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[SOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SOE logo
We imagine that the word downtime makes Sony Online Entertainment employees cringe, convulse, and eye-twitch for hours on end after last summer's disastrous hacker-induced service outage. Happily, though, the next service interruption is planned, and we've got plenty of notice.

SOE will be performing maintenance this Monday, April 23rd, and the firm says that all of its game services will be unavailable for approximately 24 hours. The downtime starts at 3:01 a.m. EDT. Commerce transactions and account management functionality will also be affected, so you might as well cross all of your SOE-related plans off Monday's calendar.

MassivelySOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playhistoricalkid-friendlykidskids-mmommofpspiratespirates-of-the-burning-seaplanetsideplaystation-3playstation3potbspsps1ps3sandboxsci-fisoesoe-downtimesoe-maintenancesoe-planned-maintenancesoe-service-interruptionsonysony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroestelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgFri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea outlines plans for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-outlines-plans-for-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea - anchored ships
Remember Pirates of the Burning Sea? Yeah, it's still sailing along after its 2010 free-to-play conversion, and the dev team at Flying Lab Software is gearing up to celebrate the game's fourth anniversary in high pirate style.

Brain "Fodderboy" Taney has offered up a lengthy dev blog detailing what's next for the nautical MMO, and he outlines two main goals: immersion and the desire to "layer" the game.

Immersion is fairly self-explanatory (and in case it's not, Taney says that it entails bringing more authentic 18th century elements to the game). Layering requires a bit more verbiage, but it basically boils down to improving "the game experience for all the different kinds of players we have in our community (e.g., casual, hardcore, PvE-only, PvP-only, etc.)," Taney says. There's quite a bit more, of course, but you'll need to head to the official PotBS website to read about it.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea outlines plans for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-taneydev-blogdev-diarydevelopment-roadmapf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefodderboyfour-year-anniversaryfourth-anniversaryfree-to-playhistoricalimmersionlayeringPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapotbssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesSun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
As I've well established both here on Massively and elsewhere, I'm somewhat of a nut for video game music. Whereas others might collect vintage hair metal tracks or the latest Justin Bieber opus, I'm always digging through obscure (and not-so-obscure) official soundtracks to games like Wipeout and Kirby. Video game scores can be right up there with the best that the film industry puts out, and the fact that they tie into personal experiences that we've played through can lend them sentimental weight.

So for the next two Perfect Tens, I scoured all the MMO theme songs that I could get ahold of in an attempt to formulate a list of the very best. It was originally slated to be just one list, but after an hour or so of listening to tracks and having friends and fellow staffers weigh in on the subject, I knew it was impossible to keep it there.

Two important things to note for this list. First, I wanted to keep to just the title/login screen tracks so that I wouldn't be working on this for the next 2.5 years. Second, unlike most past Perfect Tens where there's no significance to the order of the list, in this case we're going to have a genuine countdown to the best MMO theme song of all time. And I expect to take no flak about it, do you hear me? Good. Let's begin.

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

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbiowareblade-and-souldarkfalldarkfall-onlinefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiharry-potterlistmabinogimusicNobuo-Uematsuperfect-10perfect-tenpiratespirates-of-the-burning-searunescapescorestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-musictop-10top-20transformerstwilightwizard101wurm-onlineThu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten: Pirates
Fantasy pirates: Love 'em or hate 'em, they're deeply ingrained in geek culture to the point that they're almost impossible to dislodge. This past Monday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, when everyone's inner pirate was encouraged to "Arr!" heartily, look for treasure in long-forgotten places, and embrace the fashion style of bandanas and eyepatches.

It seemed like a perfect week, therefore, to look at piratey life in MMOs. From entire games to mere outfits and from the token pirate union that has a chapter in each game to delusional madmen, this list aims to sate the swagger of keyboard swashbucklers. It's a testament to the pirate phenomenon that most developers can't help but include a buccaneer or two, even if the setting isn't always asking for it -- a phenomenon even the U.S. Navy has accepted.

Hit the jump to start, and sail straight on 'til morning!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahoyblizzardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcookiecovddodeadminesdisneydungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsghost-piratesgooniesinternational-talk-like-a-pirate-dayirestone-inletjohnny-deppjolly-rogerlong-dronglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromr-smiteperfect-10perfect-tenpiratepiratespirates-in-spacepirates-of-the-burning-seapirates-of-the-caribbean-onlinepirates-plunderplunderravenfellrunes-of-magicscallywagsscooby-dootalk-like-a-pirate-daythe-gooniesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbineus-navywarwarhammer-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftwowyaaryarThu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's services disrupted by massive California blackout [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/soes-services-disrupted-by-massive-california-blackout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/soes-services-disrupted-by-massive-california-blackout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/soes-services-disrupted-by-massive-california-blackout/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SOE
A massive power outage that is affecting southern California this evening has severely hampered Sony Online Entertainment's services. The outage, which began during the late afternoon, has cut power to millions in San Diego, southern Orange County, and Palm Springs, as well as sections of Mexico across the border.

Because of this interruption, some of SOE's MMOs and websites have gone offline, as SOE's servers are located in San Diego. The company sent a brief note over Twitter and Facebook saying that players might not want to hold their breath at regaining these services tonight: "The San Diego power outage could persist throughout the night affecting login servers, forums, and websites. We appreciate everyone's patience as the City attempts to restore power."

According to authorities, power is expected to be restored by Friday.

[Update: Some of SOE's services, such as EverQuest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, and Clone Wars Adventures, appear to be back up and running.]

Update #2: SOE tweeted the following on Friday morning: "We appreciate everyone's patience during the recent power outage. Power has been restored and all services should be back online."]

[Source: Twitter]

MassivelySOE's services disrupted by massive California blackout [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011-blackoutblackoutmmo-offlinenewsofflinepower-outagesan-diego-blackoutsoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 08 Sep 2011 21:34:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE All Access pass goes live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/soe-all-access-pass-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/soe-all-access-pass-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/soe-all-access-pass-goes-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sony Online Entertainment has finally lowered its monthly all-you-can-eat MMORPG subscription plan. All Access (formerly known as the Station Pass) grants you unlimited time with all of SOE's titles for a single monthly fee of $19.99.

Games include DC Universe (sorry PS3 users, this is for the PC version only), EverQuest, EverQuest II, Vanguard, and Star Wars Galaxies. You also get premium access to free-to-play titles like EQ2X, Free Realms, and Pirates of the Burning Sea. The All Access service, which previously set you back $29.99 per month, returns to the price point enjoyed by SOE customers prior to the April 2007 rate hike.

The reduction follows the announcement that SWG will terminate services on December 15th and will be freely playable to recent subscribers beginning in the fall.

MassivelySOE All Access pass goes live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-accessbusiness-modelsdc-universe-onlinedcuoeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifree-realmsmmo-industrypirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsprice-reductionsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstation-passswgvanguardTue, 28 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony Online Entertainment dropping the price for Station Access]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-dropping-the-price-for-station-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-dropping-the-price-for-station-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-dropping-the-price-for-station-access/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Whether or not you're a fan of Sony Online Entertainment, it's hard to deny that the company's Station Pass is a pretty good value for the money. For the price of two monthly subscriptions, you get access to everything from the original EverQuest to the recently launched DC Universe Online. But if the deal isn't quite good enough for you yet, SOE has just announced that the access price is dropping once again to $19.99 a month.

Needless to say, the chance to get nine games at once for only slightly more than the normal subscription fee is a pretty enticing deal for any gamer. While the announcement is not yet reflected in the official site, which is still advertising the previous price, the update will be coming "soon" according to the company's representatives at E3. Keep your eyes peeled for more information about precise dates for the change, which should be a boon to current and potential future customers.

MassivelySony Online Entertainment dropping the price for Station Access originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2011mmo-industrynewspriceprice-dropsoesony-online-entertainmentstationstation-accessstation-passsubscriptionWed, 08 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Sailing to port]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/choose-my-adventure-sailing-to-port/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/choose-my-adventure-sailing-to-port/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/choose-my-adventure-sailing-to-port/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week is my last entry in Choose My Adventure. After sailing the high seas for the past few weeks, my ship is returning to port, and I'll be turning the column over to our own Eliot Lefebvre. But even though I won't be writing about Pirates of the Burning Sea, I will continue to play it. There's a lot that I didn't get to see, and I'm particularly curious about the endgame, which seems to be where PotBS really shines.

It was a bit of a bumpy ride due to the downtime from the attacks on Sony Online Entertainment, but as I wrap up my column, I'll give a rundown of my impressions of PotBS and touch on a few of my future plans in the game.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Sailing to port

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Sailing to port originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmafeaturedfree-to-playpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaport-governorpotbsship-combatsocietiessoeSony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/choose-my-adventure-dirty-fightin-and-treasure-huntin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

My pirate life continued this past week in Pirates of the Burning Sea, and thanks to your feedback, I took on some new swashbuckling skills. Based on the poll results, Dirty Fighting came out as the winning choice, and I happily retrained at my port.

I also popped over to Treasure Aisle, the in-game cash shop. I had some Station Cash burning a hole in my pirate chest, and since I had so much fun on my last treasure hunt, I decided to purchase a new map case and try my luck once more at finding the giant red X.

In this week's Choose My Adventure, I'll tell you how my respec went and whether I found any treasure. In addition, I'll give you a sneak peek at some new bling for my pirate ship!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin'

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dirty fightin' and treasure huntin' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buccaneercash-shopchoose-my-adventurecmadirty-fightingfeaturedpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapollpollspotbssailsshipssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentswashbucklertreasuretreasure-aisletreasure-huntingvanity-itemsWed, 01 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Out of drydock!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/choose-my-adventure-out-of-drydock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/choose-my-adventure-out-of-drydock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/choose-my-adventure-out-of-drydock/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It was a happy return to the high seas for Arienne Sauvage. You might have noticed that Choose My Adventure went dark for a couple of weeks, and that's because of the unexpected downtime from the attack on Sony Online Entertainment. Now that things are back up and running, I'm ready to set sail for the last few entries of my adventure in Pirates of the Burning Sea.

Join me this week as I evaluate the Welcome Back rewards, polish up my ship combat skills, and search for buried treasure!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Out of drydock!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Out of drydock! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-clubchoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedflorentineflying-labsfree-to-playhands-onmarsh-harborpiratepirate-buccaneerpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapollpollspotbssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentswashbucklingtreasuretreasure-huntingWed, 25 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: High society]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/choose-my-adventure-high-society/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/choose-my-adventure-high-society/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/choose-my-adventure-high-society/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With my busy week last week on the road (school vacation) and now the interrupted service to all Sony Online Entertainment games, I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to jump in and play Pirates of the Burning Sea.

I did, however, continue my adventures a bit as Arienne Sauvage, Woman of Incredible Wealth and Taste (OK, so incredible isn't really in the title, but in my mind, it's definitely there!). I also started up a British Freetrader on one of my other Station accounts (two-boxing finally pays off!).

But the real question is, did I turn on my PvP flag? Read on for that answer as well as a closer look at societies and your choices if you decide to upgrade your free-to-play account.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: High society

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: High society originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british-freetraderchoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaport-battlesport-governancepotbssocietiessoesonySony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 04 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Sink or swim!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/choose-my-adventure-sink-or-swim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in!

I really thought you all would choose one of the nations to play in my last poll, but no, you clearly signaled that I should stick with playing a pirate! As a result, I fitted my ship and went out to sea as Arienne Sauvage, Woman of Wealth and Taste. (Although that's up for debate)

Read on for a recap of my week in Pirates of the Burning Sea, including ship combat, the community, and some pirate humor!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Sink or swim!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Sink or swim! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmaeconomyf2pfeaturedflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playftppiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapollpollspotbsship-combatsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 27 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: A pirate's life for me!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/choose-my-adventure-a-pirates-life-for-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/choose-my-adventure-a-pirates-life-for-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/choose-my-adventure-a-pirates-life-for-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ahoy, mateys! Welcome to the start of my swashbuckling adventures on the high seas. The votes are in, the polls have closed, and the winner for Choose My Adventure is Pirates of the Burning Sea. It was the runner-up last time, so it's nice to see that it's finally the belle of the ball.

For my introductory column this week, I'll take a closer look at the poll results (which were extremely close!) and then set off on the dangerous seas. Read on for a look at my first moments in game, and then pick my path for next week!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: A pirate's life for me!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: A pirate's life for me! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-combatchoose-my-adventurecmafeaturedflying-labpiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapollpollspotbspower-and-prestigeship-combatsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 20 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Angling coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/angling-coming-to-pirates-of-the-burning-sea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Teach an avatar to fish," the saying goes, "and he'll flood the auction house with smelly seafood." These words were never so true nor relevant than they are today, as Flying Lab announced that the ancient art of angling is making its way into Pirates of the Burning Sea with patch 2.6.

Scallywags, landlubbers, and buccaneers will be invited to take up a rod and pull slimy gold out of the sea when this hobby hits the game. Designed as a fun way to pass the time, fishing will add a new challenge to PotBS. It makes sense, too, considering just how much, y'know, water is present in the Caribbean.

Expert anglers will need to know and master the different types of fishing lines and lures while criss-crossing the ocean in pursuit of rare and unique species. Haul up a good catch and the local fishmonger will be happy to exchange your chickens of the sea for practical goods. The studio even hinted at a grand prize -- the region-exclusive trophy fish -- but did not elaborate.

Players are welcome to give this time-treasured sport a try on the test server once 2.5 hits.

MassivelyAngling coming to Pirates of the Burning Sea originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.52.6anglingchicken-of-the-seafishfishingflying-labflying-lab-softwarepiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbssoesony-online-entertainmenttrophy-fishWed, 13 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/soe-offers-bonus-station-cash-for-using-game-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/soe-offers-bonus-station-cash-for-using-game-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/soe-offers-bonus-station-cash-for-using-game-cards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Paying for subscriptions with a credit card is definitely fast and easy, but if you're a regular Sony Online Entertainment game subscriber, you might want to consider switching to a game time card this month! As a way of rewarding players for picking up and paying with universal game cards, Sony Online Entertainment is giving players $10 worth of Station Cash (1,000 SC) just for redeeming a $15 universal game card. The nice thing about these cards? They can be redeemed for either a month's subscription to an SOE game or 1,500 Station Cash. However, to get the bonus cash, you'll have to redeem your card between 3:10 a.m. EDT (12:10 a.m. PDT) on March 17th and 2:59 a.m. on March 21st (11:59 p.m. PDT on March 20th).

Along with getting an extra Station Cash reward for using a universal game card during those days, players will be entered into SOE's Luck of the Irish sweepstakes, the details of which should be out sometime this week. We'd also note that SOE's disclaimer indicates that the promotion is only available to gamers in the United States/District of Columbia and excludes Puerto Rico and other outlying territories. Keep your eye on the forums or the SOE Facebook account for all the sweepstakes information and official rules.

MassivelySOE offers bonus Station Cash for using game cards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq2eq2xeqiieqiixeverquesteverquest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfrfree-realmsgame-timegiveawayluck-of-the-irishplanetsidepromopssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstation-cashsweepstakesswgugcuniversal-game-cardsus-onlyvanguargvgMon, 14 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plundering the free seas: Pirates of the Burning Sea dev talks about F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/plundering-the-free-seas-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-talks-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/plundering-the-free-seas-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-talks-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/plundering-the-free-seas-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-dev-talks-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Curious about how a subscription-based MMO makes the transition to a free-to-play model? It's not as easy as one might assume, and Pirates of the Burning Sea was no exception. In a recent devlog, PotBS's Misha takes us behind the stage to look at the logistical details and hurdles that had to be taken for this jump between business models.

While the team had been mulling over a microtransaction model from the beginning, it was only after a lot of discussion with SOE that the publisher showed the team a way this could be implemented. Following that, the team had to tackle several tricky issues, such as expired trial accounts, boxes still in the stores and all of the subscription types it had in place.

Next, the team ran the system through quite a bit of testing to iron out the snags. "Those who helped us test F2P in the early days will recall pets on their own little boats in the midst of battle, trying desperately to help out. You could zoom in and see a pig or chicken standing in a commanding position overlooking their hardworking crews. This bug is one of my favorite ever, and I'm still a little sad that we fixed it."

It wasn't just the software that needed to be tested but also the physical setup. At one point, Misha writes, "For whatever reason, we were suffering hardware failure after hardware failure."

While the F2P transition was slated for Thanksgiving 2010, it failed to hit the date. "We hit a major issue on our side and SOE hit a major snag on their side. So, no Thanksgiving F2P. On the one hand, we were really discouraged that we hadn't met our target. On the other hand, we were incredibly glad we had tackled these issues before we went live," she writes. Eventually Pirates of the Burning Sea "soldiered through it all" and made it to the live servers, much to the team's delight.

For a full rundown of this saga and the true tale of commanding pigs, head on over to Pirates of the Burning Sea.

MassivelyPlundering the free seas: Pirates of the Burning Sea dev talks about F2P originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diarydevlogf2pfree-to-playMicrotransactionsmishapetspigpigsPirates-of-the-Burning-SeapotbssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentthanksgivingFri, 04 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS devs share some cake with Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

How did you celebrate your third birthday party? We imagine that the Pirates of the Burning Sea developers celebrated it a lot like you might have: with pirates, talking birds and the occasional PvP fight. Of course, you probably didn't choose to participate in an interview with the best MMO website in existence, mainly because it more than likely didn't exist back then.

Our trusty eyepatches in place, we waylaid Russell "Rusty" Williams (Flying Lab's CEO) and Jason "Mr Nutty" Gettel (Lead Designer), who answered some of our "burning" questions. So sit back, put your bib on, blow out your candles, and click past the cut to see what they had to say on this special anniversary!

Continue reading PotBS devs share some cake with Massively

MassivelyPotBS devs share some cake with Massively originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-anniversarybeau-hindmaneve-onlineflying-labflying-lab-softwarehistorical-mmohistoryPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspvpSOESony-Online-Entertainmentthird-anniversarythird-year-anniversaryTue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-the-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea just turned three years old, so we decided to take a look back at some of the history, controversy and changes that happened along the way. How do you sum up the history of an MMO, no matter how short? Do you simply make a timeline, establishing landmark events? What about the players -- how do they feel after sailing around the sea for all this time?

Well, we decided to do a little bit of each. What we found was a game that is still rich in its content, still varied in its playerbase, and still moving forward. The game has had its issues like any other, so on this anniversary we decided to showcase how the game has affected people with a series of mini-interviews with the players themselves.

Click past the cut to see what treasures we dug up!

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea: The third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playftpPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspower-and-prestigepower-and-prestige-expansionpvpreal-lifeship-to-ship-combatshipsSOEMon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea celebrating third anniversary with a new build]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-celebrating-third-anniversary-with-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been a couple of months since Flying Lab Software opted to steer its Pirates of the Burning Sea MMO into free-to-play waters. In the interim, the seas have been smooth and things have been pretty quiet in terms of updates. Flying Lab hasn't been resting on its laurels however, and has just released extensive patch notes for the 2.2.83.0 update that ties in with the game's third anniversary.

First up is a new mission and series of minigames (and a new coat reward item) accessible from the Royal Society NPC in your nation's capital. Treasure Aisle, the game's item shop, also features time-limited extras in the form of a black cockatoo and a celebratory monkey (yes really).

In other patch-related news, San Juan has been given an extensive graphical overhaul, a new live event chat channel has been added, and a boat load of stability and performance fixes have been introduced. Read the rundown on these -- and many other -- tweaks, additions, and fixes at the official Pirates of the Burning Sea website.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea celebrating third anniversary with a new build originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.2.83.0black-cockatoof2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playnew-coatpatchpatch-notesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbssan-juan-updatesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesWed, 19 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-now-sailing-the-free-to-play-seas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The time has come for freewheeling free-to-play fun on the seas of adventure. Today marks the official relaunch of Pirates of the Burning Sea after a long period of bug fixing, tons of beta testing, and a series of upgrades to the game. If you're in the mood for some seafarin' scalawag scuffles, you risk nothing beyond a download and some gaming time. Definitely can't beat that pricetag for pirate goodness.

For those who haven't been keeping up on the news from Pirates of the Burning Sea, have no fear! We've gathered up a handful of articles behind the break that offer a look at dev blogs, interviews, and even our own super-secret tests of customer service. Click on the link, mateys, and get ta readin' while Flying Lab finishes patchin' the servers against Davy Jones' evil.

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea now sailing the free-to-play seas originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pflying-labflying-lab-softwarefree-to-playPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbsrelaunchroundupsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 29 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST