssey expansion might contain.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE's Odyssey expansion could be incredible

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE's Odyssey expansion could be incredible originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesapocryphabattlecruiserbattlecruisersccpccp-gamesdirectional-scannerdiscovery-scannereveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexplorationfactionfaction-shipsfeaturedGnosisjovejove-directoratejoviannavynavy-shipsnullsecodysseyopinionPAXPAX-eastpax-east-2013probingpvepvpsandboxscannerscanningsci-fiten-yearswormholewormholesSun, 31 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's improved a lot from the game which I preordered and then un-preordered, but still.
Let's be honest here. Champions Online is not in a good state.

A couple of weeks back I wrote about how expecting a limited-time event to flesh out the game's endgame is silly to say the least, and I stand by that. But there are two issues under discussion here, and the second is "does the game need more content?" The answer, right now, is an emphatic yes. An event isn't the place to go looking for that content necessarily, but this is still a pretty significant problem, and the game certainly doesn't look as if it's fast approaching its fourth year of operation (and it is).

So what happened? It's no secret that the game launched to some pretty poor reception, but that doesn't account for the way that the game has been managed since then, especially when its free-to-play conversion has by all indications been reasonably successful. So why is it that after nearly half the lifespan of City of Heroes it still feels like a game that just recently launched?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online?

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosdevelopment-cyclesf2pfailurefeaturedfree-to-playmild-mannered-reporteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweretrospectivesuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: A wretched operation of Scum and Villainy, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/hyperspace-beacon-a-wretched-operation-of-scum-and-villainy-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/hyperspace-beacon-a-wretched-operation-of-scum-and-villainy-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/hyperspace-beacon-a-wretched-operation-of-scum-and-villainy-pa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon A wretched operation of Scum and Villainy, part 2
Thankfully, we can all stop wondering when the expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic is releasing and get down to the business of preparing our characters for the new content. Part of preparing for Rise of the Hutt Cartel is knowing what you're getting into when it comes to the new operation. A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to run Scum and Villainy with Memories of Xendor, one of the top guilds in the game. You might remember these guys from my Hyperspace Beacon about the tools of the raid. This group created the real-time combat parser that my own guild and I use regularly.

Last week, I reported that the first three bosses were just the calm before the storm. That storm begins right away with the Operations Chief, thunders mightily with Olok, gusts onward with the Warlords, then reaches its pinnacle with Dreadmaster Styrak.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: A wretched operation of Scum and Villainy, part 2

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: A wretched operation of Scum and Villainy, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecartel-warlordsDreadmaster-Styrakeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguideshyperspace-beaconlucasartsmemories-of-xendormoxolokoperationoperations-chiefopinionraidrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fiscum-and-villainystar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 26 Mar 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: The quest for Guild Wars 2's legendary The Flameseeker Prophecies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/flameseeker-chronicles-the-quest-for-guild-wars-2s-legendary-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/flameseeker-chronicles-the-quest-for-guild-wars-2s-legendary-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/flameseeker-chronicles-the-quest-for-guild-wars-2s-legendary-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles The Flameseeker Prophecies
It's been quite the red-letter week in Guild Wars 2 for yours truly. My little guild piled up enough influence to unlock and build guild bounties, some of my best buddies bought me my first Commandership (which we promptly put to use in PvE shenanigans), and I completed my legendary shield, The Flameseeker Prophecies.

Quite some time ago, we went through the piece-by-piece requirements for crafting your legendary weapon. The experience of making it is actually less daunting than the crazy list of materials makes it sound, but I'm probably only saying that because it's finished now, and I don't have to work up the mental energy to think about making another one for quite some time. Let's take a look at things, shall we?

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The quest for Guild Wars 2's legendary The Flameseeker Prophecies

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The quest for Guild Wars 2's legendary The Flameseeker Prophecies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesflameseeker-propheciesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2legendarylegendary-weaponncsoftopinionthe-flameseeker-propheciesTue, 19 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sometimes I just can't seem to stop stirring the pot.
Every so often, I'm told that I don't understand an issue under discussion, and it's entirely true. There are a lot of issues out there, and the best I can do is get some of the information, form an opinion, and then change that opinion based upon new information. So I do my best, but I'm going to be wrong sometimes.

Other times I'm told I don't understand an issue when I actually do, and the problem is that the issue under discussion is not the most relevant issue.

So let's talk a little bit more about Champions Online and the Lemurian Invasion. If you haven't been paying attention, this spawned a little bit of controversy among the playerbase and more when I said that the people raising a stink were wrong. They still are, even if they're also right about an unconnected issue I only brushed against before.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscocontentcrypticcryptic-studiosdevelopmentendgameendgame-contentexclusivityf2pfeaturedfree-to-playin-game-eventsmild-mannered-reporteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Latest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World
If your Secret World adventures have thus far only entailed playing through the main story line, according to the latest dev blog you are missing out! The post plumbs the depths of TSW's character development and progression system (the endgame, if you will), detailing what lies in store for players after they turn that last page in the story.

With such a variety of situations and so many different builds to tackle them with, mastering TSW is a very lengthy process. Part of that process entails honing skills and collecting gear by moving to successively harder dungeons. Beyond just acquiring gear, players must also augment their arsenal with crafted kickbacks, stimulants, and pure anima potions. Then there is obtaining glyphs and knowing which one to use when for the best effect. And don't forget about getting ahold of powerful signets that can be added to weapons and talismans.

Of course, with the game's flexibility, there's no one "right way" to do things, so there are plenty of ways to experiment. Want some hints to use on this path to mastery? Check out all the details in the full post.

MassivelyLatest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World endgame originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playdev-blogdungeonsend-gamefactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswWed, 13 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Examining the gear of SWTOR 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/hyperspace-beacon-examining-the-gear-of-swtor-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/hyperspace-beacon-examining-the-gear-of-swtor-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/hyperspace-beacon-examining-the-gear-of-swtor-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Examing the gear of SWTOR 20
The developers at BioWare turned a corner when they redesigned the commendation system for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Most players seem to welcome the simplicity and practicality of the new system coming with 2.0. Reducing the number of comms players have to track allows players to focus on playing the game and not on managing currency.

Unfortunately, the gear progression is a bit more like separating M&Ms, making you wonder why there are more yellows than blues and whether there's really a difference between dark brown and light brown. Not to mention that SWTOR proves once again that MMO designers have no idea how to make a decent helmet. PvP gear also has me wondering what returning players are going to think about having to regrind again so soon after a major change with Update 1.6.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Examining the gear of SWTOR 2.0

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Examining the gear of SWTOR 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0armorbiowarechartseaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgearhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionPvEPvPraise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstatsswtortabletablesthe-old-republictorTue, 12 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST