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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[ArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars - I assume this image has something to do with Winds of Change
If you missed the Winds of Change arc that's bridging the gap between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, now's a great time to head to the official ArenaNet blog to catch up. The devs have provided a handy summary post and a bit of an explanation for their narrative goals as both Guild Wars and its highly anticipated sequel move forward.

ArenaNet also acknowledges the community feedback regarding the difficulty of the Winds of Change content, and the firm says that initially "the difficulty was getting in the way of people enjoying the story, making it far more of a slog than we'd intended and actively undermining their enjoyment of it."

Happily, recent updates have led to "major balance tweaks" and second looks at both normal and hard-mode content, so if you were frustrated before, it's worth your time to give it another go.

MassivelyArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetchallengedev-blogfantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-storynarrativencsoftnew-contentwinds-of-changeTue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/flameseeker-chronicles-big-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/flameseeker-chronicles-big-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/flameseeker-chronicles-big-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars Beyond
The last chapter of Guild Wars Beyond's Winds of Change was released just a handful of days ago, bringing nine new quests, fancy weapons, fresh rewards, and a heaping helping of story to the land of Cantha, not to mention a significant update to the way ArenaNet is telling the tale.

Miku's Tale in particular boasts a few distinct differences from earlier parts of this storyline -- largely, the consensus seems to be, for the better. There was a fair bit of griping after the first portion of Winds of Change went live and a widespread agreement that something was not quite right about the way the quests at the start of Winds of Change were being handled. ArenaNet responded to this with promises to go back and retune quests, mostly in response to the argument that mobs were too hard. While I certainly understand a fiendish level of mob difficulty acting as an intimidating gateway to players less comfortable with fighting in Guild Wars, I don't think it was really the heart of the problem with the earlier Winds of Change content.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Big changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcanthacombatcontentfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsGuild-Wars-2guild-wars-beyondgwgw1gw2Mikumikus-talencsoftopinionwinds-of-changeTue, 14 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars: The winds just keep on a-changin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/guild-wars-the-winds-just-keep-on-a-changin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/guild-wars-the-winds-just-keep-on-a-changin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/guild-wars-the-winds-just-keep-on-a-changin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

ArenaNet has just announced that the third installment of Winds of Change, Miku's Tale, will be going live tomorrow! Part of Guild Wars Beyond, an effort to bridge the story between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, Winds of Change has been following the shifting states of affairs in Cantha. The rise of the Ministry of Purity, a new governmental organization, has had a central role in the story. First fighting with player characters against the blighted Afflicted then gangs of criminals, the Ministry slowly grew in influence and power. Guild Wars players aided the Ministry of Purity in its fight for justice until a chance encounter at a Ministry rally turned things sour. Since then, players have been rescuing captives, working with the Tengu, and generally making a nuisance of themselves as far as the Ministry is concerned. Now, with things in Cantha at the edge of chaos, we can once again pick up the story -- and dive into the final chapter of Winds of Change.

If you'd like to see the new content in action, join us tomorrow, February 9th, at 7 p.m. EST for a special edition livestream. Our own Richie Procopio will be joined by ArenaNet staff as he streams the game live on our Twitch channel!

MassivelyGuild Wars: The winds just keep on a-changin' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcanthafactionsguild-warsGuild-Wars-2guild-wars-beyondgwgw2Mikumikus-taleministry-of-purityncsoftpatchsoon-TMupdatewinds-of-changeWed, 08 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Want to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/want-to-be-massivelys-next-guild-wars-columnist/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rubi waving bye
ArenaNet's Guild Wars is a fascinating MMO. The original released almost seven years ago, with the sequel set to release later this year. There's no doubt that Guild Wars 2 tops the list of the most anticipated MMO for 2012, which makes writing about it all the more fun and exciting.

That's where you come in. After learning that our own Rubi Bayer will be whisked away by an as-yet unnamable job offer, we're in desperate need of someone to fill her weekly Guild Wars/Guild Wars 2 columnist spot on the site*.

Follow along after the jump for the full details!

*Keeping us in line and making "that's what she said" jokes optional.

Continue reading Want to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist?

MassivelyWant to be Massively's next Guild Wars columnist? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationarenanetcolumnistguild-warsguild-wars-2lfmnooooooooonow-hiringrubi-bayerMon, 30 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
The last time on the Perfect Ten, disaster struck the good ship Poseidon and the surviving readers were running out of air as they tried to escape the flipped-over vessel. Also, we were counting down the top 20 MMO themes, but that's of small consolation to the soon-to-be bereaved friends and families, don't you think?

Because we play these games extensively, it's not uncommon for MMO music -- and themes -- to become vilified by the sheer number of times we've heard them. That's a little unfair to a three-minute piece of soundtrack that slaves every day to feed his wife and kids, doing the best he can in a trying situation. So perhaps we can put aside melodic oversaturation to look at these tracks anew, shall we?

With half of them out of the way, it's time to look into the elite of the elite: the 10 best MMO themes of all time. According to me. A guy you don't know. You've got goosebumps, don't you?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallodsallods-onlineasherons-calleqeq2everquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgranado-espadaguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-soulelistmusicperfect-tenromrunes-of-magicscorestar-trek-onlinestosword-of-the-new-worldthe-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-themeturbineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Efficient Hall of Monuments progress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/flameseeker-chronicles-efficient-hall-of-monuments-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/flameseeker-chronicles-efficient-hall-of-monuments-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/flameseeker-chronicles-efficient-hall-of-monuments-progress/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Make your Hall of Monuments look like this!
Guild Wars 2 is drawing ever closer. It may not feel like it sometimes, but it's getting nearer each day. A lot of fans are easing the pain of the wait by playing through Guild Wars 1 in an effort to beef up their Hall of Monuments scores for the day GW2 arrives.

The Hall of Monuments in GW might only award titles and cosmetic goodies, but we gamers do love our shinies, so lots of people are diving into present-day Tyria to make some HoM progress while they wait for GW2. I posted a series of Hall of Monuments guides almost a year and a half ago, and while most of it has stood the test of time very well, I want to revisit it.

The reason I want to do this is to smooth the path a little more. So many people are still coming into Guild Wars for this reason, and starting from scratch with such an enormous goal can make a lot of them throw in the towel. Thankfully, ArenaNet has added some features into the game in the past few years that can make your Hall of Monuments progress more "hare" and less "tortoise," with the same prizes at the end. They all work together so you can get the most of your travels through Tyria in a much shorter time.

This one's for the min-maxers, so follow along to read about three simple things you can keep an eye on to speed up your HoM progress!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Efficient Hall of Monuments progress

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Efficient Hall of Monuments progress originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetarenanet-guild-warsarenanet-guild-wars2featuredflameseeker-chroniclesguidesguild-warsguild-wars2guildwarsguildwars2gwgw2hall-of-monumentshall-of-monuments-guidehomMon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: ArenaNet talks PvE vs. PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/flameseeker-chronicles-arenanet-talks-pve-vs-pve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/flameseeker-chronicles-arenanet-talks-pve-vs-pve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/flameseeker-chronicles-arenanet-talks-pve-vs-pve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ascalon Catacombs GW2 dungeon
"I don't care for PvP, so Guild Wars 2 doesn't really interest me."

This is something that I've heard with some regularity over the past year or two, and every time I sort of shake my head in confusion. How could anyone perceive Guild Wars 2 as a PvP-only game? Really, just take a look at what we've seen from the development team and how PvE-centric it is and it seems that you'd get the impression that if anything, there's more of a PvE focus.

Of course, I can see where this perception comes from -- Guild Wars 1 holds the same perception for a lot of people, so it carries over. As a huge fan of both games and a pure PvE player, I thought it would be fun to take this week and clear things up. Eric Flannum and John Stumme were kind enough to help, stepping in to answer a few questions about the balance of things both past and present. Curious about what they have to say? Click past the cut and take a look!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: ArenaNet talks PvE vs. PvP

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: ArenaNet talks PvE vs. PvP originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalanceeric-flannumfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2interviewinterviewsjohn-stummencsoftpvepvpMon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Guild Wars update brings major Elementalist changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-guild-wars-update-brings-major-elementalist-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-guild-wars-update-brings-major-elementalist-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/new-guild-wars-update-brings-major-elementalist-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ele. <3
It's finally here: ArenaNet has released the Guild Wars Elementalist update. While not a complete overhaul, the update is still huge: Nearly 40 skills received significant changes, some exciting new functionalities and mechanics were introduced, and a core change was made to the game itself with the Ele class in mind.

Elementalist doublecast skills, "a new type of spell that casts on you as well as your target," are part of this update. Several current Ele skills were reworked to fall under the doublecast umbrella. Even more skills got changes to make the Elementalist more versatile in varying situations, adding extra functionality to some and changing how others work entirely.

Finally, hard mode enemies were given a pretty big change: Their armor levels were lowered and their health was raised. Previously, Elementalists were at a bit of a disadvantage in hard mode because the increased AL of all foes meant a big decrease in the amount of damage Elementalists did. This change means that Eles will start seeing much larger damage numbers, making them more of an asset in hard mode.

As with most big Guild Wars updates, this one comes with lots of explanation and commentary from the Live Team. It wraps up with a promise that the devs are not finished with the Ele by a long shot: "In the next few months, we'll evaluate the shifts created in the metagame as a result of these changes and make further adjustments to skills that are not in line with our intentions. Additionally, we'll be working a second update to address issues with some of the Elementalist non-elite skills as the elites in this update settle into their places."

MassivelyNew Guild Wars update brings major Elementalist changes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetelementalistelementalist-updateguild-warsguild-wars-elementalistgwThu, 05 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- Urgoz's Warren]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-urgozs-warre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-urgozs-warre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-urgozs-warre/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Urgoz starting area
All was quiet at ArenaNet last week as the various members of the Guild Wars 2 team enjoyed a well-deserved vacation. I'm going to consider it a welcome breather after being drowned in so many squee-worthy updates the previous week and take the opportunity to turn my attention back to Guild Wars 1 and another elite area: Urgoz's Warren.

I really enjoy Urgoz's Warren for a couple of reasons. Obviously, it gives me tons of Kurzick faction, but once you've got the hang of it, it's a fun challenge even without the perks. It's full of environmental effects and hidden enemies that prevent you from simply charging in and blasting away, so you have to think ahead, be careful, and play strategically.

Follow along after the jump and we'll take a closer look.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- Urgoz's Warren

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- Urgoz's Warren originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdungeonsfactionsfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguideguidesguild-warsgwinstancesncsofturgozurgozs-warrenMon, 02 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/flameseeker-chronicles-high-achievers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/flameseeker-chronicles-high-achievers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/flameseeker-chronicles-high-achievers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Charr SMASH
Well, ArenaNet certainly didn't let 2011 go out on a quiet note. The team had a few last tricks up its sleeve before closing down shop until the new year. We chatted with Eric Flannum about the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer, and the newest ArenaNet blog post contained some exciting talk of combat, achievements, and some tweaking to the Thief class.

I loved hearing about the updates to the Thief and to combat because the fact that the developers are talking about fine-tuning says good things to me about the development process. However, it was the talk of achievements that really caught my attention because it's such a sweeping, game-wide system. Follow along after the jump and let's take a closer look!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: High achievers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievement-pointsachievementsanetarenanetarenanet-blogeric-flannumfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2hall-of-monumentsncsofttitlesMon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Why must they starve then drown us?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/flameseeker-chronicles-why-must-they-starve-then-drown-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/flameseeker-chronicles-why-must-they-starve-then-drown-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/flameseeker-chronicles-why-must-they-starve-then-drown-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Kamadan Wintersday
Today's Flameseeker Chronicles title comes to you courtesy of one of Massively's livestream team members, echoing the wails of many news-starved fans of all things Tyrian. In a classic case of 'be careful what you wish for," we got the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer, two enormous Q&A sessions with the devs, a bit of closed beta news, and Wintersday and new costumes in Guild Wars 1, all in just a few short days.

I need to lie down.

While I do that, follow along after the jump for a rundown of all the excitement of last week.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Why must they starve then drown us?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Why must they starve then drown us? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testingclassclassesclosed-betaclosed-beta-testingfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-mesmerguildcastgwgw2holiday-2011mesmerncsoftopinionwintersdaywintersday-2011Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively talks Mesmer: Our exclusive interview with Guild Wars 2 designer Eric Flannum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/massively-talks-mesmer-our-exclusive-interview-with-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/massively-talks-mesmer-our-exclusive-interview-with-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/massively-talks-mesmer-our-exclusive-interview-with-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

GW2 mesmer
It's been days since we got the official Guild Wars 2 Mesmer reveal, but the excitement is still running strong through the fan community.

Here at Massively, we're just as excited about it, so we took some time to sit down with game designer Eric Flannum and chat about some of the background and design details of the eighth and final Guild Wars 2 class. Follow along after the jump to see what he had to say!

Continue reading Massively talks Mesmer: Our exclusive interview with Guild Wars 2 designer Eric Flannum

MassivelyMassively talks Mesmer: Our exclusive interview with Guild Wars 2 designer Eric Flannum originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetclassclass-designclasseseric-flannumfeaturedguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-mesmergwgw2interviewinterviewsmesmerncsoftMon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Win a free Guild Wars costume set from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/win-a-free-guild-wars-costume-set-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/win-a-free-guild-wars-costume-set-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/win-a-free-guild-wars-costume-set-from-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Vision of Lyssa costume
[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Thanks to everyone who entered!]

ArenaNet kicked off the Guild Wars Wintersday celebration yesterday in a familiar way: by adding new costumes to the NCsoft store for Guild Wars fans. There are two costume sets, each available individually or -- for a limited time -- as a discounted bundle containing both sets for a total of $9.99 US.

If that's a little much for your wallet during the holiday spending season, Massively's riding to the rescue. We've got 15 codes for the costume bundle packs to share with you guys! All you've got to do in order to enter is leave a comment here wishing us a Happy Tyrian Wintersday. We'll pick out our 15 favorite Wintersday wishes as soon as the entry deadline hits, and then we'll send the codes on their way.

When is the deadline, you say? That would be tomorrow, December 17th, at noon EST. Check out the contest rules below for eligibility, leave those Wintersday wishes, and good luck!

OFFICIAL RULES

Massively[Updated] Win a free Guild Wars costume set from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetaugur-of-kormircontestcontestsfree-guild-wars-costumesgiveawaygiveawaysguild-warsguild-wars-costumesgwncsoftvision-of-lyssaFri, 16 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars' Wintersday 2011 brings new costumes, holiday cheer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/guild-wars-wintersday-2011-brings-new-costumes-holiday-cheer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/guild-wars-wintersday-2011-brings-new-costumes-holiday-cheer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/guild-wars-wintersday-2011-brings-new-costumes-holiday-cheer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars Wintersday '07
It's the most wonderful time of the year in Tyria because Wintersday 2011 has begun. And there's certainly no shortage of events for Guild Wars players looking to get into the Wintersday spirit. Lion's Arch, Kamadan, Ascalon City, and the Eye of the North will all provide players with holiday quests, while more pugnacious revelers can get into the spirit of the season with 8v8 snowball tournaments.

As usual, players can take part in the annual Grenth vs. Dwayna holiday event in order to receive a spiffy Wintersday mask, and two new costumes are also available for purchase in the NCsoft store. The new costume sets, known as Augur of Kormir and Vision of Lyssa, are available for $6.99 US each. Players can also buy them as a bundle for the discounted price of $9.99 US, or they can shell out $29.99 US for the Limited Edition Pantheon Pack, which includes six deity-themed costumes. But act quickly! The limited edition pack is available only until January 16th. For the full details, head on over to Guild Wars' official Wintersday site.

[Thanks to Tanek for the correction!]

MassivelyGuild Wars' Wintersday 2011 brings new costumes, holiday cheer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetaugur-of-kormircostumecostumesdwaynaeventeventsgrenthguild-warsgwin-game-eventin-game-eventskormirlyssancsoftvision-of-lyssawintersdaywintersday-2011Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Underworld]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-underworl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-underworl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-underworl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Underworld
All is still quiet on the Guild Wars 2 front, and I'm almost thankful since I was hoping to be able to go over The Underworld in Guild Wars this week. There's a lot more to say about this area because it's so much more difficult, but you can do it -- I promise. The general tips I gave last week apply to this area as much as the others, so take a moment to skim through those as well.

There's so much to say that I'm anxious to dive right in, so let's not waste any time. Follow along after the cut!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Underworld

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Underworld originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguideguidesguild-warsgwncsoftunderworldunderworld-guideuwMon, 12 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-fissure-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-fissure-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-elite-areas-the-fissure-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Forest of the Wailing Lord
As 2011 draws to a close and hordes of hopeful Guild Wars 2 fans look to 2012 for a possible launch, people are beginning to turn eyes back to the Hall of Monuments. (No, stop that. We're not debating launch dates; I'm just saying.) It's been over a year since ArenaNet unveiled the Hall of Monuments calculator. I wrote the Road to 50 Hall of Monuments guide series right away, so you guys probably have the basics done and are looking at some of the more challenging parts of Guild Wars. If you're not familiar with the series, I definitely recommend you check it out -- there are separate guides for those who are starting with only three points, those who are aiming for 30 points, and those who want to go all 50.

With that in mind, I want to spend some time on one of my favorite parts of the game: elite areas. If you've finished all three campaigns and the expansion -- preferably both in normal and hard mode -- and you're ready for a bigger challenge, it's time to take on the elite areas. I'll be focusing on one elite area each week while we wait for Guild Wars 2 news, so follow along and let's get you started on the first area: the Fissure of Woe. Ready, set, kill!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfeaturedfissure-of-woeflameseeker-chroniclesfowguild-warsgwhall-of-monumentshomncsoftMon, 05 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Memory lane and the delights of anticipation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/flameseeker-chronicles-memory-lane-and-the-delights-of-anticipa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/flameseeker-chronicles-memory-lane-and-the-delights-of-anticipa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/flameseeker-chronicles-memory-lane-and-the-delights-of-anticipa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GW pre-searing
The clock is ticking -- 2011 is winding down (less than six weeks left!) and Guild Wars 2 fans everywhere have closed beta on the brain. This news has been out there for a very long time, but just to eliminate any confusion, I'll go straight to a recent quote from Martin Kerstein: "We will enter CBT before the end of the year, and depending on the results we get from it, we will decide on Open Beta and Launch." The phrase "small closed beta" has also been tossed around, so I seriously doubt ArenaNet plans to go all BioWare on us and start slinging hundreds of thousands of keys in every direction. (Of course, Star Wars: The Old Republic is exactly one month out from launch at this point, and Guild Wars 2 is definitely not.)

That doesn't stop us, the fans, from having a pile of questions. When will the beta start? How many people will get in? How long will it last? Will it be ongoing or weekends only? What is the development team hoping to focus on? Only time will tell, but it doesn't stop us from waiting, wondering, and anticipating. (Aside to the developers: I'm out of town this Wednesday through Sunday. Please don't do anything then.)

There's a lot to look forward to, but at the moment we're in the lull that comes after new information has been revealed, dissected, and discussed to pieces. We're waiting for whatever comes next, so I'm going to take the opportunity to look in the other direction: back. Follow along after the jump to join me on memory lane.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Memory lane and the delights of anticipation

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Memory lane and the delights of anticipation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FREE HATS HOW I GET HAT
If you're up in New England, you may be one of the millions of people who got to experience an extra-spooky Halloween this year in light of the complete lack of power to your home. And among the many other problems you faced, you weren't able to take part in the finale of the holiday event for Guild Wars and couldn't obtain your free hat. While the developers behind the game won't replace all of your spoiled food, they are giving players a second shot at getting a hat.

If you're wondering how you get hats, the post announcing the extension helpfully explains that they're obtained in exchange for Halloween items traded to a special hat vendor NPC being spawned in Lion's Arch and Kamadan. Said hat vendor will be in town most likely some time next week and will remain in place for about a week, giving everyone a chance at a special holiday hat -- albeit a little belated.

MassivelyGuild Wars is giving players another shot at hats originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-guild-warscommunitycultureeventsguild-warsguildwarsgwhalloweenhalloween-2011halloween-hathatsholiday-hathow-do-get-hatin-game-eventsncsoftWed, 09 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten
While 1982's Tron explored what virtual life might be like inside a massive video game, it wasn't until fairly recently that real MMOs have crossed the divide between niche and mainstream to be referenced in television and films. Depending on how you see it, this mainstream acceptance of geek culture can be a thing to be either celebrated or shunned. What's for certain, however, is that we've only started to see the beginning of such mentions.

In today's Perfect Ten, I cobbled together a list of the first 10 MMO references that I know of from movies and TV shows. Some might be nothing more than a background detail or a throwaway line, while others are completely centered around the advertisement, er, massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. I tried hard not to use "cheats" such as fake MMOs featured in shows like The Guild, so this list is all about real-world titles with no sugar substitutes.

Ready? Insert quarter and hit player one!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccity-of-heroescohcsicsi-nyeqeverquestfeaturedgary-sinesegrandmas-boyhow-i-met-your-motherlistlistslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncisopinionperfect-10perfect-tenphilly-jimriftsecond-lifesgwsouth-parkstargate-universestargate-worldsthe-big-bang-theorythe-fellows-hipthe-new-guythe-officethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentronturbineworld-of-warcraftwowzombielandThu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/flameseeker-chronicles-zolas-a-little-cranky-and-so-am-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/flameseeker-chronicles-zolas-a-little-cranky-and-so-am-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/flameseeker-chronicles-zolas-a-little-cranky-and-so-am-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Halloween is here! OK, technically Halloween has been in Tyria for a week and a half, but Mad King Thorn is here today! By now, everyone's hit Lion's Arch and Kamadan to pick up festival masks, we've mobbed the King in the hopes of getting chosen for Rock Paper Scissors, and we've laughed at his delightfully horrible jokes. (And before you even ask, yes, the pumpkin-on-head joke still cracks me up.)

I've thoroughly enjoyed almost all of Halloween 2011 in Guild Wars. Yep, I said almost. There's a single aspect of this festival that stands out very strongly and unpleasantly to me. Follow along after the jump, and let's talk it over.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdont-fear-the-reapersfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsgwhalloweenhalloween-2011mad-king-thornncsoftopinionquestssolo-questsMon, 31 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST