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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:title>Massively Speaking</itunes:title><itunes:author>Joystiq</itunes:author><itunes:image href="%BlogURL%/media/feedlogo.gif" /><itunes:summary>Massively Speaking</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games &amp; Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Video Games" /></itunes:category><item><title><![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Homeless in Middle-earth]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-road-to-mordor/" rel="tag">The Road to Mordor</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lotro.com/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/04/mordor1-1271350832.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<em>Every Friday, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-road-to-mordor/">The Road to Mordor</a> brings you the latest in <a href="http://www.lotro.com/">Lord of the Rings Online</a> news, guides and analysis.<br />
</em><br />
It's always amusing to me when the Turbine team gets decked out in leather, waves around their riding crops and starts abducting members of the public for their innocuous "surveys." Okay, maybe that's just how I mentally envision them going about the task - and I'm sure that says a lot about the state of my mental health these days.<br />
<br />
However it happens in reality, Turbine's pretty good at soliciting player opinion on improving the game, and last week we saw them post a thread in the forums entitled <a href="http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=326566">"Tell the Community Team - New and Revamped Systems"</a> to do just that. They basically asked players to comment on what game systems they'd like to see improved, what new systems should be implemented, and what regular systems they never use due to time or other factors. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/lotro-player-survey-1-looks-at-monsterplay/">PvMP</a>, Radiance gear and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/latest-lotro-dev-diary-details-legendary-weapon-changes/">Legendary Items</a> were off the table for discussion, but all else was fair game. <br />
<br />
I started to tally all these up, but that was an insane task, which I realized only after filling up an entire sheet of paper while I was only on page 5 out of 39 of the thread. Besides, the overwhelming theme of the thread quickly made itself known: <a href="http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=161639">players want housing fixed</a>, and in a bad, bad way. So, hey, let's look at the Middle-earth housing crisis this week, and see how we can make it better.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Road to Mordor: Homeless in Middle-earth</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/">The Road to Mordor: Homeless in Middle-earth</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19440839/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/the-road-to-mordor-homeless-in-middle-earth/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>crafting</category><category>escrow</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>furniture</category><category>housing</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>player-housing</category><category>survey</category><category>the-road-to-mordor</category><category>turbine</category><category>upkeep</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A look at EverQuest II's new Halas housing]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/news/read/current/3518"><em><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/04/halashousingtitle.jpg" /><br />
</em></a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.everquest2.com/"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> is one of the few MMORPGs to offer robust player housing options, so imagine our collective excitement when a short Q&amp;A session with housing designer Andres Rodriguez popped up on the official site. Rodriguez, responsible for designing the new houses for the forthcoming city of New Halas, talks about his visual influences as well as a few of the features players can expect to see when their dwellings become available in the city.</div>
<br />
"<em>We were trying to give the housing in New Halas a very warm and inviting feel to contrast with the cold climate of the region. To do this, we decided to use a lot of wood and barbarian elements in the design of the houses. So the houses have a slight cabin feel to it with subtle barbarian elements and trims in it, to let the players use this space in any way they want. I'm always excited to see what players create within their homes</em>," Rodriguez enthused. <br />
<br />
The houses will be offered with two, four, and six room floor plans, and all will feature views of the nearby sea. The sizes compare with those found in <a href="http://massively.com/tag/eq2">EQII's</a> other cities, but the New Halas locales have been designed from the ground up to be very different stylistically.<br />
<br />
Check out the <a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/news/read/current/3518">interview</a> as well as our previous <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/03/everquest-ii-gives-a-sneak-peek-at-new-halas/">New Halas</a> coverage. Finally, hit the jump for a gallery of the new interiors.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A look at EverQuest II's new Halas housing</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/">A look at EverQuest II's new Halas housing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://everquest2.station.sony.com/news/read/current/3518>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19440134/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/a-look-at-everquest-iis-new-halas-housing/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>andres-rodriguez</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>halas</category><category>housing</category><category>inteview</category><category>new-halas</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want player housing?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lotro.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/04/lotro-housing-epl-403.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
It features in <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a>, doesn't make an appearance in <a href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a>, and an extended form is the heart of <a href="http://www.secondlife.com"><em>Second Life</em></a>.  It's player housing, and it's had a long and interesting history ever since <a href="http://www.uoherald.com"><em>Ultima Online</em></a> pioneered the idea.  There were hiccups to the approach back then, so many that some later designs have eschewed the entire idea.  <br />
<br />
Other games that use it have gone with an instancing model a la <a href="http://www.playonline.com"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a>, ensuring that there's not actual game space being taken up by unused houses.  But like so many features, there are debates as to its worth.  For every person who loves the idea of player-run cities in <a href="http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com"><em>Star Wars Galaxies</em></a>, there's someone who would rather see the same amount of development time going toward endgame content or system balancing.  <br />
<br />
Housing has always struggled to be an element that's meaningful beyond the cool factor of just owning a player-made house... but then again, many would argue that the cool factor itself is meaningful and why they want it.  Where do you fall?  Do you like the idea of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/">player housing</a>, are you opposed, or do you fall somewhere in the middle?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/">The Daily Grind: Do you want player housing?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19425662/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-player-housing/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>player-housing</category><category>second-life</category><category>sl</category><category>star-wars-galaxies</category><category>swg</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>ultima-online</category><category>uo</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[House decoration contest running for Final Fantasy XI]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.playonline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/04/ffxi-moghouse-epl-402.jpg" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Mog_House">Mog House</a> has always been one of the venues for <a href="http://www.playonline.com"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> players to show off their creativity and personal sense of style, even more so when it became possible at long last for other adventurers to step inside. <a href="http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/">Allakhazam</a> knows that it's one of the most celebrated parts of the game as well, which is why they've launched <a href="http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/wiki/2010_Mog_House_Decorating_Contest">the first Mog House decorating contest</a>. Arrange your furniture carefully, mail in some images of your uniquely adorned home, and you could find your dwelling renowned for its taste (and potential <a href="http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Moghancements">Moghancement</a> benefits).<br />
<br />
Entries on the contest run until April 12th, with judging to conclude on April 20th via on-site poll. There are, of course, the usual requirements for all entries to be safe for work and not involve any hacking of the game client. Prizes include a signed copy of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Distant-Worlds-music-Final-Fantasy/dp/B000YFCQSK">Distant Worlds CD</a> and a Japanese calligraphy set to help decorate the place you <em>actually</em> live, which is a nice touch. For full rules and submission guidelines, take a look at <a href="http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/wiki/2010_Mog_House_Decorating_Contest">the contest page</a>. Or you could just start by beautifying your home away from home, something most <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XI/"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> players are inclined to do anyway.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/">House decoration contest running for Final Fantasy XI</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/wiki/2010_Mog_House_Decorating_Contest>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19424630/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/house-decoration-contest-running-for-final-fantasy-xi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>contests</category><category>decorating</category><category>decorating-contest</category><category>ff11</category><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-11</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>house-contest</category><category>mog-house</category><category>player-housing</category><category>square-enix</category><category>xbox-360</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you attached to your characters?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/03/tdg-attached-epl-303.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
They're not real and we all know it. All your character is in an MMO, really, is just a little mobile indicator for what you're wearing and what you're doing. There's no need to spare them a second thought. Of course, there are games like <a href="http://www.champions-online.com"><em>Champions Online</em></a> and <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com"><em>City of Heroes</em></a> which give you dizzying amounts of control over what they look like. Or <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> and <a href="http://www.playonline.com"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> that let you decorate your house. Or <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> letting you detail both what sort of ship you ride around in and who your co-workers are...<br />
<br />
All right, most of us put a little more thought into our characters than just mobile gear indicators. Roleplayers tend to get even more so, but even if you're avidly not into the RP scene, you <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/10/2/">can't help but form some connections</a>. So how attached are you to yours? Do you spend a long time staring at the character creator? Do you play the same character transplanted into new settings? Or do you mostly just click through based on whatever looks cool and take what you get, even if it winds up being hideous?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/">The Daily Grind: Are you attached to your characters?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19382335/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/the-daily-grind-are-you-attached-to-your-characters/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>champions-online</category><category>character</category><category>character-creation</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>co</category><category>coh</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>ff11</category><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy-11</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>opinion</category><category>roleplaying</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five useful starbase configurations]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tips-and-tricks/" rel="tag">Tips and tricks</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/" rel="tag">EVE Evolved</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/02/starbase-title2.jpg" /></a></div>
Player housing is one of those features we love to see in an MMO but every game that has it seems to implement it differently. Sometimes it's limited to instanced rooms the player can decorate and sometimes it's a little more functional like shared guild halls. In <a href="http://www.eve-online.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a>, the closest thing to widely-available player housing would be <a href="http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Starbase">anchorable starbases</a>, which can be configured to serve a variety of functional roles. Originally, their primary purpose was to mine moon minerals and <a href="http://wiki.eveonline.com/wiki/Moon_mining">react them to produce advanced materials</a> for Tech 2 production.<br />
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Starbases can be very useful as tactical staging points for PvP operations. With the right modules anchored around them, they can also be configured for use in other industries, from mining and manufacturing to research and deep space exploration. Until recently, they also played a critical role in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/"><em>EVE</em></a>'s alliance sovereignty warfare as the alliance with the most starbases in a system gained control of it. With that role <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-eve-dominion-launch-day-roundup/">now fulfilled by Outposts, Infrastructure Hubs and Territorial Claim Units</a>, starbases have mostly returned to their former industrial and tactical uses.<br />
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In this article, I look at five different starbase configurations that can be very useful to organised corporations.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Evolved: Five useful starbase configurations</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/">EVE Evolved: Five useful starbase configurations</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19357305/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/eve-evolved-five-useful-starbase-configurations/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-eve</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>death-star</category><category>depot</category><category>dominion</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-ccp</category><category>eve-evolved</category><category>eve-mmorpg</category><category>eve-online</category><category>featured</category><category>piracy</category><category>player-housing</category><category>player-owned-starbase</category><category>pos</category><category>pvp</category><category>safespot</category><category>sleeper</category><category>sovereignty</category><category>starbase</category><category>territorial-control</category><category>tips</category><category>tips-and-tricks</category><category>wormhole</category><category>wormhole-exploration</category><category>wormholes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[City of Heroes announces holiday contest winners]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/01/coh-holidaycontest-epl-129.jpg" /></div>
As Christmas recedes into memory, it's easy to forget about the stress of the various celebrations and just remember the nicer parts of the holiday. For our characters in <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com"><em>City of Heroes</em></a>, of course, the holidays saw yet another onslaught by elemental minions of ice seeking to spread permanent winter. But the pot was sweetened a touch by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/">the addition of the holiday contest</a>, a chance for players to decorate their base or alter their costume in such a way that they became a bit more seasonally appropriate.<br />
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Just a bit over a month out, <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/news_archive/city_of_heroes_holiday_contest.html">the winners of the contest have been announced</a>, and it takes only a quick glance at the artistry involved to see why. Bases were transformed from fortresses of solitude into... well, they were still sort of fortresses of solitude, but now they had appropriate decorations hanging from the icicles. Meanwhile, characters were transformed into crime-fighting ski bunnies and workshop elves. Giving <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> players a chance to work their creativity almost always results in some excellent material, so feel free to <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/news_archive/city_of_heroes_holiday_contest.html">take a look at the official page listing the winners</a> and screenshots of each.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/">City of Heroes announces holiday contest winners</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/news_archive/city_of_heroes_holiday_contest.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19338135/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/31/city-of-heroes-announces-holiday-contest-winners/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>christmas-2009</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>coh</category><category>fortress-of-solitude</category><category>holiday-contest</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>player-housing</category><category>thematic-costumes</category><category>winter</category><category>winter-events</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI launches event for the new year]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.playonline.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/01/ffxi-newyear-epl-101-1262453607.jpg"  alt="" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">The new year isn't one of the major holidays celebrated by MMOs -- the favorites are the recent winter holiday season and Halloween events, with the possible Valentine's Day or middle-of-summer event.  But there's still a time and place for ringing in the new year, and if there's one thing that <a href="http://www.playonline.com"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> loves, it's holiday events.  (Or killing players in <a href="http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Dynamis">Dynamis</a>.  It's a fine line.)  <a href="http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/5149/detail.html">This year's event</a> focuses on the spirit of the tiger, with two celebration NPCs roaming the world surrounded by the auspicious spirits of tigers.<br />
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While the official posting only tells the story explaining the event, <a href="http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">FFXIclopedia</a> has <a href="http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Happy_New_Year_2010/Guide">a preliminary guide</a> explaining the event.  Chasing the NPCs and trading enough items to them allows you to receive furnishings for you house, or a vanity weapon that can then be used to pick up a unique painting.  The event seems to be taking place at random spots all across Vana'diel, with a list of confirmed spots on the guide to help players obtain their new toys.  While the game's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XIV/">spiritual sequel</a> is due out this year, it's still a good time for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XI/">Final Fantasy XI</a></em> players to <a href="http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/5149/detail.html">celebrate another year</a> in their game of choice.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/">Final Fantasy XI launches event for the new year</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/5149/detail.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19300235/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/final-fantasy-xi-launches-event-for-the-new-year/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ff</category><category>ffxi</category><category>ffxiclopedia</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>guides</category><category>holiday-events</category><category>holiday-rewards</category><category>new-year-2010</category><category>square</category><category>square-enix</category><category>tigers</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[City of Heroes offers holiday contest]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-villains/" rel="tag">City of Villains</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Winter_Event_2009"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/coh-holidaycontest-epl-1217.jpg" /></a><br />
It's holiday time in both <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Paragon_City">Paragon City</a> and the <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Rogue_Isles">Rogue Isles</a>, and that means it's time for players of <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com"><em>City of Heroes</em></a> to celebrate the occasion. We <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/massivelys-2009-winter-holiday-event-guide/">recently discussed</a> the game's <a href="http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Winter_Event_2009">holiday event</a>, which is of course how the characters in the game get to enjoy the start of the winter months. But what about the players behind the keyboard, the ones who may very well have donated to charitable causes and deserve something nice themselves this holiday season? Well, perhaps if you're blessed with a spot of luck and the spirit of the season, you could win some decorations for yourself and your environment in the game's <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html">holiday contest</a>.<br />
<br />
The contest has two categories, for most festive costume and most festively-decorated base, with three winners per category. Prizes include hero and villain pins, some of the limited-edition <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> fifth-anniversary t-shirts, and a few other nice toys. All that's required for entry is to take two screenshots of your character's costume or your decorated base and submit them by January 3rd, which means that everyone in the game has both time an inclination to get into the spirit of things. Read <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html">the official rules</a> for more details, and get a little something back for your superhuman antics being seasonally appropriate.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/">City of Heroes offers holiday contest</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.cityofheroes.com/news/contests_promos/the_city_of_heroes_holiday_con.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19285343/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/city-of-heroes-offers-holiday-contest/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>coh</category><category>contests</category><category>costume</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>festive</category><category>holiday-2009</category><category>holiday-contest</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>paragon-city</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>rogue-isles</category><category>screenshot-contest</category><category>supergroup-base</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Life's Nascera now nascent]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a></p><p><a href="http://dwellonit-comic.taterunino.net/archive/82" style=""><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/tan-nascera1.jpg" /></a>Nascera, which we know sounds uncomfortably like nasal and viscera jammed together in some rather bizarre agglomeration, is the name for the new continent which is hosting <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/" style="">Linden Lab's experimental house and land incentives</a> for premium <a href="http://secondlife.com/" style=""><em>Second Life</em></a> users. The beta buildout is done and you can go see the results for yourself.</p>
<p>Mind you, if you already have rented or owned land in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life" style=""><em>Second Life</em></a>, the Nascera offering really isn't <em>for</em> you. You, like us, really aren't the target demographic. Nor is anyone we showed it to, which is probably why they all made those nasty faces when we did.</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Life's Nascera now nascent</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/">Second Life's Nascera now nascent</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=https://blogs.secondlife.com/community/land/blog/2009/12/15/linden-homes-are-open-for-viewing-on-nascera>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19283814/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/second-life-s-nascera-now-nascent/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>betas</category><category>business-models</category><category>economy</category><category>linden-lab</category><category>nascera</category><category>news-items</category><category>player-housing</category><category>second-life</category><category>sl-land</category><category>sl-premium-accounts</category><category>virtual-worlds</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tateru Nino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free Realms releases massive December patch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-realms/" rel="tag">Free Realms</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a></p><a href="www.freerealms.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/freerealms-bigupdate-epl-1215.jpg" /></a><br />
Like many free-to-play games, <a href="http://www.freerealms.com"><em>Free Realms</em></a> has seen <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/free-realms-officially-hits-5m-users/">pretty notable gains</a> with the <a href="http://westkarana.com/index.php/2009/11/04/free-realms-and-sturgeons-law/">occasional rough patch</a> -- not exactly a surprise when you consider how the year has in no small part been a renaissance for the business model. But love it or hate it, the game is still going strong, and is ending the year with its best foot forward. A <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/freerealms/posts/list.m?topic_id=14922">massive December update</a> has just hit the game, with a number of changes and additions to the entire experience. There's been an extensive combat overhaul, and -- hey, where are you going? <br />
<br />
Yes, okay, get the obvious <a href="http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com"><em>Star Wars Galaxies</em></a> joke out of your system, we can hardly blame you. But the changes here seem to be for the best, at least from the outside, with clearer labeling of stats and a more engaging experience all around. Even if you aren't enamoured of the combat changes, you can kick back in the new player housing, take part in the newly-added Fishing minigame, launch yourself into the sky or enjoy some of the many other additions in the game. Take a look at <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/freerealms/posts/list.m?topic_id=14922">the full list</a> for more details, and expect to clock a few extra hours in on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Free-Realms/"><em>Free Realms</em></a> if you're a fan of the game. <br />
<br />
[ Thanks to Brian for the tip! ]<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/">Free Realms December Patch</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/#2540747"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr_apartment-(1)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/#2540749"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr_apartment-(3)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/#2540750"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr_apartment-(9)_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/#2540752"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr_bedroom_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms-december-patch/#2540753"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/12/fr_unicorn_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/">Free Realms releases massive December patch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums.station.sony.com/freerealms/posts/list.m?topic_id=14922>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19281838/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/free-realms-releases-massive-december-patch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>apartments</category><category>combat-improvement</category><category>combat-overhaul</category><category>combat-upgrade</category><category>december-2009-patches</category><category>free-realms</category><category>free-realms-december-update</category><category>house</category><category>overhaul</category><category>patches</category><category>player-housing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wizard101 releases December patch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wizard101/" rel="tag">Wizard101</a></p><a href="http://www.wizard101.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/w101-newpatch-epl-1214.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br />
Fast turnarounds are always nice. It's been a little over a week since we <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/">posted the first news</a> about <a href="http://www.wizard101.com"><em>Wizard101</em></a>'s upcoming school-specific housing, and it's already moved from "upcoming" to "live." The December patch has <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/game/community/patchnotes">just been released</a>, and in addition to giving players the opportunity at having the literally hottest house around (among others), it brings a number of other improvements to the game's client. Most notable is the option to block chat from your opponents in PvP, a welcome feature to avoid the frequently non-stop boasting that seems to go hand-in-hand with the playstyle. It is an option that can be changed even in the middle of a duel, and while it's not game-defining it should be a welcome addition. <br />
<br />
Much of the <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/game/community/patchnotes">meat of this update</a> comes in the form of the team relentlessly hunting down bugs and squashing them, with a long list of prior bugs that are no more. The team even notes that some of the killed bugs are ones the majority of players didn't even know about. While the update is a little lighter on actual content compared to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/16/expanded-extracurriculars-in-wizard-101-update/">the last one</a>, fewer bugs and a better all-around experience are nothing to sneeze at, not to mention some exceptionally nice new houses. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Wizard101/"><em>Wizard101</em></a> players still have a few days until the main event, but they still got a nice early Christmas present.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/">Wizard101 releases December patch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wizard101.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19280484/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/wizard101-releases-december-patch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bugs</category><category>f2p</category><category>fixes</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>houses</category><category>housing</category><category>patches</category><category>updates</category><category>wizard-101</category><category>wizard101</category><category>wizard101-december-update</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[City building in Earthrise to allow autonomy for guilds]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/politics/" rel="tag">Politics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise/" rel="tag">Earthrise</a></p><a href="http://www.play-earthrise.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/earthriseconceptartstructure580.jpg" /></a><br />
One of the games we're looking forward to playing next year is <a href="http://www.play-earthrise.com"><em>Earthrise</em></a>, a post-apocalyptic MMO currently in development at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/masthead-studios">Masthead Studios</a>. At launch, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise"><em>Earthrise</em></a> will offer guilds a wide selection of buildings and facilities that can be built within their controlled territory. <a href="http://www.mastheadstudios.com">Masthead Studios</a> has bigger plans for city building and Territorial Conquest game mechanics post-launch, though. Long term goals for this aspect of guild-level gameplay include expanding options for guilds to become less beholden to the major NPC factions (and the cities of Continoma and Noir). <br />
<br />
Specifically, Masthead Studios would like for players to establish administrative buildings, which will provide some of the conveniences and features generally found only in NPC-held cities. According to the <em>Earthrise</em> devs, <em>"Administrative buildings will remove the requirement to visit cities even further by providing access to Market, Warehouses and more from inside the Guild owned territories." </em><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>City building in Earthrise to allow autonomy for guilds</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/">City building in Earthrise to allow autonomy for guilds</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums.play-earthrise.com/index.php?topic=5390.0>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19270710/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/city-building-in-earthrise-to-allow-autonomy-for-guilds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>city-building</category><category>continoma</category><category>earthrise</category><category>enterra</category><category>enterra-island</category><category>factions</category><category>guild-cities</category><category>guilds</category><category>masthead-studios</category><category>new-titles</category><category>noir</category><category>npc-cities</category><category>player-housing</category><category>post-apocalyptic</category><category>post-apocalytpic</category><category>qotw</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>territorial-conquest</category><category>territorial-control</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wizard101 school housing info and video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wizard101/" rel="tag">Wizard101</a></p><em><a href="http://www.wizard101.com"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="top" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/w101-housing-wpl-1204.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.wizard101.com">Wizard 101</a></em> isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's been doing quite well for itself and certainly delivers on the premise of letting players take on a wizard's role. Well... mostly, anyway. The player housiing has sadly been lacking options for some of the more eccentric wizards out there. After all, a nice townhouse is all well and good for some wizards, but what self-respecting fire wizard doesn't have a metal and stone deathtrap perched precariously over molten rock? Luckily for those players with similar tastes, the game will be <a href="https://www.wizard101.com/home2/game/page_8ad6a4042549788e0125579e1b5a060e">adding seven new styles of housing</a> in mid-December based on the seven schools of magic. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://westkarana.com/">Tipa at West Karana</a> has an <a href="http://westkarana.com/index.php/2009/12/03/wizard101-school-house-gallery-and-decorating-tips/">excellent galley of the houses available</a>, complete with decorating tips for some of the more challenging house arrangements like the cramped underwater house for (you guessed it) the Water school. <a href="http://mmoquests.com/">MMOQuests</a> also has a brief <a href="http://mmoquests.com/2009/12/03/wizard-101-class-housing-death-video/">video tour of the Death house</a>, which looks like something straight out of The Nightmare Before Christmas. And speaking of Christmas, the houses are slated to be priced at either 100,000 gold or 10,000 Crowns, the latter of which comes out to about $20. Not a bad price for a gift for your favorite <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Wizard-101/"><em>Wizard 101</em></a> player, when you get right down to it.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/">Wizard101 school housing info and video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=https://www.wizard101.com/home2/game/page_8ad6a4042549788e0125579e1b5a060e>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19265993/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/wizard-101-school-housing-info-and-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>house-galleries</category><category>housing</category><category>patches</category><category>player-housing</category><category>virtual-worlds</category><category>wizard101</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Linden Lab to test new house/land incentive for premium Second Life accounts]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.com/category/second-life"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/tan-sl-house-and-land.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>While the growth of <a href="http://secondlife.com/"><em>Second Life</em></a> new-user registrations remains steady, as do active users, the number of premium accounts in <a href="http://massively.com/tag/linden-lab">Linden Lab's</a> virtual world had entered into an accelerating decline, last time we had any data available to us. This is hardly surprising, as tweaks to the land-centric <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life"><em>Second Life</em></a> economy over time had largely eliminated the need for many users to have a premium-account.</p>
<p>The Lab is announcing the creation of a new continent (name and location not known at present), which will contain a number of unfurnished homes on 512sqm parcels of restricted-use land that do not share a border with the parcels of other users.</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Linden Lab to test new house/land incentive for premium Second Life accounts</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/">Linden Lab to test new house/land incentive for premium Second Life accounts</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19264990/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/linden-lab-to-test-new-house-land-incentive-for-premium-second-l/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>betas</category><category>business-models</category><category>economy</category><category>linden-lab</category><category>news-items</category><category>player-housing</category><category>second-life</category><category>sl-land</category><category>sl-premium-accounts</category><category>virtual-worlds</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tateru Nino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Runes of Magic spreads holiday cheer all around]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/runes-of-magic/" rel="tag">Runes of Magic</a></p><a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/rom-christmasevent-epl-1203.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
It's that time of the year again, something you could tell by stepping into any mall in the US where seasonal music is now being piped in all day long. There's a connection to be drawn between malls and <a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com"><em>Runes of Magic</em></a>, perhaps, since both want you to be ready and willing to buy -- but that doesn't mean <a href="http://www.frogster-interactive.de/">Frogster</a>'s game isn't willing to give you something as a bit of a present. A lot of games have holiday-themed updates, and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Runes-of-Magic/">Runes of Magic</a></em> is no exception, but they're pulling out a bit more than usual for this year's celebration.<br />
<br />
The update for the game scheduled for mid-December promises to be fairly standard -- holiday-themed decorations in the cities, along with the chance to earn gifts and festive decorations by completing daily quests. But the <a href="http://us.runesofmagic.com/us/content.php?show=events.adventcalendar">advent calender</a> is another story. Every day in December up to the 25th, a new piece of art is being put up for fans of the game to enjoy. The first three are already open, and the art work is certainly an attractive treat for the game's many fans. It might even entice you to stop in to the game itself and take a closer look at what they have to offer -- and it's better than going to the mall, since you won't have to listen to the Salvation Army band.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/">Runes of Magic spreads holiday cheer all around</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://us.runesofmagic.com/us/news,id575,whole_lot_christmas.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19264806/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/runes-of-magic-spreads-holiday-cheer-all-around/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>christmas-2009</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>frogster</category><category>holiday</category><category>in-game-events</category><category>news-items</category><category>player-housing</category><category>real-world-events</category><category>rom</category><category>runes-of-magic</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free Realms to introduce new job, pets, player housing and more]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-realms/" rel="tag">Free Realms</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/kids/" rel="tag">Kids</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/gallery/free-realms/2418165/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/11/freerealms_fishingjob-small-sms-1109.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The world of <a href="http://www.freerealms.com"><em>Free Realms</em></a> is about to get a bit bigger this holiday season as even more content is being added and improved for the game. According to <a href="http://www.station.sony.com/">Sony Online Entertainment</a>'s Creative Director for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-realms"><em>Free Realms</em></a>, Laralyn McWilliams, the game is about to see a new job, new job structure, new pets, player housing and more added by mid-December.<br />
<br />
We caught up with Laralyn to get a few more details on the upcoming improvements before the first stage of these updates goes live this week. Follow along after the jump for the complete interview, and in our gallery below for some exclusive screenshots of the new content.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/">Free Realms</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/#2418175"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/freerealmshouseexterior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Player Housing - Exterior" title="Player Housing - Exterior" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/#2418166"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/freerealms_houseinterior_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Player Housing - Interior" title="Player Housing - Interior" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/#2418165"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/freerealms_fishingjob_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/#2418168"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/freerealms_newpet_pony_thumbnail.png" alt="Pet Pony" title="Pet Pony" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/free-realms/#2418169"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2009/11/freerealms_newpet_spikedragon_thumbnail.png" alt="Pet Spiked Dragon" title="Pet Spiked Dragon" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Free Realms to introduce new job, pets, player housing and more</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/">Free Realms to introduce new job, pets, player housing and more</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19221039/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/free-realms-to-introduce-new-job-pets-player-housing-and-more/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>content</category><category>fisherman</category><category>fishing</category><category>free-realms</category><category>laralyn-mcwilliams</category><category>pets</category><category>player-housing</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Wormhole piracy 101]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/professions/" rel="tag">Professions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/raiding/" rel="tag">Raiding</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/endgame/" rel="tag">Endgame</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tips-and-tricks/" rel="tag">Tips and tricks</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/" rel="tag">EVE Evolved</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/08/piracy-titleb.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
If it seems like I've gone wormhole crazy lately, that's because I have. The wormholes that arrived with the Apocrypha expansion have <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/eve-evolved-have-wormholes-revitalised-eve/">infiltrated and enriched</a> many different aspects of <a href="http://www.eve-online.com"><em>EVE Online</em></a>, from exploration and corporate goals to small gang PvP and piracy. In previous articles, I looked at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/eve-evolved-gear-up-for-wormhole-exploration/">preparing for an expedition</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/">untangled the mystery of the Sleepers</a> and told the story of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/26/eve-evolved-just-another-week-in-the-sleepers-den/">a tense week for Total Comfort</a> alliance in the Sleeper's den. After a week spent hunting wormhole-dwellers for fun and profit, this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/"><em>EVE Evolved</em></a> is dedicated to the fine art of being an interstellar cut-throat as I delve into the world of wormhole piracy.<br /><br />Wormhole piracy is one of the few professions where small gang warfare is most prevalent. While many pirates have already begun <a href="http://www.eveonline.com/news.asp?a=single&amp;nid=3033&amp;tid=7">including wormhole systems</a> in their roaming gangs, our corporation (and I'm sure others) have come across a much more effective method. By setting up your own pirate <a href="http://eve-wormholes.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-space-occupied.html">staging base inside a wormhole system</a>, your corp can use its regular outgoing wormholes to wreak havoc in systems all across <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/"><em>EVE</em></a>. Using this method, it's possible to spring attacks on people without anyone even seeing you coming. Whether you're planning surprise attacks on 0.0 systems or hunting in the 2500 new unknown sleeper systems, wouldn't you like to run your own pirate way-station?<br /><br />Read on for an informative guide on using wormholes to wreak havoc around <em>EVE</em> and make a profit in the process.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Evolved: Wormhole piracy 101</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/">EVE Evolved: Wormhole piracy 101</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19127648/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/16/eve-evolved-wormhole-piracy-101/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>emergent</category><category>emergent gameplay</category><category>engineer</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-evolved</category><category>eve-online</category><category>featured</category><category>fourth circle</category><category>FourthCircle</category><category>gangs</category><category>guide</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>miners</category><category>nyphur</category><category>pillowsoft</category><category>piracy</category><category>pirate</category><category>POS</category><category>pvp</category><category>sleeper</category><category>sleepers</category><category>tips</category><category>total comfort</category><category>TotalComfort</category><category>wormhole</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Untangling the mystery of the Sleepers]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/making-money/" rel="tag">Making money</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/raiding/" rel="tag">Raiding</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/endgame/" rel="tag">Endgame</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/education/" rel="tag">Education</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/" rel="tag">EVE Evolved</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/07/sleeper-title.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
When <a href="http://www.eve-online.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">EVE Online</span></a>'s <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/eve-evolved-apocrypha-expansion-preview/">Apocrypha expansion was released</a>, details on how wormholes and the 2500 new systems that came with them worked were sketchy. The advanced Sleeper AI found protecting these systems were a force to be feared, unknown and mysterious. There were no guides, no stories of encounters on the forums and anyone that had <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/eve-evolved-have-wormholes-revitalised-eve/">mounted a successful expedition</a> was keeping their closely guarded secrets to themselves and raking in the ISK.<br /><br />My corporation (Pillowsoft) were among the first to launch their expedition, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/eve-evolved-gear-up-for-wormhole-exploration/">having previously prepared an Orca</a> with a medium POS, fuel, equipment and everything else we thought we'd need. We set up in an unknown system and explored this new frontier with a cautious optimism. Over the months that followed, we learned a great deal about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/"><em>EVE</em></a>'s new wormhole systems and the Sleepers that lived in them. After striking gold many times and making each of our expedition members over a billion ISK richer, we began <a href="http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&amp;threadID=1038042">telling our story and giving up those secrets we had been so careful to protect</a>. Today, a great deal is now known about the "unknown" wormhole systems and with ever more corporations launching their own expeditions, it's now more important than ever to research the Sleeper menace before venturing into the abyss.<br /><br />Join me for this extensive three-page article where I dole out the fruits of my research on wormholes and begin to untangle the mystery of the Sleepers.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Evolved: Untangling the mystery of the Sleepers</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/">EVE Evolved: Untangling the mystery of the Sleepers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19102948/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/19/eve-evolved-untangling-the-mystery-of-the-sleepers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>apocrypha</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>colonisation</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>exploration</category><category>featured</category><category>gravimetric</category><category>ISK</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>ladar</category><category>loot</category><category>magnetometric</category><category>map</category><category>mystery</category><category>POS</category><category>radar</category><category>secret</category><category>sleeper</category><category>sleepers</category><category>space</category><category>wormhole</category><category>wormholes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Darkfall gets a free expansion, adds new weapons, weather, and player housing]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/darkfall/" rel="tag">Darkfall</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing/" rel="tag">Player Housing</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.darkfallonline.com/expansion/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/07/darkfallexpansion580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
<div align="left">Exciting news comes out of the <a href="http://www.darkfallonline.com"><em>Darkfall</em></a> camp today as they unveil a brand new set of enhancements to the game, bundled together to form <a href="http://www.darkfallonline.com/expansion/"><em>Darkfall</em>'s first free expansion</a>. The update unleashes some massive changes, including the addition of weather, character specialization, new fancy weapons, PvE changes, and the big kahuna of additions, player housing.<br /><br />Of course when <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/darkfall"><em>Darkfall</em></a> adds <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/player-housing">player housing</a> it's not your average, cuddly player housing. Houses, in addition to being able to be built on all sorts of land outsides of cities, can be formed into small villages that can be owned by clans. Villages will generate taxes for the owning clan, making them quite lucrative. Every six hours these villages go into a free-for-all status, allowing enemy clans to come in and take ownership with requisite bloodshed.<br /><br />You want to know more? Of course you do! Check out the <a href="http://www.darkfallonline.com/expansion/">full patch notes</a> over at <em>Darkfall</em>'s main website.</div>
</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/">Darkfall gets a free expansion, adds new weapons, weather, and player housing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.darkfallonline.com/expansion/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19088233/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/darkfall-gets-a-free-expansion-adds-new-weapons-weather-and-p/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>crafting</category><category>darkfall</category><category>darkfall-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>free-expansion</category><category>patch</category><category>player-housing</category><category>pve</category><category>pvp</category><category>update</category><category>weapons</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Seraphina Brennan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
