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[Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/wings-over-atreia-exclusive-aion-4-0-launches-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/wings-over-atreia-exclusive-aion-4-0-launches-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/wings-over-atreia-exclusive-aion-4-0-launches-in-june/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia Exclusive Aion 40 launches in June!
Good news! (Well, at least for my police record.) As it turns out, I didn't have to resort to kidnapping to convince someone from NCsoft to talk to me about Aion at this year's GDC. I swear, Sean Orlikowski, the game's associate producer, came willingly.

It does, however, appear that in the fine print of the meeting proposal, I agreed to be outfitted with a special electronic device that would send massive jolts of electricity through my system if I tried to speak about something I shouldn't. So let's see how much I can share with you before this apparatus leaves me unconscious.

Can I tell you that Aion has a special celebration planned for the first anniversary of the Truly Free conversion? So far, so good, folks. Hmm... can I add that the next big expansion has a North American launch date planned without going unconscious... oh, appears so! OK, let's push this a little further: How about if I happened to mention that 4.0 will hit servers in June 2013 -- would I be zapped? Nope! So there you have it, folks: 4.0 is indeed going live in just two short months!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AethertechaionAion-4.0Aion-4.0-patchascensionconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013Gunslingerinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemassively-ExclusiveMassively-exclusive-interviewncsoftnew-classesopinionpreviewpreviewsSean-OrlikowskiSong-Weavertruly-freewings-over-atreiaSat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/gdc-2013-city-of-steam-demo-showcases-crafting-and-other-stream/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/gdc-2013-city-of-steam-demo-showcases-crafting-and-other-stream/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/gdc-2013-city-of-steam-demo-showcases-crafting-and-other-stream/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features
It may seem like a while has passed since we last experienced City of Steam, the fantasy steampunk MMORPG that fits in your browser. That's because it has! The game's last closed beta testing round was back in December, and fans have been eagerly waiting to get back into the city-state of Nexus. Of course there has been some news to tide us over in the meantime while developers have been turning all of that beta feedback into fixes and updates, but that's not the same; people want to play. Luckily, it's GDC to the rescue!

While the rest of the world won't actually get to access City of Steam until it launches open beta (which is anticipated to be within the next two months!), I was able to dive in and explore the fruits of the devs' winter labors. And let me tell you, they've put their time to good use! I met with Communications Manager Gabriel Laforge and Operations Director Andrew Woodruff from Mechanist Games who showed off all the work that has gone into the game since the beta closed, from graphics to crafting to airships. They also highlighted the game's cash shop and revealed numerous rewards players can earn simply by playing the game.

Continue reading GDC 2013: City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features

MassivelyGDC 2013: City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-steamconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsfantasyfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013goblinhands-oninterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemechanistmechanist-gamespreviewpreviewsR2-gamessci-fisteampunkFri, 05 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Hands-on with Vendetta Online on the iPad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-hands-on-with-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-hands-on-with-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-hands-on-with-vendetta-online-on-the-ipad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Handson with Vendetta Online on the iPad
When we talk about getting our hands on a game at GDC for a little playtime, we don't usually get to literally grasp said game in our fingers. But that's exactly what happened when I tested out Vendetta Online on an iPad 3; instead of just relating to the space-based sandbox through the standard accessories like mouse, keyboard, or joystick, I held the entirety of the game universe in the palms of my hands. My own 10 digits were the only accessories. And the experience impressed me!

I had the opportunity to sit down with John Bergman, Founder and CEO of Guild Software, to talk about the new iOS platform for Vendetta Online while doing my best Goose impersonation (he's way better than Maverick) playing it.

Continue reading GDC 2013: Hands-on with Vendetta Online on the iPad

MassivelyGDC 2013: Hands-on with Vendetta Online on the iPad originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013hands-oninterviewinterviewsiOSiPadmassively-event-coverageMassively-interviewmobilemobile-mmopreviewpreviewstabletVendetta-OnlineWed, 03 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: The MMO impact of the Webzen and Gala-Net merge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-the-mmo-impact-of-the-webzen-and-gala-net-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-the-mmo-impact-of-the-webzen-and-gala-net-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/gdc-2013-the-mmo-impact-of-the-webzen-and-gala-net-merge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Interview sheds light on Webzen and Gala merge
Acquisition. Though it sounds pretty benign on its own, when used in reference to one developer taking over another, the word can inspire fear in the hearts of gamers. Questions quickly arise about the future of titles that fall on the acquired side of the equation. How will the games and players be affected by the change? Will there even still be a game?

I sat down with Claas Wolter (European PR Manager) and Deanna Peter (Marketing/PR Associate) to discuss just this topic regarding the recent purchase of Gala-Net (the parent company of gPotato) by Webzen and how that acquisition will affect Allods Online, Age of Wulin, Terras Militaris, and the company's other MMORPGs.

Continue reading GDC 2013: The MMO impact of the Webzen and Gala-Net merge

MassivelyGDC 2013: The MMO impact of the Webzen and Gala-Net merge originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionage-of-wulinallodsallods-onlinearctic-combatasiaastrum-nivalchinachinesechinese-mmoclaas-wolterconconferencecontinent-of-the-ninth-sealconventiondeanna-petereventevent-coverageeventsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgala-netgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013gpotatogvginterviewinterviewskidnappingmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmartial-artsmassively-event-coveragemergermicrotransactionmicrotransactionsming-dynastymu-onlinepremiumpvpsandboxsevencoresnail-gamessnail-games-usaTerras-Militariswebzen.comwushuwuxiaWed, 03 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: How APB exploded into a franchise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/gdc-2013-how-apb-exploded-into-a-franchise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/gdc-2013-how-apb-exploded-into-a-franchise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/31/gdc-2013-how-apb-exploded-into-a-franchise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 How APB exploded into a franchise
By now, pretty much everyone knows the story of how GamersFirst swept in to save the DOA All Points Bulletin by relaunching it as APB: Reloaded. Since then, the title's done immensely well for the company and has prompted Reloaded Games to look into turning APB into a bona fide franchise.

How this happened was explained to us by PR Manager Darek Connole at GDC. Connole said that the devs are constantly taking suggestions from the community and sorting them into different buckets. While some of the buckets represent doable ideas, one bucket is full of great ideas that are impossible to implement in the current game.

"We're taking the NPCs from APB: Reloaded and bringing them into their own game," Connole said. "It's going to be a traditional first-person shooter, but it's also going to have non-traditional elements."

Read on to discover how APB's world is going to get a lot more crazy with APB: Vendetta -- and how the team is even thinking about future games in the same world.

Continue reading GDC 2013: How APB exploded into a franchise

MassivelyGDC 2013: How APB exploded into a franchise originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-fpsapb-kickstarterapb-reloadedapb-vendettaapbrBjorn-Book-Larssonconconferenceconsoleconsolesconventioncrimedarek-connoleeventevent-coverageeventsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playg1game-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gamersfirstgdcgdc-2013massively-event-coverageplaystation-4ps4pvpreloadedreloaded-productionsSun, 31 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy
This week we have a special GDC edition of Some Assembly Required. I had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Roberts and talk about his highly anticipated space sim sandbox, Star Citizen. We talked lore, the game's PvP/PvE sliders and living universe concepts, guilds, and when players can expect to get in some dogfighting. Roberts also delved deeply into the crafting and economic aspects of the game.

If you miss the days of carving out a name for yourself and your wares and/or cornering the market and building an economic empire, you'll definitely want to keep an eye on Star Citizen.

Continue reading GDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy

MassivelyGDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-robertschris-roberts-interviewconconferenceconventioncraftingcrowdfundingeconomyeventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013game-mechanicsgdcgdc-2013kickstarterloremassively-event-coverageopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-economyplayer-generated-contentpvpsandboxsarsci-fisome-assembly-requiredspaceshipstar-citizenstar-citizen-craftingstar-citizen-economySat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: PlanetSide 2's new app and the future of Forgelight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-isaac-on-planetside-2s-new-app-forgelights-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-isaac-on-planetside-2s-new-app-forgelights-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/gdc-2013-isaac-on-planetside-2s-new-app-forgelights-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Scrolling through PlanetSide 2's new app with Tramell Isaac
On Tuesday, SOE shared a trailer highlighting its Forgelight engine. The proprietary engine not only runs PlanetSide 2 but will also be the foundation for all the studio's future games, including EverQuest Next. The same press release also introduced the upcoming PS2 app. Although it won't be available to the public for a a bit, I had a chance to sit with senior art director Tramell Issac to see the app in action as well as discuss the Forgelight engine and what's coming up for PS2.

The app provides easy access to a ton of gameplay info, from personal stats to weapon information to real-time in-game map updates, and consequently there could be a marked decrease in workplace productivity in store for PS2 fans!

Continue reading GDC 2013: PlanetSide 2's new app and the future of Forgelight

MassivelyGDC 2013: PlanetSide 2's new app and the future of Forgelight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Android-appconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedforgelightforgelight-enginefpsgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013interviewinterviewsiPad-appmassively-event-coveragemmo-shootermmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2pppreviewpreviewsps2ps2-roadmapsandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentstats-at-your-fingertipsTramell-IsaacFri, 29 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Age of Wushu's world is your playground]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-age-of-wushus-world-is-your-playground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-age-of-wushus-world-is-your-playground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-age-of-wushus-world-is-your-playground/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Age of Wushu
As Age of Wushu is just a couple of weeks away from launch at this point, catching up with Snail Games at GDC this year was one of our highest priorities. We tagged and bagged Associate Producer Colin Miller for a brief interview about the latest pre-launch decisions and preparations that the team is making.

Miller had a lot to say about the tweaks and improvements that have been done to this martial arts sandbox. A huge amount of work has been poured into cleaning up the localization over the beta period, not to mention the interface. "Most of our feedback was pretty negative on the UI that we had in place, so we've been trying to rework that a bit," he said. "Hopefully there's going to be some improvements there."

All systems are go for an April 10th launch, Miller assured us. Keep reading after the break for more on what Snail Games plans for Age of Wushu after it goes live.

Continue reading GDC 2013: Age of Wushu's world is your playground

MassivelyGDC 2013: Age of Wushu's world is your playground originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolin-millercolumnconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013interviewinterviewskung-fumartial-artsmassively-event-coveragepreviewpreviewssandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usawushuwuxiaThu, 28 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2013: SOE's Linda Carlson on the state of the community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-soes-linda-carlson-on-the-state-of-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-soes-linda-carlson-on-the-state-of-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/pax-east-2013-soes-linda-carlson-on-the-state-of-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Guild Counsel SOE's Linda Carlson on the state of the community
How many times have you found yourself asking, "Why won't the devs just listen?!" For any loyal MMO fan, it can be extremely frustrating to see feedback seemingly get ignored, and sometimes it feels as if there's a huge wall separating the fans from the developers.

Linda Carlson, SOE's Director of Global Community Relations, spoke with Massively at this year's PAX East to talk about SOE's efforts to break down that wall and improve the relationship between players and developers into something that's more collaborative, rather than contentious. Whether you're the most loyal SOE fan or someone who's vowed never to play another SOE game, you might be surprised at what she has to say.

Continue reading PAX East 2013: SOE's Linda Carlson on the state of the community

MassivelyPAX East 2013: SOE's Linda Carlson on the state of the community originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecommunityconconferenceconventiondave-georgesoneqeqiieventevent-coverageeventsexpofeaturedfree-realmsgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013guildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsinterviewinterviewsjohn-smedleyleadershiplinda-carlsonmassively-event-coverageopinionpaxpax-2013pax-eastpax-east-2013penny-arcade-exposoethe-guild-counselThu, 28 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: DCUO's Andersen talks housing, hints at league version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dcuos-andersen-talks-housing-hints-at-league-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dcuos-andersen-talks-housing-hints-at-league-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dcuos-andersen-talks-housing-hints-at-league-version/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

GDC 2013 DCUO's Jens Andersen talks decorating, hints at league housing
We first learned about DC Universe Online's housing system last fall at SOE Live, where we got the scoop on the personal lairs coming in the Home Turf DLC from creative director Jens Andersen. At that time, he also shared his vision of expanding to include league housing sometime in the future.

While sitting down with Andersen for a chat at GDC yesterday, the conversation turned to the now two-month-old housing system. The discussion included how the community was utilizing this unique blend of housing and PvP duels. Andersen then shared some tips for decorating with an eye towards battles; he also hinted that league housing may be slated for making an appearance in one of the game's upcoming DLCs.

Continue reading GDC 2013: DCUO's Andersen talks housing, hints at league version

MassivelyGDC 2013: DCUO's Andersen talks housing, hints at league version originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconsoleconsolesconventiondc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodecoratingeventevent-coverageeventsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013guild-housinghousinginterviewinterviewslairsleague-housingmassively-event-coverageplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesThu, 28 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Dragon's Prophet demo and hands-on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dragons-prophet-demo-and-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dragons-prophet-demo-and-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/gdc-2013-dragons-prophet-demo-and-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Dragon's Prophet demo and handson dishes up details
Last fall, Runewaker and SOE announced Dragon's Prophet, a free-to-play fantasy game focused on -- you guessed it -- dragons. Since then, we've been treated to various videos detailing the classes, the starter zones, and other gameplay. Just last week the game entered closed beta in North America, allowing select folks the chance to get in and test out the current stage of the game.

This week, I joined those folks in-game during my hands-on and demo at this year's GDC. I was also able to talk with senior producer Todd Carson and associate producer Rod Haza as they demonstrated different aspects of the game at the convention. What delectable tidbits of information about classes, housing, and (of course) dragons did I uncover? The answer awaits after the break.

Gallery: Dragon's Prophet

Continue reading GDC 2013: Dragon's Prophet demo and hands-on

MassivelyGDC 2013: Dragon's Prophet demo and hands-on originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-customizationconconferenceconventiondragondragon-tamingdragonsdragons-propheteventevent-coverageeventsfeaturedgalleriesgallerygame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013hands-onhousinginfernuminfernum-productionsinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragepreviewpreviewsPvPRAPTOR-COW-DRAGONSrod-hazarunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttodd-carsonThu, 28 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/swtors-jeff-hickman-on-the-expansion-and-the-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Massively Interview SWTOR's Jeff Hickman reveals more about the Cartel expansion
The Massively Bothan spy network is at it again; there are just too many unanswered questions about the new Star Wars: The Old Republic expansion. We know the primary focus of Rise of the Hutt Cartel is on the contested world of Makeb, but what about these rumors of additional content? Does this expansion have more to offer? We cornered Executive Producer Jeff Hickman and interrogated him until he spilled the beans. And since our IT-O droid was feeling frisky and our Bavo Six supply was ample, we asked Hickman a couple of question regarding the state of the game blog he posted on the SWTOR website as well.

Fortunately, he answered our questions before we were forced to test the firepower of the Massively battlestation on his home planet of Alderaan. Now we can reveal his answers to the whole galaxy.

Continue reading SWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game

MassivelySWTOR's Jeff Hickman on the expansion and the state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhutt-cartelinterviewinterviewsjeff-hickmanlucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Repopulation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-repopulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-repopulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-repopulation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PAX East 2013 Handson with the Repopulation
Ever since its successful Kickstarter campaign, The Repopulation has been progressing along at an impressive pace. And if PAX East was any indication, the game shows no signs of slowing down as it approaches beta and zeroes in on a launch date.

This weekend, I had a chance to speak with lead developer Joshua Halls, who took the time to walk me through the sandbox MMO and give me an update on what's new and what's still in the works.

Continue reading PAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Repopulation

MassivelyPAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Repopulation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpofeaturedhands-onmassively-event-coveragepaxpax-2013pax-eastpax-east-2013penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewsrepopulationsandboxsci-fithe-repopulationMon, 25 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2013: SOE's Dave Georgeson on EQ Next and the future of online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-soes-dave-georgeson-on-eq-next-and-the-future-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-soes-dave-georgeson-on-eq-next-and-the-future-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-east-2013-soes-dave-georgeson-on-eq-next-and-the-future-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PAX East 2013 SOE's Dave Georgeson talks EQ Next, and the future of online gaming
If there's one pastime that MMO fans share, it's making predictions. Which games will succeed, and which ones will struggle? Which will go free-to-play, merge servers, or even shut down? And will there ever be an MMO that's crowned as the WoW-killer?

But what about the bigger picture of online gaming in general? We've seen it come a long way over the past decades, and it's not always easy to see where it's headed. SOE's director of development of the EverQuest franchise, Dave Georgeson, sat down with Massively at PAX East this year to prognosticate on the future of online gaming. And of course, part of that future includes EQ Next, and while he still can't talk specifics, he did shed some light on the philosophy behind the game's design, with some hints about what players might see when it's revealed at SOE Live this summer.

Continue reading PAX East 2013: SOE's Dave Georgeson on EQ Next and the future of online gaming

MassivelyPAX East 2013: SOE's Dave Georgeson on EQ Next and the future of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2013 Red 5 talks Firefall, and reveals a new gaming TV channel
Red 5 Studios' MMOFPS Firefall is probably familiar to the Massively family, but it presentation Friday at PAX East was a chance to get a look behind the curtain at how far it's come and how far it has to go during testing.

CEO Mark Kern and Lead Game Designer Scott Youngblood presented a little history of the game's development so far, with a look to the future. But if that's not enough to get you to gear up and plant a Thumper, maybe their announcement about a brand-new video channel devoted to everything and anything involving gaming will catch your interest.

Gallery: PAX East Firefall

Continue reading PAX East 2013: Red 5 on Firefall's new gaming TV channel

MassivelyPAX East 2013: Red 5 on Firefall's new gaming TV channel originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait, how will you get wheel spikes on this?
Champions Online players have just braved a full-scale invasion in the appropriately named Lemurian Invasion event. So now the superheroes of Millennium City get to take a long weekend and possibly head to the beach, right? Hardly. A new challenge approaches in the form of the upcoming Forum Malvanum event, throwing heroes into a pitched arena battle run by a mysterious alien race. But it's not quite what you might think.

The aliens behind these gladiatorial games have been running challenges across the galaxy for quite some time, and they've now invited Earth's champions to participate. Should the heroes emerge victorious, they'll reap the rewards of galaxy-spanning wealth and power. Not that you can expect the games of an intergalactic race obsessed with bloodsports to be particularly fair...

Leaving aside the perpetual nightmare that is a superhero's life, this even promises to offer several additions for players. Aside from the almost mandatory new lockbox, the event will contain new content including an arena showdown and a mission focused around a high-speed race. We also had a chance to sit down and ask producer Tom Edwards a few more questions about the upcoming event. Read on!

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Continue reading Exclusive: Champions Online challenges players to take on the Forum Malvanum

MassivelyExclusive: Champions Online challenges players to take on the Forum Malvanum originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Elder Scrolls Online Interview With ZeniMax's Paul Sage
During my hands-on play session with The Elder Scrolls Online at the media event last week, I got a glimpse of the early game experience, and it was delicious. But most MMOs are judged on what awaits players at the max-level endgame, so I sat down with ZeniMax Online Studios creative director Paul Sage to ask about those areas of the game that I didn't get to see.

Specifically, I asked Sage to describe ZeniMax's strategy for keeping players occupied once they hit the level cap at 50. His reply included four main activities: questing in enemy alliance zones, four-player dungeons, adventure zones, and the PvP alliance war in Cyrodiil. Read on for all of the details I gleaned from the interview!

Continue reading ZeniMax's Paul Sage on The Elder Scrolls Online's endgame, PvP, and crafting

MassivelyZeniMax's Paul Sage on The Elder Scrolls Online's endgame, PvP, and crafting originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook EQII's Ribbitribbit Day celebrates community, creates memorial to remember others
There is no two ways about it: Every time I started to pen this particular piece, I had to pause. You see, the story behind it all is steeped in emotion; inspiration, joy, pride, sadness, and togetherness are all a part of the heartwarming tale that is simply impossible to not be touched by (or in my case, completely choked up). And it's one that makes me proud to be a part of the EverQuest II community.

Last year we shared with you the story of a young boy whose simple wish for a fun place to play in EQII brought the community together in an unparalleled way. In order to make an extra special place for Ribbitribbit, adventurers, raiders, and crafters left their guilds -- heck, even their servers -- to come aid in what became more than a simple island refuge. It became a multi-house playground that included a Tier 3 guild hall. The sheer volume of enthusiastic participation is enough to make any heart swell. Sadly, shortly thereafter Ribbitribbit lost his battle with cancer, and that same community mourned his passing. Now, one year later, the same organizer who uncorked that first outpouring of generosity has brought players together again to commemorate community, continue philanthropy, and remember those who have been lost.

Today's Tattered Notebook invites you to become a part of this community with a look at Ribbitribbit Day 2013.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EQII's Ribbitribbit Day celebrates community

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: EQII's Ribbitribbit Day celebrates community originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Interview David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes
Marvel Heroes is an upcoming action RPG that allows players to sling web justice as Spider-Man or just throw a stress-relieving tantrum as the Hulk. Whatever your favorite alter-ego, the upcoming free-to-play game hopes to be a refreshing addition to the isometric genre.

At a recent press event in San Francisco, I sat down with David Brevik, President and CEO of Gazillion Entertainment, to scope out the influence of Diablo vs. the Marvel Universe and whether we'll see the PvP fans are hoping for.

Gallery: Marvel Heroes

Continue reading A door to the Marvel world: David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes

MassivelyA door to the Marvel world: David Brevik talks Marvel Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmobrian-michael-bendisdavid-brebikdiablof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygazilliongazillion-entertainmentinterviewinterviewsisometricmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemuopreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotssecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesFri, 15 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/hands-on-with-marvel-heroes-combat-events-and-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Handson with Marvel Heroes
This has been a hard year on mice. Diablo III, Torchlight 2, Path of Exile, and now another click-fest is in the works: Marvel Heroes. This new free-to-play addition to the isometric family will put you in the shoes of classic heroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Storm, Wolverine, and many more from the Marvel roster. Just when my index finger was starting to forgive me!

To better understand how much danger my mouse and finger were in, I traveled down to Gazillion Entertainment for some hands-on time with a few of my favorite comic wonders. Is Marvel Heroes is bringing more than just tights to the table?

Continue reading Hands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting

MassivelyHands-on with Marvel Heroes' combat, events, and crafting originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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