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[LotRO struts the runway for Fashion Week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/lotro-struts-the-runway-for-fashion-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/lotro-struts-the-runway-for-fashion-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/lotro-struts-the-runway-for-fashion-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fashion Week
Are you more into looking good in Lord of the Rings Online than defeating the very heart of evil? Then Turbine's got a special week planned just for you. Starting today and going through the 16th, Fashion Week will be blazing through LotRO.

LotRO's cosmetic system allows players to assemble their own outfit looks independent of slotted gear and has become a popular feature in the game ever since its inception. Through Fashion Week, Turbine will call on the best-dressed to strut their stuff in the hopes that in-game CMs will see them and award special titles.

Also included in the week will be fashion-themed lotteries and a screenshot contest in which the best entries will be voted upon by the community. To give players inspiration, Turbine links to three game outfit blogs -- Lotro Fashion, Lotro Stylist, and Cosmetic Lotro -- and has given each of the blogs special codes to hand out for free in-game dyes.

MassivelyLotRO struts the runway for Fashion Week originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcosmeticcosmetic-outfitsf2pfashionfashion-systemfashion-weekfree-to-playlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotteryoutfitoutfit-systemscreenshot-contestturbineturbine-entertainmentwardrobeThu, 09 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A fresh start]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-road-to-mordor-a-fresh-start/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
I don't know about you, but sometimes I fall into the trap of forcing myself to do something in a game because I feel internally obliged to do it. Somewhere along the line, "setting a goal" became a Bataan Death March that absolutely had to be accomplished before I'd allow myself to do what I truly wanted. In my case, it was the stubborn determination to get through the remainder of Rise of Isengard's content even though I had slowed to slogging through it, feeling burned out on my Lore-master after well over a year of constant play on the character.

So I sat back and re-evaluated. My reasoning for finishing Isengard was to make sure I was at the top of the game and could evaluate any new high-level content that came along for you guys, which was a noble reason. But the truth was that in so doing, I was playing something that was leeched of enjoyment for the time being and really needed to be put aside. Once I realized that, the solution was obvious.

A fresh start. That's what I wanted: a completely fresh start to the game. Hey, it's still (sort of) a new year, so why not? And once I gave myself permission to do that, my adventures in Lord of the Rings Online brightened up considerably.

I might be weird in this, but I absolutely love starting over from scratch in long-term games from time to time, even though it means scrapping (or putting aside) a whole heap of achievements and the effort spent acquiring them. This week I'm going to look at my fresh start with LotRO and why it has me buzzed to log in for the first time this year.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A fresh start

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A fresh start originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>do-overf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfresh-startgladdenlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominstrelrestartriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardstart-overstarting-overthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuevirtuesSat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO video rock stars could win fame, glory, and Turbine Points]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/lotro-video-rock-stars-could-win-fame-glory-and-turbine-points/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Do you consider yourself a rock star within your MMO? Do men and women swoon upon your approach? Does a soundtrack ring out exalting your triumphs with every step you take? Do you carry a Sharpie around at all times to autograph body parts? Then you probably have an ego problem or something.

For everyone else, A Casual Stroll to Mordor is calling on creative talents to come up with fun "I am a rockstar" videos for Lord of the Rings Online -- and the site is willing to pay handsomely for the best efforts. Players are tasked with making a rock star-themed commercial, which can be any shade of serious or funny, and submitting it for a chance to win in-game store cash. Two Turbine Point cards, valued at 2500 and 1500 TP, are up for the first and second place winners.

Entries for the contest are due by February 17th. There are several rules for prospective video-makers, so head on over to CSTM for the full details.

MassivelyLotRO video rock stars could win fame, glory, and Turbine Points originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorcontestcstmf2pfree-to-playi-am-a-rock-stari-am-a-rockstarlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromake-a-videosharpieturbineturbine-entertainmentvideo-contestFri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-whoa-han/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-whoa-han/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-road-to-mordor-riders-of-whoa-han/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
This past week we heard from Turbine about its general plans for Lord of the Rings Online in 2012, and while it may not have hit everything on my personal wish list for the year, it was a good start.

I was mulling over the question of whether it's better for MMOs to show all of their big cards up front like Turbine or to parcel them out over the course of the year. Both have advantages, of course. Front-loading the year with a broad overview like this gives players long-term reasons to stick with the game, but it also can steal the exciting thunder from these events down the road. On the other hand, measuring the big news out during the year would probably give Turbine more publicity, but it could frustrate players who might feel "in the dark" about the company's plans.

In any case, we got what we got, and there's a lot to chew over for this week's column: unbound skirmish soldiers, Riders of Rohan, the Great River, and the fifth anniversary. So let's get started!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhelms-deeplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardthe-great-riverturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-5update-6Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Riders of Rohan
In the words of Frank Sinatra, 2011 "was a very good year" for Lord of the Rings Online. Executive Producer Kate Paiz and Director of Communications Adam Mersky sat down with us to talk about the future of the game, but before they got to the juicy details, they wanted to give a quick recap of the previous year for the game and the studio.

The big emphasis for LotRO in 2011 was the unifying of the global community and the release of the game's third (and best-selling) expansion, Rise of Isengard. While the aforementioned unification of the NA and EU sides of the game presented many challenges for the team including localization, it paid off in spades. Turbine plans to continue to add more payment options for those used to methods other than the ones currently available. The team was most proud of unveiling Saruman "in all of his glory" and the inclusion of free players into the sphere of Monster Play.

"The game definitely grew last year," Mersky said in response to a question about the current number of players. He noted that the playerbase has changed somewhat in the past two years, becoming more casual in some respects.

But it's time to move forward! Turbine is prepared to take LotRO players on a dizzying chase around the wilds of Middle-earth with a few significant changes and additions to the game -- and the release of the brand-new expansion later this year, Riders of Rohan. Mounted combat, ho!

Continue reading Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012

MassivelyRiding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acadam-merskyamon-henaragornasherons-callbig-teves-of-fangornfangornfangorn-forestfeaturedfifth-anniversaryfourth-anniversaryfrank-sinatragilmligreat-rivergreat-river-andulgrindaversaryinstance-finderkate-paizlegolaslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromounted-combatriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardrohanrohirrimskirmish-soldiersoldiers-in-landscapessoldiers-on-landscapestolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine responds to LotRO store armor controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/turbine-responds-to-lotro-store-armor-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/turbine-responds-to-lotro-store-armor-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/turbine-responds-to-lotro-store-armor-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LotRO
Following the community uproar over the selling of premium armor with stats in the Lord of the Rings Online store, Turbine has posted an official response to the matter in the form of a Q&A post on the forums.

Community Manager Sapience says that Turbine is "very aware of the controversy" and wanted to address specific points of concern. According to the post, Turbine said it never intended to promise that it would abstain from selling statted gear to give low-level players a boost, but the studio promised that this would not happen with endgame armor. The company admits to being "too generous" with the stats in question, and may adjust the item's power levels or possibly remove them from the store after further observation.

The studio took the opportunity to clarify its "convenience not advantage" stance. "Anything that's compulsory to be competitive in ranked play or achieves something by degrading another player's experience. We have not and will not make that part of our F2P offering," Sapience writes.

He concludes by promising more transparency going forward: "We'll take this as a sign that we need to do a better job in clear and open communication. In the future we will take more time to explain why -- not just what we're doing."

Massively previously reached out to Turbine for an interview on the subject but the studio declined to participate.

[Thanks to Whitewolf for the tip!]

MassivelyTurbine responds to LotRO store armor controversy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>convenience-not-advantagef2pfree-to-playin-game-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-forumslotro-storesapiencestat-armorstat-armor-controversystatted-armorturbineWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
Prior to Lord of the Rings Online's free-to-play implementation, players were raising concerns of potential abuse of the F2P model and the LotRO store in particular. The CM at the time, Patience, posted a now-infamous response stated that Turbine was about selling "convenience, not advantage" in the store. I thought it was a terrific stance to take (and still is, for any F2P MMO dabbling in microtransactions). It wasn't long, however, before the thread was purged from the forums entirely, although the playerbase has held on to those three words to this day.

That phrase has echoed in my head over the past week, ever since we heard that statted armor was coming to the in-game store. I've been among those who have championed Turbine's F2P model as the way to do things right -- to offer fluff, a la carte content and convenience without straying into so-called "pay to win" territory that has plagued cheaper games. But now I wonder if the new motto is "convenience and advantage," especially in light of several other questionable store selections that have been pushed through despite player resistance.

But let's concentrate on one topic today, that being the stat armor that's now available in the store. Is this strictly a "convenience" item that is meant to aid struggling lowbies, or does it represent the sale of a clear advantage for those who are OK with letting their money game for them? Are we making a mountain out of a molehill by discussing this, or is it far past time that something like this needs to be brought into the public discourse?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoradam-merskycraftingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playin-game-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storepay-to-winsapiencestat-armorstatted-armorstoreturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine: LotRO cash shop stat armor 'creates solutions for players']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/turbine-lotro-cash-shop-stat-armor-creates-solutions-for-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/turbine-lotro-cash-shop-stat-armor-creates-solutions-for-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/turbine-lotro-cash-shop-stat-armor-creates-solutions-for-playe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - someone's been drinking
It's been an interesting week for Turbine, and the development firm has spent some of it doing damage control resulting from its decision to sell stat gear in its Lord of the Rings Online cash shop.

As we reported last Friday, the company has reversed course, first by selling stat tomes and PvMP gear, and now with new low-level stat armor pieces. Turbine's Adam Mersky tells Gamefront that this is a matter of the firm looking out for its customers. "This is us coming up with solutions to problems players are reporting to us. We're trying to create solutions for players," he says, before stating that Turbine is "not averse to puling things off the store if they don't work."

What about the eventual sale of high-level stat gear? Mersky says Turbine has "no intention at this time of selling any raid gear in the store."

MassivelyTurbine: LotRO cash shop stat armor 'creates solutions for players' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskycash-shopcash-shop-stat-armorf2pfree-to-playlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropay-to-winslippery-slopestat-armorturbineTurbine-EntertainmentWed, 18 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Update 5.1 shoots Saruman in the knee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/lotro-update-5-1-shoots-saruman-in-the-knee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/lotro-update-5-1-shoots-saruman-in-the-knee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/lotro-update-5-1-shoots-saruman-in-the-knee/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LotRO
Lord of the Rings Online is bringing its servers down today to apply Update 5.1 across the board. While it's certainly not a content patch like its predecessor, it does have a sizable number of fixes and tweaks that should improve quality of (game) life for all.

Some of the changes include eliminating dyes from lootboxes, a nerf to Minstrel codas, many tweaks to the Tower of Orthanc raid, the option to timestamp chat messages, and small improvements to the treasure hunt. The devs have also posted an updated list of known issues for the game.

As always, it's worth going through the patch notes to try to find the funny asides. In this update? "Addressed a number of typos. Probably added some new ones."

MassivelyLotRO Update 5.1 shoots Saruman in the knee originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5.1f2pfree-to-playknown-issueslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominstrelnerfno-more-skyrim-jokespatch-5.1patch-notessarumantower-of-orthancturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-5update-5.1Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Out of game on party business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-out-of-game-on-party-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-out-of-game-on-party-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/the-road-to-mordor-out-of-game-on-party-business/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Road to Mordor
Here's an odd confession for a Lord of the Rings Online columnist to make: I haven't been playing the game much in the past month. I've been, for all intents and purposes, on a gaming sabbatical from Middle-earth.

It's not as bad as it looks at first glance because I do this all the time with any MMO I play. I found out the hard way years ago that nonstop gaming in a singular dedicated title was a terrific recipe for spectacular, many-onlookers-injured flaming burnouts. No matter how good that pixelated pizza is, we've been told, if you have it for every meal, sooner or later it will taste like moldy routine in our mouth. And that's not good for anyone.

The good news is that my sabbatical is at an end after only flitting into LotRO on occasion over the holidays, and I'm rested up and recharged for another great year of slaughtering wildlife in Tolkien's honor. Before I do that, however, I'd like to take this opportunity to share why I feel that it's OK to "go on sabbatical" from LotRO... and why it even benefits the game as a whole for its fans not to play once in a while.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Out of game on party business

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Out of game on party business originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroparty-businessquitquittingragequitroad-to-mordorsabbaticalturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTyrannosaurus-Rexworld-of-warcraftSat, 14 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO reverses policy, plans to sell PvE stat gear through the store [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/lotro-reverses-policy-plans-to-sell-pve-stat-gear-through-the-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/lotro-reverses-policy-plans-to-sell-pve-stat-gear-through-the-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/lotro-reverses-policy-plans-to-sell-pve-stat-gear-through-the-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
In July 2010, Massively was told by Turbine that the then-coming LotRO store "would not sell any gear with stats attached." And while the studio has so far kept to the letter of the law, it has fudged the spirit of it with the sales of stat tomes (which boost stats independently of gear) and the addition of statted gear to PvMP (monster play).

Consider the law cast aside today, then, as Turbine's announced the coming sale of statted gear in the LotRO store to normal PvE play as well. Light, medium, and heavy armor pieces will soon be available for purchase in the cash shop, and will come with beneficial stats attached. In addition to the typical stats, the store boots will come with a 8% run out-of-combat run speed boost attached.

While the gear in question has reasonable stats, it certainly raises the specter of the game's heading toward pay-to-win territory by having it for sale at all.

Massively has reached out to Turbine for an official comment.

[Update: On the official forums Sapience commented about the sale saying, "It's lower level gear. Many players have given us feedback that there is a sparsity of gear on the AH at these levels and they wanted an alternative. We're trying to accomodate that."]

MassivelyLotRO reverses policy, plans to sell PvE stat gear through the store [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playin-game-storelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storepay-to-winstat-gearstatted-gearstoreturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 13 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Mmm... smell that? It's the smell of a fresh new year, that is! Rolled right off the factory floor with no dings, the warranty still intact, and a tank full of gas and dreams. Makes one want to abandon the routine and head out onto the open road, does it not?

I'm one of those old fuddy-duddys who actually does New Year's resolutions, whether or not I'm actually capable of keeping them. I think it's important to try to better oneself and keep reaching for higher goals and standards, and if a new year is a convenient excuse to get my butt in gear, then I'm not complaining.

So right now I'm staring at a field of endless potential for Lord of the Rings Online in 2012. I've actually been giving it a lot of thought -- what do I want out of this year? As LotRO heads toward its fifth anniversary, is there really anything new left that I haven't experienced? And what the heck am I going to write about for 52 more weeks?

Never fear because the more I pondered, the more I realized that there's plenty of content yet to plunder (plus, of course, whatever Turbine has up its sleeves for the year). So for today's column, I sat down and drew up a list of resolutions in two parts: "Bagginsish" resolutions that are all about fluff and creature comforts and "Tookish" resolutions that are more concerned with high adventure.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bagginsfarmingfeaturedhousinginstance-finderlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronew-year-resolutionnew-year-resolutionsnew-years-resolutionsplayer-housingresolutionsrise-of-isengardthe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordortookturbineturbine-entertainmentwardenSat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Hobbits love making lists, don't they? In The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo had a lengthy list of friends and relatives to invite to his eleventy-first birthday party, and he didn't have the luxury of Facebook to help him out. I love lists as well, although I try to save most of that for my Perfect Ten column.

At the beginning of the year, I sat down and drafted up a "wish list" for Lord of the Rings Online's 2011 year, populating it with 11 changes and additions I was hoping to see by now. To my surprise, Turbine actually pulled off quite a few items on the list, and I thought it'd be a good idea to go back and examine which of my goals the team met and which remain elusive.

Also, since 2012 kicks off tomorrow, I'll look forward as well and draft up a dozen -- yes, one more over the year before -- wish list items that I'd love to see come true in the new year. It's my column; I can cry if I want to, after all. Let's get this party started!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bilbobilbo-bagginsclassclass-deedscosmetic-weaponsexpansionf2pfeaturedfellowship of the ringFellowshipOfTheRingfree-to-playhousingiconiconsinstance-finderlegendary-itemslilondonlord-of-the-rings-onlinemines-of-moriamounted-combatplayer-housingrise-of-isengardrohansummer-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesvoice-oversvolume-2wardrobewish-listSat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO producer's letter promises a ton of content in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/lotro-producers-letter-promises-a-ton-of-content-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/lotro-producers-letter-promises-a-ton-of-content-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/lotro-producers-letter-promises-a-ton-of-content-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - The Shire
Can you believe that Lord of the Rings Online is nearly five years old? We can't either, but it's true, and Turbine's Aaron "Rowan" Campbell says the best is yet to come in his latest producer letter.

The piece is pretty short, and much of it is devoted to recapping 2011. Campbell touches on the Rise of Isengard expansion and the Turbine Global Service initiative (which unified the North American and European LotRO communities under a single banner).

The most interesting portion of the blurb occurs toward the end, and it features quite a tasty tease for the future. "In 2012, you can expect more content than you've seen at any time since our launch in 2007. We'll be unveiling details with you after the New Year," he writes.

In other LotRO news, Turbine is offering the aforementioned Rise of Isengard content for a whopping 50% off. The catch? It's a one-day sale that starts (and ends) on December 26th, so get it while you can!

MassivelyLotRO producer's letter promises a ton of content in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthproducers-lettertolkienupdateMon, 26 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-road-to-mordor-baggins-of-bag-end/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bilbo Baggins
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years to the month since The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring came out in movie theaters. It's even harder to process that Peter Jackson will be bringing us back to Middle-earth with the two Hobbit films starting a year from now. The Jackson trilogy, while beloved by many (including, I assume, gamers), hasn't gotten a lot of space in this column to date. The general consensus from the community is that the films and the MMO are separate interpretations of the same source material, and never the twain shall meet -- nevermind all the other LotR games, like War in the North.

While that may be true, they do meet in the hearts of those who simply love this franchise. I adore the movies, am a huge fan of the game, and like (yes, just "like") the books. But I think that it's worthwhile to go to the films for LotRO players because they do give a different perspective and perhaps clarify a few plot points that shoot over our heads in-game. If nothing else, if the movies can revitalize our excitement about exploring the lands of Lord of the Rings Online, then they've done well by us.

I mention all this because this past week saw the release of the first Hobbit trailer, which I must have watched a good dozen times, and it got me pumped up once more for this game world. In today's column, I want to use this trailer to springboard a discussion of how LotRO and the films share a common bond and how the Hobbit movies use many elements that Turbine's been working on for years now. Plus, a bonus Hobbit Tribute Tour!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Baggins of Bag End originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bag-endbilbobilbo-bagginsbilbos-buttonscomedydol-guldurdwarfdwarvesf2pfeaturedfilmfilmsfree-to-playgandalfgoblin-towngollumhumorjokeslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoviemovie-trailermoviesnecromancerone-ringpeter-jacksonsiege-of-mirkwoodthe-hobbitthe-shirethorinthorin-oakenshieldthorins-hallturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-in-the-northSat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do other media releases make you revisit MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-daily-grind-do-other-media-releases-make-you-revisit-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-daily-grind-do-other-media-releases-make-you-revisit-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-daily-grind-do-other-media-releases-make-you-revisit-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Still from The Hobbit
This has been quite a week when it comes to geek-related movie trailers. First off, we finally got a proper trailer for the third installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman franchise. Then, Peter Jackson blew us away (again) with a nostalgia-inducing peek at his return to Middle-earth.

What the heck do either of these blessed events have to do with MMORPGs? Well, not a lot, admittedly, unless -- like me -- you're now seriously considering a return to DC Universe Online and Lord of the Rings Online. In any event, the trailers are so collectively awesome that I can't help but make a Daily Grind out of them. The traditional question goes something like this: do big-name IP releases make you want to revisit 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: Do other media releases make you revisit MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmandc-universe-onlinedcuofeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionhobbitsipip-based-mmoslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindthe-dark-knight-risesthe-hobbitThu, 22 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online releases new Armies of Isengard screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-new-armies-of-isengard-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-new-armies-of-isengard-screens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/lord-of-the-rings-online-releases-new-armies-of-isengard-screens/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online Update 5
Lord of the Rings Online's latest update, Update 5: Armies of Isengard went live last week, signaling the first major update since the Rise of Isengard expansion was released. The update brings five new Isengard-themed instances (as well as a group finder function) to the game and continues the epic story. Perhaps in order to draw in some unsuspecting souls, Turbine has released a new set of screenshots showing off the new content. To see the screenshots, click on through the gallery below. Then head on over LotRO's official site to get in on the action.

[Source: Turbine Entertainment press release]

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Update 5: Armies of Isengard

Lord of the Rings Online Update 5: Armies of Isengard

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online releases new Armies of Isengard screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armies-of-isengardf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscreenshotscreenshotsturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-5update-5-armies-of-isengardMon, 19 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Treasure hunting!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-treasure-hunting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-treasure-hunting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-road-to-mordor-treasure-hunting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LOTRO
It's not been an insignificant week for Lord of the Rings Online, as Turbine rolled out its big holiday patch: Update 5. With it came all manner of goodies, from an instance finder to another book in our epic quest across Middle-earth. Cooks got coffee (have you had a cup of joe yet?), and I reveled in the ability to expand my sorely taxed wardrobe beyond 100 slots.

But amidst all of the excitement and analysis of the new features slid in something surprising. The night of the update, Turbine opened up its long-promised treasure hunting mini-event for a sneak peek. I joined the throngs of curious lookie-loos who made a beeline for Ered Luin and some mysterious patches of glowing soil that promised riches galore.

Treasure hunting was originally supposed to hit the game much earlier this year, but for reasons unknown, Turbine pushed it back until a later date. Personally, I was psyched that another non-combat event was on its way, so when I saw that there was an actual sneak peek of the event, I cast aside all of the shiny new content of the update to see what this was all about. While I came away with favorable impressions, it was with a slight bitter aftertaste of something not quite palatable. What could it be? Well, you're just going to have to keep reading these here fancy words to find out!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Treasure hunting!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Treasure hunting! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredin-game-eventlootboxlootboxeslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromini-eventtreasuretreasure-hunttreasure-huntingtreasure-hunting-eventturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 17 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online discusses this year's Yule Festival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/lord-of-the-rings-online-discusses-this-years-yule-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/lord-of-the-rings-online-discusses-this-years-yule-festival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/lord-of-the-rings-online-discusses-this-years-yule-festival/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The forces of evil can wait while we build snowmen.
Generally, holiday events aren't seen as content in major need of updating. Usually a game that runs an event one year will run more or less the same event the next year with a handful of extra toys. But the holiday events in Lord of the Rings Online are still an important part of the game experience, which is why the Yule Festival has undergone some serious revamping and changes to hopefully make this year the best Yule ever.

As outlined in the new developer diary, the original incarnation had a lot of space in Winter-home that didn't tie together, leaving the area feeling empty despite the abundance of content. The changes were thus focused around making full use of the space as well as making the existing quests a bit friendlier to players to address some long-standing complaints. The overall effect should make the area feel more lively and the event more fun for everyone, whether you've done it for years or this is your first Yule in Middle-earth.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online discusses this year's Yule Festival originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmaschristmas-2011developer-diarieseventsf2pfree-to-playholiday-eventlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrlotronewspatchesturbineturbine-entertainmentwinter-holiday-2011yule-festivalyule-festival-2011Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST