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[The Stream Team: Caveman edition, June 17 - 23, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-stream-team-caveman-edition-june-17-23-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-stream-team-caveman-edition-june-17-23-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/the-stream-team-caveman-edition-june-17-23-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team Caveman edition, June 17 23, 2013
With all the talk about bashing stuff lately, I can't help but envision a certain prehistoric child going around whacking everything with a club, "Bam! Bam! Bam!" Of course, who can blame the little tyke? There are definitely times in game that we've all wanted to swing a cudgel or two, be it a nerf design or a just-quitcher-whining bat.

Destructive tendencies can even be harbored in the gentle hearts of your favorite Stream Team hosts. A number of you can surely attest to that. Need proof? Just watch Massively TV and see for yourself. Warning: You may start to feel sympathy for those poor mobs...

Continue reading The Stream Team: Caveman edition, June 17 - 23, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Caveman edition, June 17 - 23, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ragnarok Online 2 screenshot
I remember playing Ragnarok Online, the first one, quite a while ago and semi-enjoying it. I liked the isometric views and even enjoyed some of the gameplay, but it was a bit of a mess much of the time. I walked away more confused than entertained. At the same time, I met reader after reader after reader who seemed to have grown up on the game. This "grind generation" was made of steely reserve and tougher stuff than I was because the game was notoriously grindy. How did they play it?

Even now as I was looking for a few different views on Ragnarok Online 2, I came across a video that was hosted by a player who acknowledged the "boring grind" that left players with literally "nothing to do but level alts," yet he played the game to the max level, several times. If only we could get these guys to put that much energy into world peace, I might be having dinner in the middle of a former warzone right now!

I found number two to be a bit like its older version but surprisingly modern and more fun than I thought. But only a bit more fun.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Ragnarok Online 2

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Ragnarok Online 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-sagabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvprius-onlineragnarok-onlineragnarok-online-2rise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideowarpportalSun, 16 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Wedding singer edition, June 10 - 16, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-stream-team-wedding-singer-edition-june-10-16-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-stream-team-wedding-singer-edition-june-10-16-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-stream-team-wedding-singer-edition-june-10-16-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team Wedding singer edition, June 10 16, 2013
Have you ever been someplace, perhaps at an event, and spontaneously broken into song? And just maybe that wasn't quite an appropriate venue for a favorite heavy tune? Boy, the looks some people give you; I mean, what's really so wrong with injecting a little more groove into a wedding march anyways?

Well, luckily there are no such social taboos for spouting random song snippets on Massively TV! I know you understand that urge to just let loose a tune or two, right? It could be that you've belted out a concert-worthy rendition yourself when playing or watching your favorite games. We here at The Stream Team fully support that. We even contribute to the official organization: BOSS (Belting Out Spontaneous Songs). So why not join us where you know you won't be judged. Who knows, you might find a song to sing along with in this weeks streams.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Wedding singer edition, June 10 - 16, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Wedding singer edition, June 10 - 16, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest screenshot
EverQuest is one of those titles that just won't go away. I mean that in the best possible way, of course. After 15 years and 19 (yes, 19!) expansions, it's possible that I could be writing about this game a decade from now. And why not? I just spent a month covering MUDs, some of them 20 years old, so why couldn't a game with such a rich history and loyal playerbase as EverQuest's stick around, well, forever?

I started playing around 2000 or 2001. I didn't catch on to it as much as my wife and soon was back in Ultima Online and later titles like City of Heroes. I have always kept up with EverQuest while still feeling a bit left behind because I didn't stay with it from the beginning. I am so jealous of a player who has actively played any game for 15 years. The character he or she has built has a wonderful story to tell!

Well, I decided this week was time to finally try to get back into EverQuest. What I found wasn't really surprising because I had kept up with the game's developments and played here and there, but the community and the gameplay definitely caught me off guard.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Revisiting EverQuest at level 65

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Revisiting EverQuest at level 65 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvragnarok-online-2rise-and-shinySOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentstreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 09 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Achaea artwork
MUD May has been a very enjoyable experience, but the main thing I learned is that a month is not long enough to cover all of MUDdom. Not by a long shot. The fact is that MUDs have a much longer history than graphical, 3-D MMOs, and here we are on an entire site dedicated mainly to those! We owe a lot to MUDs, but I always try to point out to current or former players that we should not refer to these games only in the past-tense. They are still alive, filled with players and ongoing. That means they are just as viable and worthy of mention as World of Warcraft. How many of our favorite 3-D MMOs will be around for two or more decades?

These wonderful games do need to improve in many areas, though. Some MUD developers are attempting to bring these text-based MMOs into the future, none better than Iron Realms Entertainment's Achaea. I sat down with Matt Mihaly, the CEO and Founder of Iron Realms since 1995, for an interview to talk about Achaea and the future of MUDs.

Continue reading Free for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May

MassivelyFree for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanearth-eternalf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumiron-realmsiron-realms-entertainmentmatt-mihalymudMUD-MayMUDsopinionvelvet-ropeWed, 29 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Putting the finishing touches on our Darkfall project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/choose-my-adventure-putting-the-finishing-touches-on-our-darkf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/choose-my-adventure-putting-the-finishing-touches-on-our-darkf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/choose-my-adventure-putting-the-finishing-touches-on-our-darkf/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure Putting the finishing touches on our Darkfall project
Well, that just about does it. After weeks of your directing me through Darkfall Unholy Wars, our Choose My Adventure project is almost completed. We just have a few finishing touches to add before wrapping up -- namely, sieges! What romp through the wilds of Agon would be complete without experiencing the thrill of clan territorial warfare? You all couldn't let me leave without participating in a few sieges (which won over warfare on water by a narrow margin), and the server seemed more than willing to oblige.

From small skirmishes infiltrating the cities of enemies to an all-out war to protect our own, I had the chance to fight -- and occasionally die -- in a few different sieges this past week. Considering I was still fairly new and fighting against a number of vets from the original Darkfall with years of practice under their belts, I didn't do too shabbily. Perhaps more importantly, I had fun through it all.

Gallery: Choose My Adventure: Darkfall Unholy Wars

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Putting the finishing touches on our Darkfall project

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Putting the finishing touches on our Darkfall project originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurinechoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfallchoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriecmadarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasyfeaturedhands-onopen-pvpopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choicesandboxsiegesiegessiegingunholy-warsvotevotingWed, 29 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 video highlights Last Stand at Southsun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/guild-wars-2-video-highlights-last-stand-at-southsun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/guild-wars-2-video-highlights-last-stand-at-southsun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/guild-wars-2-video-highlights-last-stand-at-southsun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 video highlights Last Stand at Southsun
Later today, Guild Wars 2 players will get to enjoy new content when the Last Stand at Southsun update goes live. But why wait to see what's in store? ArenaNet has released a gameplay video showing off footage of some of this update's highlights, including a glimpse of a new boss encounter and a glance at the limited-time achievements and rewards available.

Not enough detail in that short clip nestled after the break? Then join the ArenaNet community team on the studio's official Twitch.tv channel at 3:00 p.m. EDT today (May 28th) for a livestream look.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 video highlights Last Stand at Southsun

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 video highlights Last Stand at Southsun originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2Last-Stand-at-Southsunlimited-time-achievementslivestreamncsoftpatchupdateTue, 28 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Day off edition, May 27 - June 2, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-stream-team-day-off-edition-may-27-june-2-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-stream-team-day-off-edition-may-27-june-2-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-stream-team-day-off-edition-may-27-june-2-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Stream Team Day off edition, May 27 June 2, 2013
Oh, glorious day! With the exception of those chaps (and chapettes) working in emergency services and the like, many folks all over the U.S. get the chance this week to experience that all-too-rare phenomenon: the Extra Day Off. And all I can say is Hallelujah!

Extra days off are free time to sit back and do nothing without a care in the world... oh, whom are we kidding? They are often filled with all those chores and tasks you just don't have time to get to during the work week and are too exhausted to deal with during the weekend. And in the case of holidays with special meaning, perhaps your thoughts and activities are turned toward some type of special observance.

Whether your day is filled with frolicking and festivities, food and family, some combination thereof, or even none of the above, Massively TV will be right here when you have a spare moment. With plenty of live shows and lively reruns, The Stream Team will help you make the most of your day off, not to mention help you get through the rest of the week as well!

Continue reading The Stream Team: Day off edition, May 27 - June 2, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Day off edition, May 27 - June 2, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ThresholdRPG screenshot
The last time I explored ThresholdRPG, I had a blast. It was one of a batch of MUDs that I used to re-introduce myself to the ancient gaming genre, and I enjoyed its simplicity and friendly community. MUDs can seem to be very similar to each other, so in order to enjoy them, you must be able to pick out the finer details that separate them. In ThresholdRPG, I particularly enjoyed fishing, roleplay, customization, and a free-to-play model that was years ahead of its time when first released 17 years ago.

The game can be a bit odd, like any MUD. During MUD May I've discovered just how confusing many of these titles can be, but I have also grown to enjoy solving the "mystery" of each game's particular set of code-words that unlock actions. ThresholdRPG is like other MUDs and introduces players to basic commands, but once out in the world a player is on her own. The good news is that an out-of-character help chat is always available and sits right on top of the standard roleplay-enforced chat. That juxtaposition of both channels actually helps immerse me in the game, allowing me to see literally where and when I can use out-of-character speech.

I asked Michael Hartman, president and CEO of Frogdice, to talk about MUD development and branching out into other styles of gaming.

Continue reading Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman

MassivelyFree for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiuminterviewmichael-hartmanmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionthresholdthreshold-rpgthresholdrpgvelvet-ropeWed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Monocle Day edition, May 20 - 26, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-stream-team-monocle-day-edition-may-20-26-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team Monocle day edition, May 20 26, 2013
Two weeks ago, y'all had the chance to select a new holiday to help add some cheer to the otherwise bland weeks in the middle of May. The choices teased and tantalized you, but you're a discriminating crowd. In a race fraught with nail-biting suspense, only one ultimately prevailed. And so it is with further ado we bring to you: Monocle Day!

This Tuesday, May 21st, has been selected to be the auspicious day of this most storied celebration. Why? Because 5/21 splits into 5 + 2 + 1, which of course = 8, and we all know that 8 is just two monocles stacked on top of each other! And as always, Massively TV is here to help you ring in the new holiday, with special shows throughout the entire week. Check out the full schedule of celebratory events hosted by The Stream Team after the break. Then let us know if you'll be wearing your own monocle in honor of the festivities.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Monocle Day edition, May 20 - 26, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Monocle Day edition, May 20 - 26, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DragonRealms website artwork
As a part of MUD May, I just had to play at least one MUD for Rise and Shiny. I have a handful of favorite MUDs, like GemStone IV, BatMUD, and Achaea, but I have never really given DragonRealms a chance. Until now. I've poked into it here and there, but every time I found myself on the Simutronics website, I always logged into GemStone IV. I heard that DragonRealms was a lot different, more hardcore, and filled with PvP, and after spending an initial week with the game and the killer community, I can say that it is different, but mainly in a few outstanding ways. Of course I might find much more that sets the game apart if I played it for several years like some of the people I met in game, but for now I'll settle with telling you what I've learned so far.

The usual embedded video in this article serves two purposes. First, it's an interview piece I did with Eric Latham, Producer at Simutronics. Next, it's a glance at DragonRealms, from character creation to a bit of gameplay. It's not as in-depth as my other videos, but it keeps in the greater theme of MUD May.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: DragonRealms

MassivelyRise and Shiny: DragonRealms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anno-onlinebeau-hindmanDragonrealmseric-lathamf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgemstone-ivhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudMUD-MayMUDsmulti-user-domainmulti-user-dungeonrise-and-shinysimutronicsstreamthe-settlers-onlinetwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team May 13 19, 2013
Nothing beats an MLT, especially when the tomato is nice and ripe! Except maybe Massively TV. MMmm mmmm. Now there's something you can really sink your teeth into -- the wild and crazy antics of your favorite Stream Team hosts! And they've got a menu for all tastes this week, from space adventures to dragons to WWII planes. Of course, it all comes with a side of reruns and a dessert highlight to complete your meal.

So pull up a chair and grab yourself a helping or two... or 10. Hey, there's no limit here; enjoy as much as you like! While you're enjoying the spread, be sure to join in the after-dinner chat in Outtakes.

Continue reading The Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[Second Wind: Age of Conan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/second-wind-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/second-wind-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/second-wind-age-of-conan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan screenshot
I remember playing Age of Conan when it first came out; it seems like an eternity ago. So many titles have been released and failed since then that it's easy to get it all mixed up, and it doesn't help when many of those titles are sub-par or just plain boring and forgettable. Age of Conan sort of messed with my head with its insistent instancing and odd combat mechanics. I just couldn't wrap my head around what the game was trying to do.

Is it a hardcore PvP-centric MMO? Many would say so. Is it a grand, single-player adventure? In some ways. Is it an immersive romp through the long-lived lore of Conan the Barbarian? I guess so. It's a bit of all of these but does none of them perfectly. I decided to jump back into the game because the last time I played it was when it switched over to its odd freemium model that is all-too-common in Western MMOs these days.

Continue reading Second Wind: Age of Conan

MassivelySecond Wind: Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbeau-hindmanconanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpfuncomhyboriapost-launchre-reviewreviewroundtablesecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windtranscriptunchainedupdated-impressionsFri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Heroes and Generals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/rise-and-shiny-heroes-and-generals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/rise-and-shiny-heroes-and-generals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/rise-and-shiny-heroes-and-generals/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Heroes and Generals screenshot
Heroes and Generals is a new browser-based game set in the wonderfully bright and shiny world of... World War II. OK, so it's really a gritty game, and it's sluggish at best, but I have a feeling that combat during that amazing time was from the "two steps forward, one step back" school of warfare anyway. I tried to keep that in mind as I slogged through round after round of being shot in the head.

It's not that the game is boring. It's fun-ish, but when I compare it to many other MMOFPS titles, I find it small and slow. It's an instanced-based lobby sort of design. That's not normally a bad thing, and we certainly cover that style of game here on Massively, but this one just sort of felt a bit too small. There's more coming, I hear, so maybe in the future, the game will feel larger.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Heroes and Generals

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Heroes and Generals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onheroes-and-generalslivestreammabinogimassively-tvmmofpsNexonnexon-americaplanetside-2rise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoworld-of-tanksworld-war-2World-War-IIwwIISun, 05 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE 'harasses' players with a massive PlanetSide 2 patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/soe-harasses-players-with-a-massive-planetside-2-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/soe-harasses-players-with-a-massive-planetside-2-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/soe-harasses-players-with-a-massive-planetside-2-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 Harasser screenshot
If SOE was going for the Award for Largest Patch Notes in Recent Memory, it just might have achieved it with its recent update to PlanetSide 2. Just for the sake of journalismistic investigationism, we did a rough count and discovered over 3600 words in the official post. And it's not just a patch about a few bugs and bits of tweaking; there's a new vehicle in town called the Harasser. According to its description, the Harasser is a "speedy armored assault buggy that plays a dual role as both a transport and strike vehicle." It also carries three units: the passenger (who can be a MAX unit), a driver, and a gunner. We imagine it running up, guns blazin', dropping a heavy and tearing away to pick up another. Brilliant!

Among the changes is a tweak to certifications for the Lightning, the best small tank in the world of PlanetSide 2. But we might be a tad biased. Check out the game for free on the official site.

MassivelySOE 'harasses' players with a massive PlanetSide 2 patch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfpsfree-to-playftpmargaret-krohnmmo-shootermmofpspatchesplanetsideplanetside-2ps2sandboxsci-fishooterSOEsonySony-Online-Entertainmentthe-harasserThu, 02 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/chaos-theory-testing-my-secret-world-dps-makeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/chaos-theory-testing-my-secret-world-dps-makeover/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/chaos-theory-testing-my-secret-world-dps-makeover/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory Testing my Secret World DPS makeover
It's no secret that The Secret World is just a wee bit different than the majority of MMORPGs out there. Hallelujah for that, right? And one notable area it differs from the rest is how it treats gear and classes. As such, players can't necessarily bring habits and know-how from other titles and translate that into immediate success in TSW. It's no wonder that even good players can sometimes feel stumped or at a loss when navigating through builds. For that very reason, Chaos Theory brought you the first episode of What Not to Wear, a live makeover that focused on sharing hints and tips that non-theorycrafters (like yours truly) could use as a base for forging their own path.

It was a simple makeover really -- just minor changes in my focus and equipment using gear I already had in my bag and abilities I already had access to. Did it help? Did my effectiveness as a damage-dealer increase? The outcome was rather surprising.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover

MassivelyChaos Theory: Testing my Secret World DPS makeover originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionsbuy-to-playchaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingDPS-guideDPS-makeoverdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhintshorrorilluminatilivestreammythologyopinionpassive-abilitiessci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theoryskill-basedsubscriptionlesstemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstips-and-trickstrailertrailerstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonvideovideoswhat-not-to-wearMon, 29 Apr 2013 20:00:00 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[Second Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/second-wind-all-points-bulletin-reloaded/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

APB reloaded screenshot
I could make this a very short piece by saying that APB: Reloaded is simply as fun now as it has ever been. The game is a blast in more ways than one. Heck, I could close it right now by telling you that not only was my return to the game well worth the effort but also that it also served to slap me on the side of the head to say, "Hey, dummy, remember how fun it is to run over people?" I'd rather give you more details, though, especially for those of you who might not have played the game or haven't played it in a long time.

APB: Reloaded is essentially a lobby-based shooter. The lobby -- or social district, as it is called -- and the instanced battle arenas are massive places. While I livestreamed the game last week (you can watch the embedded video after the cut), someone accurately commented that watching it was like watching "GTA Online." I agree, but it's also so much more than that. Join me past the cut and I promise not to run you over.

(EDIT: I was able to order an APB: Reloaded box from Newegg.com for $7.99 USD which contains "over $50 value" like a permanent Magnum gun, a Cisco car, 500 G1 credits and 30 days of premium. I paid no shipping fees at all and received it within three days of ordering, but after this article went live.)

Continue reading Second Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded

MassivelySecond Wind: All Points Bulletin Reloaded originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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