Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[Unicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons: WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/unicorn-poop-beer-cans-and-housing-dungeons-wildstars-jeremy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/unicorn-poop-beer-cans-and-housing-dungeons-wildstars-jeremy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/unicorn-poop-beer-cans-and-housing-dungeons-wildstars-jeremy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Unicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2
"This is going to be the best game most of us have built in our lives," Carbine Studios Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney said bluntly.

The game in question, of course, is WildStar, and it represents Gaffney's 10th or so trip through the beta development chute on the way to release. There's an undeniable note of pride and calm confidence in his voice as he talks about the baby that's growing inside Carbine's womb right now, and he was definitely not shy in opening up about all of the decisions and work the team's made as WildStar heads into its second trimester... er, closed beta test.

Before that, however, Gaffney provided a recap of the first closed beta test. He said that it was pretty limited, with only 2,000 players testing out the lowbie Exile zones. The team moved some of the elder game content down in level so that people could test it out, and developers spent some time doing impromptu Q&A sessions with players in the field. As a result, Carbine is ready to shift over to the Dominion side and greatly expand the beta in size and content. Read on for the full scoop on what the next step will entail.

Continue reading Unicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons: WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2

MassivelyUnicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons: WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsbetabeta-testbeta-testingcarbinecarbine-studioscb2closed-betaclosed-beta-2dominiondungeonfeaturedhousinghoustoninterviewinterviewsjeremy-gaffneymodsncsoftplayer-housingpreviewpreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fitestingwildstarwsWed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Getting from place to place in WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-nexus-telegraph-getting-from-place-to-place-in-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-nexus-telegraph-getting-from-place-to-place-in-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-nexus-telegraph-getting-from-place-to-place-in-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are so many things wrong with that space blimp that I'm not sure where to start.
Nexus is a big place. We saw last week what it's going to be like getting from spot to spot in a smaller sense with last week's overview of movement, but there's more to movement in WildStar. After all, there are a lot of zones stretched out over big chunks of land, and even if you're sprinting as much as you can you'll eventually find that you can't traverse an entire continent by foot, much less the ocean.

No, for this sort of transport you need something more robust. You'll need vehicles, both personal and otherwise. You'll need boats, you'll need ships, you'll need something that can move faster than you can move even if you can jump out of a dodge. But a lot of what you need will depend upon what the game's layout looks like, so it's time to fire up the speculation machine and ask some questions, starting with those of location.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Getting from place to place in WildStar

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Getting from place to place in WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedmobilityncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphtransporttransportationwildstarzonesMon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: How WildStar has the power to move you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/massively-exclusive-how-wildstar-has-the-power-to-move-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/massively-exclusive-how-wildstar-has-the-power-to-move-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/massively-exclusive-how-wildstar-has-the-power-to-move-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I fly through the air with the greatest of ease, then land with a cracking sound from both my knees.
Movement does not normally seem like a complicated topic in MMOs. You press forward; your character goes forward. Backward? Same deal. You can turn, and you can strafe, and you can turn and strafe and run forward if you're some kind of rebel or you want to give yourself motion sickness. But WildStar makes movement a bigger deal than normal because with a greater emphasis on action comes a greater emphasis on moving out of the path of danger.

The latest official video covers all the basics of movement, from dashing to sprinting to pining for the presumably nonexistent quadruple jump. But we had a chance to sit down with lead combat systems designer Chris Lynch and lead class designer Hugh Shelton to talk about more of the specifics, starting with the obvious question: What beast must we slay to unlock the all-powerful quadruple jump?

Wait, that wasn't it. It was about chaining movement tricks together in an endless cycle of airborne dashes.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: How WildStar has the power to move you

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: How WildStar has the power to move you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatcarbinecarbine-studiosdashingdodgingfeaturedinterviewinterviewsjumpingmomentummovementncsoftphysicsplacementsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsFri, 10 May 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New WildStar video is all about smooth moves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/new-wildstar-video-is-all-about-smooth-moves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

He's either angry or getting up after a nap. I give even odds either way.
Movement is always important in MMOs; you can't get into arguments about who's standing in the fire if everyone is rooted in place, after all. Since WildStar is promising active combat, it needs to have even more movement than normal so that you can find new and exciting ways not to stand in new and exciting sorts of fire. And the newest DevSpeak video is all about that.

"That" being movement. Not new and exciting sorts of fire. It's still pretty much normal fire.

Some elements will be immediately familiar to anyone who has played a video game on a computer within the past decade. Some elements are a bit more uncommon, like double-jumping or giving every class access to a quick dashing roll. And some elements, like switching positions with a target by tearing a hole in space itself, are pretty well unique. Take a look at all of them just past the break.

[Source: NCsoft press release]

Continue reading New WildStar video is all about smooth moves

MassivelyNew WildStar video is all about smooth moves originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdodgingdont-stand-in-the-fireexplorationjumping-puzzlesmovementncsoftnewsobstaclessandparksci-fantasysci-fivideovideoswildstarwsThu, 09 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: What the Luminai mean for WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-nexus-telegraph-what-the-luminai-mean-for-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-nexus-telegraph-what-the-luminai-mean-for-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-nexus-telegraph-what-the-luminai-mean-for-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Looking closer sometimes means the light just becomes more blinding.
I spend a lot of time playing around with theories about lore. I can't do a whole lot more in regard to playing with WildStar at the moment, so that works out well anyway, but I do enjoy throwing out theories and seeing what sticks. Sometimes that invalidates earlier theories I had in the process, but that's the business.

This week I don't want to invalidate something I already speculated upon but build upon a previous column. People seemed to like my musings on what the deal is with Nexus, but even as I was writing that column, I noticed one screaming problem: The Luminai don't fit.

Obviously the Luminai are kind of a big deal, what with their addition marking the creation of the Dominion and all that. These guys are important, and their creation was obviously intentional. But they still prompt some questions because they don't serve an obvious purpose in the larger scheme of things.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: What the Luminai mean for WildStar

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: What the Luminai mean for WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundbackstorycarbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedlorencsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 06 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Maybe he just has allergies.
Making a new discovery on Nexus is always sort of a double-edged sword. The good news is that the Exile Academy of Science has discovered all sorts of fascinating details about the Thundercall Pell race living in the south of Galeras. The bad news is that some of this has come about as a result of discovering strange energy readings emanating from the caverns known as Stormtalon's Lair and the loss of a science team investigating the region, meaning that WildStar players will have to go in and deal with whatever ate the team that went in the first time.

The latest WildStar Wednesday sheds some light on this early dungeon, explaining the motivations behind the inhabitants of the Lair and some of the mysteries still surrounding them. Players will be tasked with fighting their way into the depths, stopping the Thundercall High Priest from awakening the eponymous Stormtalon. Which means you'll probably arrive just in time to fight Stormtalon before it gets free, because really, how else could this end?

MassivelyWildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetascarbinecarbine-studiosdungeondungeonsncsoftnewspreviewpreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Respecting the NDA on WildStar's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-nexus-telegraph-respecting-the-nda-on-wildstars-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-nexus-telegraph-respecting-the-nda-on-wildstars-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-nexus-telegraph-respecting-the-nda-on-wildstars-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There are probably some dark secrets in there, and you know what? I don't need to know them! I'm all right with those staying secret.
Carbine Studios is holding all of the cards for WildStar and those of us not in the beta just have to wait. Which is beyond frustrating. We have to sit back and let things slowly come out of the official PR machine, and no matter how fast we get new revelations, they're never fast enough. The temptation to look for someone willing to peel back the veil is immense because it beats pressing against the glass and waiting to find out more.

But the NDA is there for a reason.

Speaking as someone who isn't in the beta but is still talking about the game on a weekly basis, I will be the first to point out that waiting for official information is often like waiting for a solar eclipse before doing even the most basic tasks. It's frustrating, slow, and irritating. The problem is that the alternative -- wherein we just jump on every new piece of leaked information -- isn't good, and it comes out worse in the end.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Respecting the NDA on WildStar's beta

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Respecting the NDA on WildStar's beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetascarbinecarbine-studioscolumncontextfeaturedinformationncsoftndanexusnexus-telegraphopinionrevealsrevelationssandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 29 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's Crimson Isle detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/wildstars-crimson-isle-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/wildstars-crimson-isle-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/wildstars-crimson-isle-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

WildStar's Crimson Isle detailed
Carbine has released a few info nuggets on Crimson Isle, one of the locales players will visit in its upcoming WildStar sci-fantasy MMO.

The Isle is far off the beaten path and boasts rocky terrain as well as deadly wildlife. In other words, it's shaping up to be an adventurer's paradise. The news blurb gives us a general overview of the location as well as intel on enemies (unidentified humans, designation Species CI36) and allies (the Crimson Isle Strike Team).

Read all about it at the WildStar website.

MassivelyWildStar's Crimson Isle detailed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscrimson-islencsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-crimson-islewsFri, 26 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's lead PvP designer on differentiation and dynamics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/wildstars-lead-pvp-designer-on-differentiation-and-dynamics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/wildstars-lead-pvp-designer-on-differentiation-and-dynamics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/wildstars-lead-pvp-designer-on-differentiation-and-dynamics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Draken are just suited to PvP. And any sort of combat, really.
Wildstar features a huge world, a variety of wildlife, an in-depth housing system, a variety of questing mechanics... but for some players that's just not the interesting part. No, the interesting thing is finding out how you can take up arms against a fellow player. A new interview with lead PvP designer Jen Gordy sheds some light on the game's PvP mechanics and how the designers are using this side of the game to continue encouraging players to play the game how they want.

There will be two PvP-centric stats on the game, one to improve damage to other players and one to decrease it. The development team is also including features like the ability to minimize the duration of a stun once you've been hit to avoid having PvP matches boil down to a race to incapacitate the other side. But both PvP and PvE are meant to still work toward the same whole -- things that you get on one side will be useful on the other, freeing you to explore the game aspects you find the most rewarding. Read the full interview for more details on how you can cut down your fellow players for glory and (presumably) profit.

MassivelyWildStar's lead PvP designer on differentiation and dynamics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosinterviewinterviewsjen-gordyncsoftplayer-vs-playerprogressionpvppvp-statssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsWed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Dissecting WildStar's surprise patch notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-nexus-telegraph-dissecting-wildstars-surprise-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-nexus-telegraph-dissecting-wildstars-surprise-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/the-nexus-telegraph-dissecting-wildstars-surprise-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Broadcasting high-fidelity surprises straight into your brain.
After I penned my last installment of The Nexus Telegraph, two things happened in very quick succession. The first is that a set of beta patch notes for WildStar were leaked to the internet by some unscrupulous individual, which prompted me and many other players to immediately shout that we wouldn't have leaked the notes if we had been selected. And there's an entire article to be written about why such an action isn't cool, how it harms the game, and why the persion responsible is a particularly toxic form of "fan."

But then the second thing happened. The powers that be over at Carbine Studios, being infinitely cool themselves, decided to save people the trouble of deciding whether or not to look at the leaks. They posted the notes themselves, which means that I can now read the notes and actually write a column about them.

Of course, as with any patch notes, we've been given an incomplete picture and can make only a few haphazard guesses about how the game will look. We also know that this is not even close to the final state of the game. But there's still interesting stuff here worth analyzing and speculating about.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Dissecting WildStar's surprise patch notes

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Dissecting WildStar's surprise patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-patchbeta-patch-notesbetascarbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionpatch-notespatchessandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar chronicles closed beta metrics and milestones]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wildstar-chronicles-closed-beta-metrics-and-milestones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wildstar-chronicles-closed-beta-metrics-and-milestones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/wildstar-chronicles-closed-beta-metrics-and-milestones/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

wildstar dev blog
Last night, WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney posted up a dev blog recapping the first days of the game's closed beta, which you are likely not in. We feel for you; we're not in either. Who is in? An Aurin by the name of Poptart, who became the first closed beta tester to make her way through character creation and set foot on Nexus. The first player-created UI mod, a friend-finding tool, was also whipped up within 24 hours. (Massively broke the news on how WildStar's modding system will work back in February.) And apparently, the Algoroc zone is a nasty place; it boasts four of the nine mobs most responsible for player death.

Gaffney offers up these metrics for humor, but he's actually serious business about data parsing and player feedback even as he wants the early invitees to enjoy themselves:
We're tracking almost everything that goes on in the game. Combat timings, level timings, movement, you name it. The players' actions matter to us. Betas aren't always fun per se (there's often a big difference between "playing" and "testing"), so we've tried hard to make sure the game is actually fun even in this, our very first round of external testing.
Tester feedback, he says, is funneled to straight to a rapid response team to deal with on a daily and weekly basis. And if testers don't submit that feedback? "One player actually found that some taxi drivers in a fit of generosity would give you money for flying to your destination instead of taking it and spent four hours riding back and forth," Gaffney admits. "We left him with 50 copper of the 14 gold he farmed as thanks for making us laugh."

MassivelyWildStar chronicles closed beta metrics and milestones originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingcarbinecarbine-studiosclosed-betadev-blogJeremy-Gaffneymetricsncsoftpoptartsandparksci-fantasysci-fitestingwildstarwsThu, 18 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar composer releases several new music tracks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-composer-releases-several-new-music-tracks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-composer-releases-several-new-music-tracks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-composer-releases-several-new-music-tracks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WildStar composer releases several new music tracks
If you're bummed because you haven't gotten one of the golden tickets to WildStar's beta yet, at least you can get an earful of what testers are experiencing. Composer Jeff Kurtenacker has posted 12 tunes from the upcoming MMO on SoundCloud for everyone to enjoy.

While some of the tracks have already been heard, quite a few are new. Among these are the Dominion theme, a couple of combat loops, and the Deradune zone theme.

Give the tracks a listen and let us know how you like the sound of WildStar is shaping up! While you're at it, check out Massively's interview with Kurtenacker regarding the creation and recording of this score.

MassivelyWildStar composer releases several new music tracks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscombat-musicdominionJeff-kurtenackermusicncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiscoresoundtrackthemetrackswildstarwsTue, 16 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wildstar releases beta patch notes after NDA leak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-releases-beta-patch-notes-after-nda-leak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-releases-beta-patch-notes-after-nda-leak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/wildstar-releases-beta-patch-notes-after-nda-leak/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wildstar M30 patch notes
Since the Non-Disclosure Agreement means pretty much nothing these days, when players (or gaming media...) violate that NDA, they usually get a slap on the wrist and a stern look from across the internet. Or in the case of Wildstar's recent beta NDA leak, everyone wins!

And by win, I mean everyone gets to see the newest beta patch notes. As community manager Troy "Aether" Hewitt explains, "So with a mind towards fairness to those people who have maintained that trust, we're taking the leak public in an official capacity. No, we won't be doing this every time. Yes, we want to remove the person/s who leaked this information from beta. Yes, we want to avoid future leaks."

You can read the complete M30 patch notes (in an official capacity) on Wildstar's site.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]

MassivelyWildstar releases beta patch notes after NDA leak originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacarbinecarbine-studiosm30ncsoftpatch-notessandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsTue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's puppetmasters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-puppetmasters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-puppetmasters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-puppetmasters/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You thought we had done all of this for your benefit. You were half right.
What do the Eldan want?

It's a reasonable question. In the backstory of WildStar, the Eldan are the progenitors and the ultimate source of all the conflict that's out there. They hold all the secrets to the planet Nexus, they are the source of the technology our characters will use, and they are the ultimate starting point. The Dominion may maintain its galactic stranglehold, but the Eldan gave them that imperative.

And they are not answering their calls.

WildStar players have been keeping a careful eye on bits of lore, and intrepid fan InnocentCivilian took the opportunity to write up a great compilation on what we know about the Eldan so far. It's enough to get you thinking about what the Eldan are all about, and it led me to ask a few questions, ones that have obvious answers that make me wonder just what we'll find on Planet Nexus.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's puppetmasters

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's puppetmasters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundcarbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedlorencsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 15 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar explains how MMO servers work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/wildstar-explains-how-mmo-servers-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/wildstar-explains-how-mmo-servers-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/wildstar-explains-how-mmo-servers-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WildStar explains how MMO servers work
Welcome, class, to MMO Servers 101! Your professor today is Carbine Studios Lead Network & Database Engineer David Ray, and he's here to give a technical overview of how MMOs set up and run their servers. Please take notes. While Ray won't reveal all of Carbine's secrets, his explanation should be sufficient if you're curious as to how an average MMO sets up its backend.

If you're expecting an article that reveals WildStar's server rulesets, specific regions, or other practical player concerns, then this is not for you. However, it is a frank and fascinating look at the guts of the ship that runs MMOs, and considering that Ray has worked on both the space shuttle and other MMOs, we suspect that there's a good chance he knows what he's talking about.

MassivelyWildStar explains how MMO servers work originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacarbinecarbine-studiosdaemondavid-rayncsoftrealmsandparksci-fantasysci-fiserverserver-architectureserversshardshardswildstarwsFri, 12 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Massively's guide to sandboxes
Welcome to Massively's guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond. I've collected the essential details on all the major sandbox titles releasing this year and in the near future in one easy-to-reference article. If you're wondering whether ArcheAge forces you to PvP, or if you can't tell The Repopulation from Origins of Malu, this is your post.

I'll be updating it as game features are added, removed, or revealed, so be sure to use the comments to let me know if I've overlooked a particularly noteworthy item. Finally, I want to point out that this isn't an exhaustive list because of the sheer number of sandbox projects ongoing. For now, I'm choosing to focus on the ones that will be playable in 2013/2014 as well as the projects that have a big-name developer attached.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-sandbox-guide2013-sandboxesaaabove-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesaction-mmoage-of-wulinage-of-wushuagonarche-agearcheageasiaavataraventurinecarbinecarbine-studioschinachinesechinese-mmochris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingcrypticcryptic-studiosdangerousdarkfalldavid-brabendfdndeliteelite-dangerouseqeq-nexteqneverquesteverquest-nextf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrontierfrontier-developmentsgame-mechanicsgpotatogvginternet-spaceshipinternet-spaceshipskickstarterkidnappinglord-britishmartial-artsmassivelys-sandbox-guideming-dynastyncsoftneverwinteropen-pvpopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvppwerepopulationrichard-garriottsandboxsandbox-guidesandparksarsci-fantasysci-fishroudshroud-of-the-avatarsnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesome-assembly-requiredsony-online-entertainmentSOTAspacespaceshipspaceshipsstar-citizenthe-repopulationwildstarwswushuwuxiaxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar begins beta testing [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/wildstar-begins-beta-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/wildstar-begins-beta-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/wildstar-begins-beta-testing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WildStar begins beta testing
Saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words," the WildStar team has posted a picture of the team with the caption of "IT HAS BEGUN" in obvious reference to beta testing.

Yesterday, the team foreshadowed the onset of testing by tweeting, "We had Chinese food for lunch today, and our fortune cookie read: The person that keeps an eye on their spam filter will surely be rewarded."

Players interested in participating in WildStar's beta can sign up on the official site.

Update: A representative of Carbine Studios emailed us saying, "We have already seen a phenomenal response from our fans and are looking to continually add thousands of players throughout closed beta test 1 to come check out the great content we've been talking about for months. Our closed beta testing process is not a typical weekend event, but instead it will last for several weeks, giving players ample time to come in and check out the factions, races and classes they may choose to play when WildStar launches later this year."

MassivelyWildStar begins beta testing [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-has-begunbeta-testingcarbinecarbine-studiosclosed-betait-has-begunncsoftndasandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 10 Apr 2013 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: A speculative look at WildStar crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/the-nexus-telegraph-a-speculative-look-at-the-crafts-of-wildsta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/the-nexus-telegraph-a-speculative-look-at-the-crafts-of-wildsta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/the-nexus-telegraph-a-speculative-look-at-the-crafts-of-wildsta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So it's like the turbo version of SWTOR's item modification? I'm down with that.
Sometimes my plans coincide perfectly with real-world events. Last time I wrote this column, I planned to talk about crafting, and then on Friday WildStar gave us a look at some of what we can expect in the system. Admittedly, we don't yet know how the whole circuit board system plays into crafting or what "one of two systems" means, but we can speculate, can't we?

Before anyone asks, let me say that no, I had no forewarning or advance preview. I'm just pleased that everything came together by coincidence.

So right now we know that the circuit board interface is the basis of one of the crafting systems in the game, and we know how the circuit boards in general work. That's enough to make some reasonable guesses. Let's start by guessing at a system in which you sidestep the entire process of finding the best stats on the best items by just making it from scratch.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: A speculative look at WildStar crafting

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: A speculative look at WildStar crafting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumncraftingcrafting-mechanicscrafting-systemfeaturedgame-mechanicsitem-modificationmodificationncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphwild-speculationwildstarMon, 08 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar explains gear modding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/wildstar-explains-gear-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/wildstar-explains-gear-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/wildstar-explains-gear-modding/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar goes gear modding in new dev diary
For those who love cracking open a good piece of gear to fiddle and fine-tune the insides, then WildStar is proud to present the so-called Circuit Board Crafting System. A new dev blog over at Carbine Studios explains how gear modding (and later, crafting) will take place on a special CBC interface that breaks down the item into connected components.

Each piece of gear has several slots for microchips and a power budget that is used to limit what can be put into the item. These microchips come in different varieties, from power amplifiers to attribute boosters to special ability chips.

Many, but not all, microchips can be extracted from the gear to put somewhere else or to mod directly. However, the team is preparing a number of random stat and locked microchips that will make creating the perfect item a challenging proposition. The team wants players to have to make "really interesting decisions" in their gear modding, promising more information later on as to how CBC will work with crafting.

MassivelyWildStar explains gear modding originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscraftingdev-blogdev-diarygeargear-moddingitem-moddingmodmoddingncsoftprimussandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsFri, 05 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar dev diary dishes on arena PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/wildstar-dev-diary-dishes-on-arena-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/wildstar-dev-diary-dishes-on-arena-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/wildstar-dev-diary-dishes-on-arena-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

This is a WildStar PvP arena
Did you know that WildStar has PvP? I didn't, but then again I only started paying attention after the PAX East housing reveal.

As it turns out, one of WildStar's "elder games" is arena PvP. The game's latest dev diary outlines 2v2, 3v3, and 5v5 matches, and it also mentions a unique wrinkle or two. For instance, WildStar arenas aren't single-elimination but rather a series of slugfests wherein each team tries to get the opponent to use up its allotment of respawns.

There's more, of course, but you'll need to head to the WildStar website to read it.

MassivelyWildStar dev diary dishes on arena PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-pvpcarbinecarbine-studiosi-play-elder-games-in-a-smoking-jacketncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-arenawildstar-pvpwsWed, 03 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST