Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you stay loyal to your MMO guild?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ultima Online wedding, my guild as honor guard, circa 1998
When I joined a guild in Ultima Online in 1997, I had no idea I was going to still be in a version of that guild almost 15 years later. Heck, I doubt I even realized that MMOs would still be a thing 15 years later! But from chatting with my fellow Massively staffers and you lovely readers, I've realized that my experience isn't shared by most people. Guilds implode. New games emerge. People move on. Drama develops. Real life happens. That sense of loyalty just isn't always worth the trouble. Guilds often exist to help members meet their goals in a single game, and when those goals are met, that's it -- it's over.

But I'll move to (and stay in) games past their expiration dates just to hang out with guildies. What about you guys? Are you loyal to a single guild or group of gaming friends, or do you drop from a guild when you drop out of a game, knowing you'll find new mates in the next big thing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you stay loyal to your MMO guild? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    brianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfantasyguildguildslord-britishloyaltymythicmythic-entertainmentopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoSat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    Paragon Market, CoH
    When Lord of the Rings Online first went free-to-play, Turbine put quest zones on sale for a song, and I missed it. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. City of Heroes character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like Guild Wars' storage panels, which I delayed buying for several years until they were half off).

    This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?

    Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcash-shop-salecity-of-heroescohdaily-grindguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatiencepatience-is-a-virtuetdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/#commentsFiled under: , ,

      Diablo III
      At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

      We got you started in Diablo III this week with our best tips, a guide for MMO players, details on the starter edition, videos, warm fuzzies, and friendly rivalries. Hopefully, that gave you plenty to read during all of the downtime. Ouch!

      Meanwhile, gamers everywhere looked on as the 38 Studios ship continued to founder. Early in the week, we learned that the studio might default on its state loan, leaving the debt to Rhode Island taxpayers. A few emergency meetings later, 38 Studios' employees' paychecks are going unpaid and the state governor is throwing out release dates for the seemingly doomed MMO Project Copernicus. But hey, flythrough video, right?

      More of the week's top MMO stories are prepped for your eyes after the cut.

      Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary

      MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Sanctuary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[One Shots: Lone wolf]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        One Shots
        Long-time Massively follower but first-time One Shots contributor Ilix sent along today's highlighted screenshot of Fallen Earth, which we think is quite timely, given the PvP revamp soon headed to everyone's favorite post-apocalyptic sandbox. He writes in,
        Fallen Earth is my top hard-RP MMO. Ilix, after three decades of isolation, attempted to fit in with a player-run town. But he was too rough-edged, too guarded, and still isolated in his mind, and he could not find joy among others. After several days trying to force himself back into what remains of humanity in the blasted terrain of the apocalypse, he admitted to himself that he could never return because he was too quick to anger, and he wandered off back into the desert. Irradiated scorpions haunt the land he wandered into, so he finds rest on the blade of a ruined helicopter's rotor, just out of reach of stingers. This shot defines the dual beauty and harshness of the life he resigns himself to.
        Ilix's gorgeous sunset is tucked behind the break along with two other One Shots shots!

        Continue reading One Shots: Lone wolf

        MassivelyOne Shots: Lone wolf originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblueholebluehole-studiosbring-back-one-shotscash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiien-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfallen-earthfantasyfefree-to-playg1galleriesgallerygamersfirstgothic-fantasymultiplayerone-shotsonline-multiplayerpics-or-it-didnt-happenpost-apocpost-apocalypticreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsroguelikerpgsandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotsterauser-submissionswastelandsSun, 20 May 2012 16:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

          Spirit Tales
          Forty million. That's how many fashion combinations Spirit Tales is boasting. Forget, for a moment, whether you are a fan of Anime-inspired MMOs and cutesy fare and consider that staggering number on its merits.

          I don't think players are really confused by a mind-numbing array of options. Heck, some of us live for cosmetic gear and could never get enough. But each one of these character tidbits was designed and modeled and textured and coded in by someone, and while we know that game development resources aren't wholly fungible, it's still true that money spent on pigtails and lollipop weapons and hats that look like snakes is money not spent on other features like housing and combat -- features more likely to be used by far more players than bunny ears.

          How much character customization is too much?

          Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            brianna-royce-tdgcharacter-customizationcosmetic-gearcustomizationdaily-grindfungibilityopinionresource-allocationsnakes-on-a-hatspirit-talestdgthe-daily-grindSat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST            <![CDATA[Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

            Betawatch - D3
            This week on Betawatch, we say farewell to Diablo III, which (at least nominally) moved on from beta to official launch on Tuesday. Bizarrely enchanting new MOBA SmashMuck Champions takes its place, joining our list with a closed beta planned within the month. We've also added MechWarrior Online to the alpha list, as reader mblakeman2001 rightly pointed out the game is in a friends-and-family beta!

            CCP has begun sending out DUST 514 beta keys and opened registration, and we've also learned that Blade & Soul will leave beta and launch in July... but only in Korea. Sadface.

            Finally, The Secret World's second beta weekend kicked off earlier today, but if you're not in it, you can content yourself with our hands-on with the game's combat and mission system.

            Enjoy the entirety of our Betawatch roundup post-cut!

            Continue reading Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012

            MassivelyBetawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>              alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST              <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

              ArcheAge
              Whenever the Great MMO Housing debate rears its head, the "of course MMOs ought to have housing" players usually drown out the curmudgeons who lack decorating skills and prefer to live out of their banks and sleep on a bedroll on the public streets (you know who you are!). And then, inevitably, the housing fans turn on each other over which type of housing is best.

              Some of us are resigned to the belief that, at best, themepark MMOs willing to take a stab at housing are forever going to implement the instanced variety a la EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online, so we may as well get used to it. But sandbox zealots (a term I'm intending affectionately) insist that housing must be open-world, that players should be able to walk up to their own unique spaces within a game and build their abodes from foundation to rooftop. Instanced housing, they say, is just pointless when other people can't easily see what you've created.

              What do you think -- is MMO housing just a waste of dev resources if it isn't open-world?

              Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

              MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihousehousinginstanced-housinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-worldopen-world-housingopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkMon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/mmo-week-in-review-its-a-conspiracy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                TSW
                At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                The Secret World is becoming less secret by the week, which is good news for potential players (and the one million beta applicants) who are curious about Funcom's next big thing due out in just over a month. This week, on the eve of the game's first beta weekend, Massively's own conspiracy-debunkers got some hands-on time with the Templars and the Illuminati and logged a few hours trying on tinfoil hats in the character creator. (Tinfoil hats sold separately.)

                The rest of this week's top MMO stories are lurking just beyond the cut.

                Continue reading MMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy

                MassivelyMMO Week in Review: It's a conspiracy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                  featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 13 May 2012 20:00:00 EST                  <![CDATA[One Shots: Woodland critters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

                  One Shots
                  TERA isn't quite two weeks old, but it's already offering up some spectacular views. Kromic on the Dragonfall server paused while riding on his mount to take this shot. He writes in,
                  While doing some exploring on my trusty steed in TERA, I found a great view of the capital city Velika.
                  His screenshot is just after the cut, along with three more images of woodland critters doing their duty to spice up our MMO scenery.

                  Continue reading One Shots: Woodland critters

                  MassivelyOne Shots: Woodland critters originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    a-tale-in-the-desertatitdblueholebluehole-studiosbring-back-one-shotsegenesisegypten-masseen-masse-entertainmenteq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhistoricalmythologyone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarasandboxscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttaletellingteratriontrion-worldsuser-submissionsSun, 13 May 2012 16:00:00 EST                    <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                    Public lottery kiosk in Japan
                    Western players gripe about random number generators, especially when it comes to cash shops. Many of us rebel against paying for lockboxes in Star Trek Online, TCG cards in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, and super-packs in City of Heroes because we want to buy a thing, not a chance at a thing.

                    Apparently, the idea annoys at least one government too. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that the Japanese government might crack down on social games that employ "konpu gacha" -- essentially a crafting mechanic that requires a succession of lottery-esque random rolls. To gather the random and rare items you need to craft the gizmo you really want, you wind up spending tons of real cash on a bunch of stuff you don't. Sound familiar?

                    I'm not a fan of legislative meddling in how fools and their money are parted, but I'm still wondering what you all think. Are these kinds of cash-shop tricks fair play, or do you think the genre would be better off without them?

                    Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcity-of-heroescohcrafting-lotterydaily-grindgachajapankampu-gachakampugachalockboxeslotterymicrotransactionopinionstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstosuper-packswgtcgtdgthe-daily-grindtrading-card-gameSat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST                    <![CDATA[Betawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/betawatch-may-5-11-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                    PSO2
                    The Spirit Tales open beta launched this week, bumping that game up a tier on our beta list. In fact, the game proved so popular that an additional beta server was added to accommodate the avalanche of fans of all things cute.

                    City of Steam has announced an alpha test for July, while Storybricks is accepting alpha signups for its alpha demo right now. Compounding the season's MMO drama is Phantasy Star Online 2, which is aiming to open up its beta early this summer.

                    The Secret World, with its 1,000,000 beta signups, is is kicking off its first beta weekend starting today. Meanwhile, Glitch's epic beta housing patch is finally upon us, World of Warcraft has unveiled cross-server grouping in the Mists of Pandaria beta, and Guild Wars 2 announced a surprise stress test for pre-purchasers this coming Monday.

                    Finally, if you're bored this weekend, why not check out Diablo III-rival Path of Exile? Tipsters Don and James report it's holding a public stress test starting right as this post is published at 8 p.m. EDT tonight.

                    The full Betawatch roundup lies in wait behind the break.

                    Continue reading Betawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012

                    MassivelyBetawatch: May 5 - 11, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      ]]>                      alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST                      <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

                      WoW
                      Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

                      But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

                      So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

                      Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        ]]>                        activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcosmetic-gearcosmetic-itemsdaily-grindfantasyopenraidopinionraidraidingroleplayroleplayingtdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST                        <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/mmo-week-in-review-seen-any-elves/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                        Any excuse for an Oblivion screenshot!
                        At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                        This week, all those terrible/wonderful rumors about The Elder Scrolls Online were proved true, thanks to a series of leaks and an official trailer that promises the world of Tamriel will soon be headed to an MMO near you. Even if you're one of those fans whose immediate reaction was terror and dread, you still have to be thinking that the genre could use another three-faction PvP game. Personally, I just feel sorry for the dev who has to design terrains for the province of Morrowind. Hope you like brown, bro!

                        Follow on for the rest of the week's top MMO stories.

                        Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Seen any elves?

                        MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Seen any elves? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          ]]>                          featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 06 May 2012 20:00:00 EST                          <![CDATA[One Shots: Sequelizin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/one-shots-sequelizin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                          One Shots
                          Massively reader Sharvis, a familiar name throughout our comment section, landed today's One Shots feature with a screenshot from the most recent Guild Wars 2 beta event for pre-purchasers. And it looks like he managed to figure out a way to see the Asura and Sylvari in NPC form, in spite of their absence from the test as playable characters. He writes in,
                          My Ranger, Leander Delmanos, overlooks the water beyond Lion's Arch in Guild Wars 2. He's accompanied by Snoots, his faithful bear companion, and two NPCs.
                          We've got more GW2 pics for this special One Shots edition after the cut!

                          Continue reading One Shots: Sequelizin'

                          MassivelyOne Shots: Sequelizin' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            ]]>                            anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsfantasygalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-submissionsSun, 06 May 2012 16:00:00 EST                            <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use mobile authenticators?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                            Pretty sure this dude is trying to steal your loot, and that's why you should get an authenticator.
                            A recent listener of the Massively Speaking podcast sparked a lively debate about the mobile authenticators that MMO companies are so fond of asking us to use as an extra layer of security for our accounts. He suggested that companies that encourage authenticators are doing so less for our security than for their own financial interests or responsibility -- after all, if I'm using an authenticator, they can save money on support and security staff. Our listener also pointed out that authenticators are annoying to the point that MMO studios sometimes have to bribe us with minipets and other goodies to get us to enroll, which suggests that maybe more people than we'd think avoid that extra tier of security.

                            What about you -- do you use mobile authenticators when they are available, and if not, how do you and the games you play safeguard your accounts?

                            Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                            MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you use mobile authenticators? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              authenticatorbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmobile-authenticatoropinionsafeguardsecuritytdgthe-daily-grindSat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST                              <![CDATA[Betawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/betawatch-april-28-may-4-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                              Betawatch (Glitch)
                              Beta launches numbered few this week, but Betawatchers were amply supplied with beta news. Glitch launched its new imagination system, we logged hands-on time with Firefall, Diablo III unveiled the Wizard and the game's TV spot, Storybricks kickstarted a Kickstarter promotion, The Repopulation promised a sandbox-worthy gear system, and the Guild Wars 2 gem store crept online.

                              We also say farewell to TERA this week as it's now out of beta and available in the West!

                              The full Betawatch roundup is tucked behind the break, ready and waiting to take over your weekend.

                              Continue reading Betawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012

                              MassivelyBetawatch: April 28 - May 4, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                ]]>                                alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 04 May 2012 20:00:00 EST                                <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sold out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/mmo-week-in-review-sold-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                GW2
                                At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                                Guild Wars 2's first prepurchase beta event ends in just a few short hours, bringing to a close what's probably the most hyped week in ArenaNet history. We were treated to new art, the Asuran starting experience, a tour of the offices, and details on world transfers. As if to taunt us about not-yet-public races, our own Lis Cardy delighted us with a look at the lore of the Sylvari, who swear they are trees and not elves.

                                Meanwhile, classic Guild Wars is celebrating its seventh year of operation with a big ol' party, which hopefully gave you something to do if you were one of the unlucky procrastinators whose beta dreams were partially dashed when ANet shut down GW2's digital prepurchase options temporarily on Thursday.

                                Enjoy the rest of our top MMO stories after the cut.

                                Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Sold out

                                MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Sold out originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  ]]>                                  featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 29 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                  <![CDATA[One Shots: Warped]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/one-shots-warped/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/one-shots-warped/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/one-shots-warped/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

                                  One Shots
                                  Massively reader Johanis delivered today's One Shots image, which features one of TERA's pegasi in flight. He tells us,
                                  Here is a shot of Honeynut, my TERA Archer, who was exploring during last weekend's open beta. While flying from one destination to another, she suddenly warped through one of many travel gates, and it was gorgeous. She emerged into a beautiful land just waiting to be explored.
                                  Enjoy Johanis' entry alongside a few others past the break!

                                  Continue reading One Shots: Warped

                                  MassivelyOne Shots: Warped originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    ]]>                                    biowareblueholebluehole-studiosbring-back-one-shotseaelectronic-artsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylucasartsone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortelonterathe-old-republictoruser-submissionsvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgSun, 29 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST                                    <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO studios owe us item restoration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                    SHINIES!
                                    MMOs vary widely in their account and item restoration policies. In some games, like some of NCsoft's offerings, if you're hacked or you lose access to your account because your memory is toast, it's game over unless you happen to have your original account key. In games like Lord of the Rings Online, you're not guaranteed full reimbursement of your money or gear if a hacker strips you naked and leaves you dancing on a mailbox. BioWare won't refund guild bank items stolen by rogue guildies, either.

                                    In World of Warcraft, you'll almost always get your account back if you're hacked or you accidentally delete your favorite hat, but it might take an agonizingly long time. This week, Blizzard launched a new item restoration service that attempts to solve the second problem by simplifying the process of reclaiming lost trinkets (though not items stolen by hackers). I was surprised that Blizzard considers this a problem worthy of automation, but maybe it's more common than I thought.

                                    So now I'm wondering whether companies are actually obligated to restore items we've lost through our own goof-ups. Do you consider this a vital service of a support team, and would you quit a game if your items were truly gone for good?

                                    Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do MMO studios owe us item restoration? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      account-restorationBlizzardbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinditemitem-restorationitemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftopinionreimbursementrestorationtdgthe-daily-grindturbineWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[Betawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/betawatch-april-21-27-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                      Betawatch - Tamer Saga
                                      Tamer Saga and Grimlands join Betawatch's closed beta list this week, while Pirate101 (arrrr!) and Dragon Crusade have been added to our alpha list. And if you were hoping to jump into Spirit Tales' open beta on Wednesday, you're out of luck: Koramgame has postponed that test until May 10th with a lengthy explanation.

                                      Want in on the Neverwinter beta? Prepurchasing Torchlight 2 through Perfect World Entertainment's portal will guarantee your spot.

                                      You're no doubt keeping a steady eye on both TERA, which has opened up its head start program in advance of launch next week, and Guild Wars 2, whose first beta event for prepurchasers began earlier today. EVE Fanfest attendees can now redeem their voucher codes for DUST 514 as well.

                                      Finally, reader Chet tipped us off to the rumor fact that Salem beta test invites are going out!

                                      Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup after the break.

                                      Continue reading Betawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012

                                      MassivelyBetawatch: April 21 - 27, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betaroundupsalemtamer-sagatestingFri, 27 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                        Keyboard
                                        I've recently returned to World of Warcraft and was surprised to find a much more complex game than when I left (contrary to popular lore in our comments). Several of the classes have been revamped mechanically to be far more interesting and layered, and new dungeon encounters are frequently among the best in the industry.

                                        At endgame, anyway. I realize that outside of heroics and raids and PvP, WoW (like many MMOs) aims for accessible simplicity, which is nice when you're just happily grinding away or teaming up with weekend warriors not looking for a stressful challenge. One of my mates even bragged about facerolling his way through the dungeon finder, and I had to wonder, do people really do that? Even if content is easy, I still try to play it "right." I'll still make sure I know how to play my character, probably because I'm terrified of being that person in a PUG -- you know, the one who makes people hate PUGs. But I have to admit that the idea of honestly just punching whatever buttons just to see if we'll still win has its own amusing charm (and a strange level of challenge too).

                                        Have you ever facerolled MMO content, literally or figuratively?

                                        Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                        MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcomplexitydaily-grinddumbing-downeasymodefacerollfacerollingfantasyheroicsopinionpugpugstdgthat-guythe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[Cryptic Studios issues security warning in response to database breach]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/cryptic-studios-issues-security-warning-in-response-to-database/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                        Cryptic
                                        Cryptic Studios, purveyor of Champions Online, Star Trek Online, and the upcoming Neverwinter, has just posted an ominous security warning on its official site. Its new security procedures have recently detected that hackers gained unauthorized access to a user database back in December of 2010. According to the studio,
                                        The unauthorized access included user account names, handles, and encrypted passwords for those accounts. Even though the passwords were encrypted, it is apparent that the intruder has been able to crack some portion of the passwords in this database. All accounts that we believe were present in the database have had the passwords reset, and customers registered to these accounts have been notified via e-mail of this incident.
                                        While Cryptic does not believe additional information (like player names and credit card numbers) was taken, it advises vigilance all the same and warns against phishing scams. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

                                        (Thanks to Geoff for the tip!)

                                        MassivelyCryptic Studios issues security warning in response to database breach originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        championschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosdatabase-breachdatabase-intrusionemail-scamf2pfree-to-playperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentphishingpwescamsci-fisecuritystar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuperherosuperheroesWed, 25 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think gear level should gate content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                                        I am a mod-junkie, but I wouldn't shed a tear to see DPS meters and Gearscore disappear.
                                        When I returned to World of Warcraft a few weeks ago, my more hardcore guildies were in a rush to show me the newest sights and latest dungeons. I don't blame them; they didn't want to run regular dungeons when they could be doing the shiniest heroic content and most cutting-edge encounters. But in modern WoW, one thing stood between us and that instant gratification: item level.

                                        Because I'd taken breaks from the game, my max-level Shaman had fallen behind in power as the seasons wore on. And that official item level stamped on her gear was more than just a marker that I wasn't elite; it literally gated the dungeons unless I sacrificed rewards (counterproductive) or got a bunch of new gear fast. It didn't take but a weekend or two to catch up, but it was still an annoyance that slowed everyone down, especially since my guildies were overpowered enough that a few more points on my gear weren't going to make or break our success. And while I understand that item level is a useful shorthand for judging your readiness for content, it's a bit disheartening to realize that gamers are being encouraged by the game to see each other only as a numerical gearscore.

                                        What do you think -- should items and item levels gate dungeons and other content?

                                        Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                        MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you think gear level should gate content? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeondungeondendgamefantasygategatedgated-contentgatinggearscoreitem-levelopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: To the pain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/mmo-week-in-review-to-the-pain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                        TERA
                                        At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                                        To everyone but legal scholars and fanboys, the ongoing NCsoft/TERA copyright duel probably seems beyond bizarre, but the latest bout was conducted this week through En Masse's bellicose official statements in response to media and fan concern over recent South Korean court proceedings, which confirmed the convictions of former Lineage 3 developers accused of taking assets and trade secrets to Bluehole Studios. Nevertheless, seemingly unhindered for the moment, TERA's launch marches onward with an open beta weekend, launch trailer, and prologue cinematic.

                                        Read on for this week's other top MMO stories.

                                        Continue reading MMO Week in Review: To the pain

                                        MassivelyMMO Week in Review: To the pain originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                          ]]>                                          featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 22 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                          <![CDATA[One Shots: City of who?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/one-shots-city-of-who/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                          One Shots - City of Heroes
                                          Massively reader Torch Light has a theory that someone at Paragon Studios is a Doctor Who fan, and I think he might be right -- and not just because the game boasts a Time Manipulation power set. Torch Light sent in today's featured image from City of Heroes' VIP testing servers along with this explanation:
                                          The beta for Issue 23 of CoH has just gone live with a new parallel world of spookiness. While exploring around, I saw a familiar (yet strangely colored) police box. Looks like Paragon called in an expert to help fix those wibbly wobbly timey wimey problems.
                                          The image isn't bigger on the inside, but it is after the cut alongside two more reader pics!

                                          Continue reading One Shots: City of who?

                                          MassivelyOne Shots: City of who? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                            ]]>                                            biowarebring-back-one-shotscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdoctor-whoeaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryissue-23its-bigger-on-the-insidelucasartsncsoftnight-wardone-shotsparagonparagon-studiosreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssarlaccsci-fantasysci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssegaspiral-knightsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteamsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortardisthe-old-republicthree-ringsthree-rings-designtortorch-lightuser-submissionsSun, 22 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST                                            <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                            Ultima Online - Believe it or not, this house I'm poking fun at right here is worth hundreds of dollars IRL. Location, location, location.
                                            Few MMOs nowadays launch with housing, and a vanishingly small number of those have fully customizable housing, the kind that lets you construct your house from foundation to tower, filling in floors, walls, and decor as you go. Ultima Online is one such MMO; it changed over its pre-fab buildings to customizable housing in the early aughts.

                                            Customizable housing in an open-world sandbox setting brings its own set of problems, however, starting with the reality that most players aren't taking time out of their professional architect day jobs to play the game. Consequently, most player homes are decked out in bold colors and tacky tchotchkes and cleverly placed roof tiles that spell "LOL." I don't know about you guys, but my real-life house doesn't have an Escher fountain and mounted fish hanging on the second-story facade (although perhaps it should).

                                            What do you think -- is customizable housing a tribute to creativity and freedom or an eyesore immersion-breaker inflicted ruthlessly on every passerby and neighbor? Is that freedom worth the pain?

                                            Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                            MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                              ]]>                                              brianna-royce-tdgcustomizable-housingdaily-grindeyesorehousingopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoSat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                              <![CDATA[Betawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/betawatch-april-14-20-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                              Betawatch - Otherland
                                              Three new games join Betawatch this week! The Tad Williams-inspired Otherland is now accepting alpha sign-ups; Aeria Games announced Waren Story with a beta sign-up and a trailer; and Gamania opened up the testing rolls for its newest MMO, Soul Captor.

                                              Meanwhile, heavy-hitters TERA and Guild Wars 2 are focusing on their impending beta weekends. TERA's first open beta weekend starts today, while Guild Wars 2 plans its first beta event for pre-purchasers next weekend.

                                              Finally, Blizzard will be closing down the Diablo III beta come Tuesday in preparation for launch next month. That means that today through Monday is your last chance to get it on the open beta!

                                              Read on for the full Betawatch roundup!

                                              Continue reading Betawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012

                                              MassivelyBetawatch: April 14 - 20, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                ]]>                                                alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 20 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What outdated game mechanic should be retired from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/the-daily-grind-what-outdated-game-mechanic-should-be-retired-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/the-daily-grind-what-outdated-game-mechanic-should-be-retired-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/the-daily-grind-what-outdated-game-mechanic-should-be-retired-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                Abandoned Lonely Phone Booths
                                                Returning to an old game is like hopping in a time machine and surveying the horrible mistakes made by MMO studios a decade ago. Forget those five guys who still murmur the word "permadeath" wistfully; we're talking corpse runs, vitae penalty, corpse looting, tank mages, experience loss, holy trinities, zone walls, hybrid class level penalties, and tree-top cities without railings, all as a matter of course for the games of the day. Nowadays, these mechanics are abandoned in a field somewhere by all but the most retro game studios.

                                                I have to wonder what we'll look back on in another 10 years with the same feeling of "wow, I can't believe anyone thought that was a good idea." Cash shops? Flying mounts? Faction-grinds? Classes? Skill bars? Questing? Tree-top cities without railings? (Seriously guys -- stop making those.) What game mechanic is so outdated and so abhorred that it should be retired from MMOs right now?

                                                Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                                MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What outdated game mechanic should be retired from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                ]]>                                                brianna-royce-tdgcorpse-runsdaily-grindexperience-lossflying-mountshybrid-exp-penaltykelethinopinionpermadeathseriously-kelethin-suckedtank-magestdgthe-daily-grindvitae-penaltyMon, 16 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                                <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: TORtanic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/mmo-week-in-review-tortanic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                                SWTOR
                                                At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                                                BioWare ought to be basking in the accomplishment of sending the much-touted Legacy update off on its maiden voyage, but instead, Star Wars: The Old Republic has been hindered by obstacles far worse than Titanic jokes. The studio cut ranked PvP from the patch at the last minute, and then a maintenance patch blooper took the servers offline for the better part of Friday. To its credit, BioWare is compensating players for the downtime, and if you're really lucky, you won't even need to be level 50 or grind Legacy points to receive said compensation.

                                                Sail on for an overview of the week's most popular MMO stories.

                                                Continue reading MMO Week in Review: TORtanic

                                                MassivelyMMO Week in Review: TORtanic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                  ]]>                                                  featuredjoystiqmassively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 15 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                  <![CDATA[One Shots: Internet spaceships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/one-shots-internet-spaceships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/one-shots-internet-spaceships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/one-shots-internet-spaceships/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                                  One Shots
                                                  EVE Online is one of those polarizing games that seems to spark debate at every mention, but even if you're not a fan of the game's mechanics, there's no denying that the game's visuals are breathtaking. Infamous EVE pirate Helicity Boson sent in today's highlighted screenshot with this note:
                                                  Today I come to you with an amazing screenshot taken during a joint operation with several of Shadow Cartel's friends who happened to have trapped an unsuspecting super capital pilot. The visuals were just... amazing. There are a few more on my site, machine9.net. I hope you'll share this with the world!
                                                  Helicity's screenshot and two more starship-themed pics are tucked behind the break!

                                                  Continue reading One Shots: Internet spaceships

                                                  MassivelyOne Shots: Internet spaceships originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                    ]]>                                                    bring-back-one-shotsccpccp-gamescrypticcryptic-studioseveeve-onlinef2pfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryinternet-spaceshipsone-shotsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotsspacespaceshipspaceshipsspreadsheets-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarshipstarshipsstouser-submissionsSun, 15 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST                                                    <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should MMOs bestow account rewards based on character power?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-bestow-account-rewards-based-on-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-bestow-account-rewards-based-on-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-bestow-account-rewards-based-on-cha/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                                    Quit standing around and get back to work leveling. This is a race to the endgame. Don't forget it.
                                                    A few months ago, we asked whether you prefer studios to assign vet rewards and similar bonuses to your accounts or your characters. But we've never asked whether you think games should grant out-of-game rewards to players whose accounts have characters of a certain level of power, and that's because it's so rare. In fact, I can't think of a game that's done so other than Star Wars: The Old Republic, which stunned just about everyone this week by announcing a free month of playtime to players who just so happened to have reached level 50, a plan amended yesterday to require instead a certain tier of legacy experience.

                                                    Cynical readers suggest that such a move panders to those most likely to leave (thus affecting subscription tallies) and betrays the loyalty of day-one veterans who play several lowbie characters rather than focus their attention on a single toon. After all, why should it matter how far your characters have progressed when you're paying the same monthly sub as everyone else?

                                                    What do you think -- do you want to see other studios dole out playtime and other rewards based on your character's level or gear or other arbitrary measurements of success and achievement?

                                                    Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                                    MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should MMOs bestow account rewards based on character power? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                      ]]>                                                      account-rewardsbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindeaelectronic-artsendgamelegacylegacy-rewardlevelsloyaltylucasartsopinionsci-fislap-in-the-facestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorSat, 14 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                                      <![CDATA[Betawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/betawatch-april-7-13-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                                      Betawatch - Glitch
                                                      Betawatch bids farewell to Tribes: Ascend this week; it's officially launched and shiny, and even better, it's F2P, so go get your pew on! If you're that one guy who just doesn't dig jetpacks, maybe try a free beta key for UFO Online, currently still in closed beta.

                                                      Meanwhile, fantasy MMO heavyweights Guild Wars 2 and TERA have been ramping up their beta hype with sneak-peeks, open beta plans, and pre-purchase kickoffs. If you're more into vampires, you'll be pleased to learn that Dark Legends has also rolled out to Android phones and Chrome. And finally, we've gotten another update from the Glitch folks about that game's impending housing revamp.

                                                      Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup!

                                                      Continue reading Betawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012

                                                      MassivelyBetawatch: April 7 - 13, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                        ]]>                                                        alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betafeaturedgame-testingglitchlaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 13 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                        <![CDATA[Dark Legends aims to make your vampire sparkle with a weapon giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/dark-legends-aims-to-make-your-vampire-sparkle-with-a-pair-of-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/dark-legends-aims-to-make-your-vampire-sparkle-with-a-pair-of-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/dark-legends-aims-to-make-your-vampire-sparkle-with-a-pair-of-ma/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                                        Dark LegendsWe posted yesterday that Dark Legends, the latest in a line of F2P mobile and browser-friendly MMOs from Spacetime Studios, is now officially up and running on Android systems and Chrome browsers. Today, Spacetime has a present for all you would-be vampires out there: a pair of rockin' weapons called Devastation Maces.

                                                        To grab yours, start up the game and either log into your existing account or create a new one. Make sure you're playing the character whom you want to receive the weapons because you can only grab these once per account! Zip through the tutorial missions and then head to the Spacetime Nexus from the main lobby screen. There, on the bottom right of your screen, you'll see a button for enterting a promo code. Enter the code massively20120410 and find your maces waiting for you in your character's inventory.

                                                        The code has unlimited uses, so everyone who wants one can use it, but do note that it will expire eventually, so snag that gift sooner rather than later. Many thanks to Spacetime Studios -- have fun!

                                                        MassivelyDark Legends aims to make your vampire sparkle with a weapon giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                          ]]>                                                          androidchromecontestcontestsdark-legendsgiveawaygiveawayshorrormobile-mmospacetimespacetime-studiosvampiresThu, 12 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST                                                          <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When do you consider a game to be 'dying'?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-consider-a-game-to-be-dying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-consider-a-game-to-be-dying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-consider-a-game-to-be-dying/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                          Image
                                                          If you listen to internet negativity, every game is dying. World of Warcraft is dying, some folks say, because it's lost a fraction of its population after seven years. RIFT is "obviously" pushing out tons of content only because it's desperate and dying. Two million players and queues in Star Wars: The Old Republic also mean the game is dying. A game goes free-to-play? Dying. Keeps a subscription? Dying. Box on sale? Dying. Moves to Steam? Dying. Merges servers? Dying. Doesn't merge servers? Dying!

                                                          It's true that some games have gone under, but many more are hanging in there after a decade, even if they aren't blockbusters that impress people used to seeing populations in the millions. If World of Warcraft dwindled to as few players as, say, Asheron's Call, I still wouldn't call that dying. It might be small, but it's still alive and still getting updates, and that's more than I can say for some games.

                                                          What about you -- when, exactly, in a game's timeline do you consider that game to be dying?

                                                          Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                                          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When do you consider a game to be 'dying'? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                            ]]>                                                            acasherons-callbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddyingf2pfree-to-playmergemergesnegativityopinionpopulationqueueriftserver-mergestar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscriptionswtortdgthe-daily-grindtorWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                                            <![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/mmo-week-in-review-pax-on-pax-off/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                                            PAX East 2012
                                                            At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

                                                            This week, Massively sent four feisty writers to PAX East 2012 to bring back interviews and impressions of the games on offer, and boy did they ever deliver! We got hands-on time with The Secret World, World of Warplanes, SMITE, PlanetSide 2, TERA, Neverwinter, Firefall, Guns of Icarus and Dungeons and Dragons Online... and we're not finished yet!

                                                            Read on for a roundup of this week's other top MMO stories!

                                                            Continue reading MMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off

                                                            MassivelyMMO Week in Review: PAX on, PAX off originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                              ]]>                                                              conconventionexpofeaturedjoystiqmassively-metametapaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-exporounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 08 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                              <![CDATA[One Shots: A new dawn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/one-shots-a-new-dawn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/one-shots-a-new-dawn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/one-shots-a-new-dawn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                              One Shots
                                                              One Shots is making a tentative return in its new format and timeslot this weekend! Kicking off the screenshot-madness is Johanis, who's delivered a gorgeous shot of what looks suspiciously like a sparklepony in RIFT (and seriously makes me want to resub). He writes in,
                                                              I wanted to share a picture of Samya, my level 20 Mathosian Mage in RIFT. This particular shot was taken just as she had received her achievement awarded for climbing to the highest mountain in Silverwood. I had to climb quite a few mountains before I hit this spot, and the view made the climb worth it. Just beautiful. She was also quite proud to be riding her newly acquired Nebula mount, which she earned during the current Carnival.
                                                              Johanis' screenshot, along with a few other gems from this week, is just behind the cut!

                                                              Continue reading One Shots: A new dawn

                                                              MassivelyOne Shots: A new dawn originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                ]]>                                                                bring-back-one-shotsdiscworlddiscworld-mudfantasygalleriesgallerymudone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarascreenshotscreenshotstriontrion-worldsuser-submissionsSun, 08 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST                                                                <![CDATA[WRUP: Ransom edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

                                                                Ransom
                                                                PAX East is holding Eliot hostage! We've just learned that the infamous Boston gaming con is planning to force Eliot, Matt, Lis, and Karen to play video games for money indefinitely. But don't worry; I'm sure you guys can have Eliot and his Dadaist commentary back once I get those cookies. I mean, once PAX gets those cookies. Yeah.

                                                                In the meantime, let's do this WRUP thing after the break! We'll talk about what we think of beta weekends and what we're playing, and then you can do the same using our brand-new comment system that so totally doesn't have any bugs (see, I can be absurd like Eliot!).

                                                                Continue reading WRUP: Ransom edition

                                                                MassivelyWRUP: Ransom edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                  ]]>                                                                  featuredmassively-metametaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST                                                                  <![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want realism or awesome?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-realism-or-awesome/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                  Tribes Ascend
                                                                  I realize that any discussion of realism in MMOs can quickly devolve into absurdity, but bear with me. I was recently involved in a discussion between some guildies of mine who were extolling the virtues of Tribes: Ascend over more realistic FPS games. "It's the jetpacks," they told me. In a realism-driven FPS, there's an emphasis on physics and gravity, but in Tribes, it's all about the jetpacks and learning how to fight effectively while using one. The fun of a game like that is in how awesome it is to break realism, not in how true-to-life it might be.

                                                                  Pure MMOs are no different. Many games make compromises along the spectrum of reality, especially when it comes to travel: In some games, we're grounded, forced to use a horse or our own two feet to make our way across the world; in others, we teleport via magical contraptions or leap tall buildings in a single bound. So riddle me this: When it boils down to it, what do you prefer to be the guiding principle of your MMOs -- realism or awesome?

                                                                  Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

                                                                  MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you want realism or awesome? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                    ]]>                                                                    awesomebrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindfpsjetpacksmmofpsopinionrealismsuper-jumptdgthe-daily-grindtraveltribestribes-ascendSat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST                                                                    <![CDATA[Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/betawatch-march-31-april-6-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                                                    Betawatch (Star Conflict)
                                                                    This week on Betawatch, we say farewell to Seven Souls Online and Blacklight Retribution, both of which have now launched officially. In their place, we've added two new games to keep an eye on: Star Conflict, a PvP-oriented space-combat MMO, joins our open beta list, while Grecca, a 2-D sandbox MMO, earns its city-building self a spot on our (open) alpha list.

                                                                    Meanwhile, Spirit Tales announced an open beta date of April 25th, TERA kicked off its final closed beta weekend with a look at what open beta will entail, and Ensemble Online reached out for Kickstarter funding for its beta.

                                                                    Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup beyond the break.

                                                                    Continue reading Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012

                                                                    MassivelyBetawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                      ]]>                                                                      alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betaensemble-onlinefeaturedgame-testinggreccalaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betarounduptestingFri, 06 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                                      <![CDATA[The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                      MMO Report
                                                                      This week on The MMO Report, Casey tells everyone to stop whining about Mass Effect 3's ending, laments the loss of the "online" part of Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online, touches on the World of Darkness keynote, and outlines The Secret World's preorder plans. He also reveals the identity of one of TERA's key voice actors: Michael Hogan (of Battlestar Galactica fame), who will play Samael in the final game. Finally, he pulls one measly letter from the mailbag and debates which class he represents in TERA.

                                                                      Enjoy the full MMO Report after the cut!

                                                                      Continue reading The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition

                                                                      MassivelyThe MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                      ]]>                                                                      blueholebluehole-studioscasey-schreinerccpccp-gamesdark-millenniumdark-millennium-onlinedmoen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfactionfantasyfuncomgothichorrorhumormass-effect-3me3michael-hoganmmo-reportmythologynewsopinionroundupsamaelsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsupernaturalterathe-mmo-reportthe-secret-worldtswvampirevampiresvideovideosvigilvigil-gamesvoice-actorvoice-overwar40kwar40k-dmowarhammerwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlinewarhammer-40kwarhammer-40k-dark-millennium-onlinewhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessThu, 05 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST