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 Secret World ARG launches as social experience winds down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-secret-world-arg-launches-as-social-experience-winds-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-secret-world-arg-launches-as-social-experience-winds-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-secret-world-arg-launches-as-social-experience-winds-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Secret World
The Secret World's Secret War social experience has run its course and come to a close after an exciting five weeks. More than 250,000 people participated in the war, rallying to the cause of their chosen secret society, filling forums with discussion and theories and welcoming each new War Challenge as it was rolled out. Along the way, players have been unlocking items for use in TSW, with a special few winning the opportunity to have their name in-game and an even more special few winning a trip to visit the dev team.

But that's the past, and now the glorious present awaits you. Three new videos have made their way onto The Secret War's page and each one holds a clue. The clues lead to different puzzles (one for each secret society) for players to solve. That's about all there is to know about these puzzles so far, but we're promised that they are "the start of a very exciting adventure" for participants -- so pull out your tinfoil hats and get crackin'!

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World ARG launches as social experience winds down originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    alternate-reality-gameargfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologysci-fantasysecret-warsecret-war-facebooksecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-warthe-secret-worldtswvideoThu, 24 May 2012 20:30:00 EST    <![CDATA[Blizzard talks Diablo III hotfixes, delay of real-money auction house]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/blizzard-talks-hotfixes-delay-of-real-money-auction-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/blizzard-talks-hotfixes-delay-of-real-money-auction-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/blizzard-talks-hotfixes-delay-of-real-money-auction-house/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    DIII
    In a post on the official Diablo III forums earlier today, Community Manager Nethaera addressed a few of the concerns that have been brought up in the game's momentous first week.

    Neth first linked to an up-to-date list of hotfixes that have been implemented thus far. For the spoiler-wary among you, be warned that if you haven't completed the game on Normal difficulty, some of the hotfixes might be spoilerific. Now that you're thoroughly warned that there may be spoilers, head on over to the list of hotfixes if you dare. Neth also advised players that additional server maintenance will be required in time and that there's a game patch inbound for sometime next week.

    She also took the time to address the real-money auction house. Although Neth states that the service is "coming soon," it's been delayed due to post-launch difficulties. The team apparently needs "a bit more time to iron out the existing general stability and gameplay issues" before the real-money auction house is ready for launch. Players shouldn't expect the auction house to be ready in May despite initial plans for it to go online on the 22nd, and there wasn't a solid date to look forward to.

    Neth went on to assure players that neither D3 nor Battle.net servers have been compromised, despite all the hubbub about security concerns that's been filling the air the last few days.
    In all of the individual Diablo III-related compromise cases we've investigated, none have occurred after a physical Battle.net Authenticator or Battle.net Mobile Authenticator app was attached to the player's account, and we have yet to find any situation where a Diablo III player's account was accessed outside of "traditional" compromise methods (i.e. someone logging using an account's login email and password).
    She reminded players to exercise constant vigilance by practicing smart password management, scanning for malware and viruses regularly, and generally being savvy.

    MassivelyBlizzard talks Diablo III hotfixes, delay of real-money auction house originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-hotfixesdiablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhotfixesmultiplayernethaeraonline-multiplayerreal-money-auction-houseroguelikerpgsecurityThu, 24 May 2012 20:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[Perfect World International's end-game gets imperially furious]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/perfect-world-internationals-end-game-gets-imperially-furious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/perfect-world-internationals-end-game-gets-imperially-furious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/perfect-world-internationals-end-game-gets-imperially-furious/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    Perfect World International and the Case of the Glowing, Three-Headed Wurm
    It is a truth universally acknowledged that an MMO in possession of an experienced player-base must be in want of more end-game. In honor of that, and in response to heavy player demand, Perfect World International is getting a sizable update. PWI: Imperial Fury will introduce the brand new Advanced Endless Universe dungeon, changes to existing dungeons, and a whole passel of other improvements.

    Players are charged with retrieving the Perfect World City Essences within the Advanced Endless Universe dungeon. This dungeon, which will be accessible six times per week, will present one of three variations of itself upon entry. All three variations are distinctly different, and all three will require significant effort and coordination for successful completion. Hard work does not go unrewarded, however, as completion is rewarded with a chance box containing either a brand new skill book or a stack of potent consumable buffs -- and as both the boxes and their drops can be traded, you can always sell anything you don't want for yourself.

    Lunar Glade and Warsong City have received a design facelift, had their difficulty ramped up and their rewards increased -- rewards that include materials for upgrading the most powerful gear (at present) in the game.

    A temporary and intermittently-recurring NPC, the Aurora Agent, will allow characters over level 80 to trade Tokens of Luck for a chance to get rare and powerful items. There will also be new Bounty Hunter bosses, improvements to Phoenix Valley, more ways to gain Prestige, improvements to player-enemy targeting, the return of Secret Passage to its "more carebear-friendly roots," and more. So suit up and get ready to kick imperial hiney!

    MassivelyPerfect World International's end-game gets imperially furious originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    advanced-endless-universeadvanced-endless-universe-dungeoncarebear-friendlydungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playimperial-furylunar-gladeperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpwepwiwarsong-cityWed, 23 May 2012 23:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[The Old Republic interview on patch 1.3 covers LFG, perks, and gear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-old-republic-interview-on-patch-1-3-covers-lfg-perks-and-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-old-republic-interview-on-patch-1-3-covers-lfg-perks-and-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-old-republic-interview-on-patch-1-3-covers-lfg-perks-and-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

    SWTOR
    Star Wars: The Old Republic is gonna get some mighty fine updates with the onset of patch 1.3. Game Designer Daniel Erickson had a chat with PC Gamer to shed some light on the changes in the upcoming patch.

    Players in SWTOR don't like standing still. As Erickson says: "You can craft on the move, run [war zones] from anywhere, and basically never slow down -- except when looking for a group." To put an end to that difficulty, 1.3 will include a LFG interface that players can use to find a pick-up group to run with (except for Hard Mode Operations, which aren't really designed for uncoordinated PUGs). The tool won't work cross-server, but that's because the dev team is looking to move to servers with a much, much higher population cap in the near future.

    The patch will add new perks to the legacy system, most of which are aimed at customizing the way players level their alts. With a high enough legacy and enough credits, players could use XP perks to skip side quests altogether, although Erickson points out that that there are perks for Bonus Series quests that may tempt players to visit planets they've previously left alone.

    The last bundle of tidings of great joy for the patch is directed at gear. There's a fine balance between freedom of dress and the importance of visual distinction, and SWTOR aims to find it by allowing "social gear" to be worn anywhere. Additionally, "almost every single item in the game" will get customization options thanks to augment slots. Players can use augment slots on gear to add, well, augments, which will allow them to further customize their character and playstyle.

    MassivelyThe Old Republic interview on patch 1.3 covers LFG, perks, and gear originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    1.3biowaredaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsinterviewinterviewslegacylucasartspatchpatch-1.3pc-gamersci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdateupdate-1.3Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[ArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/arenanet-confirms-no-beta-for-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

    Guild Wars 2 concept art
    In response to increased agitation among impatient fans, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein graced the Guild Wars 2 Facebook page with a bit of confirmation: There will be no beta weekend event this coming weekend. This stretches the BWE schedule longer than the one-per-month that the team is trying to adhere to, but Kerstein included some explanation that will hopefully keep fans from panicking.
    Our BWE1 was super successful, we exceeded our expectations. As some of you might have experienced first hand, this lead to some technical issues. To make sure we are not running into the same situation for BWE2, we recently had a stress test, and we are currently deploying a lot of additional hardware in our datacenters.

    We will be able to tell you exactly when BWE2 will take place as soon as all the hardware has been deployed.
    While this wasn't met with glee by most fans, the news does allow folks to carry on with their lives and make full use of the upcoming holiday weekend. Moreover, the wait will likely be worthwhile, as additional hardware to support the player flood that will descend on the data centers for the next BWE will mean greater enjoyment for more people.

    MassivelyArenaNet confirms no beta for this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    anetarenanetbetabeta-weekend-eventbweBWE2community-team-crushers-of-dreamsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftTue, 22 May 2012 19:45:00 EST    <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/flameseeker-chronicles-touring-the-snowden-drifts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

    Guild Wars 2
    I pretty much went all Norn for the stress test last week. Alone (like a true Norn), I ventured to the highest, loneliest peaks of Snowden Drifts, swam in the darkest ice caves, and faced the largest metric crap-ton of Sons of Svanir imaginable.

    As my Necromancer slid what felt like the nine hundredth Son off of her dagger blades, I took the time to look around soak up the view; there's nothing quite like rallying three times in a fight against a whole passel of renegade Norn to make a girl really appreciate the scenery.

    Say what you will (and this being the Internet, many folks do) about whether or not having to zone between maps is, like, the ultimate sign that the game isn't truly "massively multiplayer," but each and every map we've seen so far in Guild Wars 2 is packed to the brim with excitement.

    Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts

    MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Touring the Snowden Drifts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      anetarenanetfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgalleriesgalleryguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftnornopinionscreenshotscreenshotssons-of-svanirTue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

      Order and Chaos
      In honor of the game's paper anniversary, Order & Chaos: Online producer Arnaud Bonnard took the time to do some Q&A with user-submitted questions about what is one of the biggest mobile MMOs available.

      Arnaud shared some of the toughest parts of development, which were the pressure of creating a world vast enough to entertain players for months (and now years) and ensuring that everything was as stable and functional as possible from a technical point. He followed up by reliving the joy of a successful launch and the success that the game met with over time. He talked a bit about updates and DLC, which come out every one or two months and are generally still drawn from the original design document for Order & Chaos: Online, given that the world design was much bigger than could possibly fit into the game originally.

      Bonnard also addressed the server separation between Android, iOS, and Mac devices: Not only would it be time-consuming to link all the operating systems, but such a system would mean that patches could only be deployed once every device was supported, which would be tricky and cause too many extra delays. As far as Order and Chaos' future is concerned, he's optimistic. There are new graphic features coming down the pipe as well as "lots of ideas for the game" as the company looks forward to another fantastic year thanks to fan support.

      Catch all the intricacies of Bonnard's answers for yourself over at Gameloft.

      MassivelyOrder and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      arnaud-bonnardGameloftmac-mmomobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineSat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[TERA goes on special sale on Amazon, comes with shiny mask]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/#commentsFiled under: , ,

      So I just learned what TERA actually stands for. I'd always assumed it was 'tiny elim, RAHHHH ACTION'
      We've told you previously about Amazon's special limited-time MAYhem sales, but the news just keeps getting better. Today TERA is on sale at 50% off (and it will be again on May 26th), bringing it down to a delectable $24.99 for the standard edition and $29.99 for the collector's. What's more, folks who purchase between now and May 28th will get treated to an "Olive Bandit Mask," an exclusive new facial customization feature.
      The olive bandit mask is a subtle bit of headwear for essential outlaw occasions. This mask disguises your identity while enhancing your reputation as a figure of mystery. Don't get caught without your exclusive olive bandit mask while out adventuring in the world of TERA. Better yet, don't get caught at all.
      If you're kicking yourself for missing out on a free goodie because you purchased the game already, fear not! Any Amazon customers who've previously bought the Digital Download of TERA will have the item code automagically placed into their Games and Software Library. Amazon's aiming to reward its loyal users by making sure that all such unique content is offered to all customers. That means that anyone who purchases now will also be eligible to receive any future unique promotional items.

      If you've been waiting for a price-drop to take a running jump into the world of TERA, it just may be that now's your time, especially since there's nothing cuter than a Popori in a bandit mask.

      [Source: Amazon press release]

      MassivelyTERA goes on special sale on Amazon, comes with shiny mask originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        amazonblueholebluehole-studiosdigital-downloaden-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygedditMAYhemolive-bandit-masksaleteraSat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        The Elder Scrolls Online: the Ebonheart Pact
        The flashlight of knowledge has already been directed at two of The Elder Scroll Online's three main political factions, and now the third is getting a little time in the light. We've already told you about the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion, and today Game Informer is closing out ouroboros with the third faction, the Ebonheart Pact.

        The alliance that makes up the Ebonheart Pact was first forged after an Akaviri invasion, when the Nords and Dunmer banded together and then cut the Argonians in on the friendliness in order to find safety in numbers. While the Aldmeri Dominion is bent on conquering and ruling, the Ebonheart Pact is really just an attempt to stay alive in a world of invasions and power struggles.

        The Dunmer, also called Dark Elves, call the familiar lands of Morrowind home. Skyrim, which a few folks may have heard of thanks to a rather underground game that came out last year, is home to the militant and cold-resistant Nords. The reptilian Argonians, or Saxhleel as they like to call themselves, come from the Black Marsh, also known (by way of total coincidence, I'm sure) as Argonia. They share the area with the Hist, a race of sentient trees, and all matter of poisonous and malicious critters and plants.

        If you need help keeping all the names straight (the Nords are also referred to as children of the sky, by the way, although apparently that's an informal title), be sure to read the full profile.

        MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        argonianbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftchildren-of-the-skydaggerfalldark-elvesdunmerebonheart-pactelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefactionmorrowindnordoblivionplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxsaxhleelskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST        <![CDATA[Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

        Age of Empires Online
        Gas Powered Games is aiming to take Age of Empires Online out of DLC-supported free-to-play and into a truly free model. That means moving away from what Systems Design Lead Eric Williamson described as "more of a free to try" model and implementing a system through which players can earn points to unlock anything that could be more quickly bought with money. In anticipation of this change, PC Gamer sat down with Williamson and Design Lead Steve Bauman for a chat about some of the philosophy behind the change.

        Williams said that their hope is that people who were previously turned off by the imperative that they spend money for full in-game advantage will be willing to give it another go. Players will now be able to earn enough points to unlock a premium civilization in "as short as two or three weeks of daily play," so those who spend the most time in-game will reap the greatest reward. Empire points, the purchase resource that will be gained by either money or in-game achievement, will be earned by players as they complete specific campaign quests, level up, and participate in Alliance Contests.

        MassivelyAge of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        age-of-conanAge-of-EmpiresAppleeric-williamsonf1pfree-to-playfttgas-powered-gamesmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosrobot-entertainmentsteve-baumantruly-freeFri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[EVE Insider gets into the nitty gritty of the new ally system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

        Evil Pair of Ducks v. Pair of Ducks: FIGHT
        In a never-ending effort to facilitate the spread of war and destruction, the good folks at CCP have cooked up an Ally System for EVE Online's upcoming Inferno expansion -- a system that will enable players to put their services on hire or find a buddy to join them in a war. In a dev diary update today, the system was brought out into the light and displayed in detail.

        Wars you're engaged in will show up in the Our Wars tab (under the Wars tab, under the Corporation tab in your Neocom), as will any wars that you're an ally in. If you're a CEO or Director, you can list yourself as Open For Allies and decide whether or not to accept offers for help -- which you should expect, naturally, to come at a price. Negotiation of prices can be carried out through normal communication channels, as the current UI allows you only to accept or decline the offer.

        If trouble hasn't found you and you want to spice things up, the All Wars tab is the place for you: It's a list of, well, all active wars, with information like who's asking for an ally and wars with one or more allies. By default, the list shows the 50 most recent wars, but it's also searchable by corporation/alliance. There's an "Assitance requests only" box that you can check to speed up the sword-selling process. Once you've made an offer, possibly done some negotiating, and been accepted, you'll be counted as an ally, although you'll have to wait 24 hours to start fighting.

        The purpose of this system is to give more options to defenders, introduce some risk for attackers, and provide ways for mercenaries to support themselves. There's a whole list of extra rules and explanation over on the blog proper, so be sure to check it out.

        MassivelyEVE Insider gets into the nitty gritty of the new ally system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        allyally-systemccpccp-gamesceos-and-directors-have-all-the-fundefenderseveeve-onlineinternet-spaceshipsmercenaryour-warssandboxsci-fisophisticated-war-systemsspreadsheets-onlinewarFri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[GameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/gamestop-earnings-call-adds-to-guild-wars-2-release-date-specula/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        Image
        Since players aren't tremendously happy with ArenaNet's answer of "when it's ready" every time the question of the Guild Wars 2 release date comes up, any hint of further clarification is something to be prized. As a game retailer, dates are the sort of thing that come up in GameStop's earnings calls. Covering the Q1 conference call released today, Gamespot has CFO Robert Lloyd stating that Guild Wars 2 has been bumped out of the current quarter, putting its release sometime after July. It's worth noting that as of this posting, GameStop's online listing still had the Guild Wars 2 release date as June 26th.

        As has been repeated countless times by ArenaNet devs, no information should be treated as official unless it's directly from them. Don't let that stop you from pulling out your favorite tinfoil hat and cooking up some speculations, though.

        MassivelyGameStop earnings call adds to Guild Wars 2 release date speculation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        anetarenanetearnings-callfantasygamespotgamestopguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftreleaserelease-date-speculationrobert-lloydrumormongersoon-TMThu, 17 May 2012 16:30:00 EST        <![CDATA[WildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/wildstar-thursday-brings-the-metal-maw-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        WildStar Metal Maw
        Metal Maw, the brain child of a live drawing session conceived at last year's Gamescom, is featured once again in this week's WildStar "Wednesday" -- and this time he's not just some concept art or a 3-D model but a fully animated death-bringer! Along with a test video featuring the big guy in action, this week's blog post has some information about the team's considerations in bringing him to life.

        This destructive blue hulk is designed for about 15 level 6 players to fight at once and should give them about a three-minute battle. His abilities are designed so that things get steadily more interesting as the fight progresses. Now that the team's happy with the way he fights, Metal Maw's been put in a crate and shipped on over to the animation and effects team to get his final beauty polish before being totally ready for players in-game.

        Skip below the cut to see the big guy in action!

        Continue reading WildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action

        MassivelyWildStar Thursday brings the Metal Maw action originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        carbinecarbine-studiosdont-believe-the-liesmetal-mawncsoftpreviewsandparksci-fantasysci-fithis-was-SO-posted-on-thursdaytrailertrailersvideovideoswildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsThu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        The Elder Scrolls Online - Daggerfell Covenant
        Three alliances control the political scene in The Elder Scrolls Online's Tamriel, and Game Informer is taking a closer look at all of them, starting with the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion.

        The Daggerfell Covenant is made up of the Orcs (also called Orsimer), Bretons, and Redguards -- although the latter two are coming out of something of a love-hate relationship, with a history of as much internal conflict as external. Apparently time does heal all wounds, though, because the three races have worked out a democratic system of mutual love and respect. The Orcs and Bretons call the beautiful land of High Rock home, while the Redguard are based in Hammerfell.

        The Aldmeri Dominion is a more hostile power composed of the Altmer, the Bosmer, and Khajiit and intent on total domination. Also known as Wood Elves, the Bosmer call Valenwood home (surprise: It's a heavily wooded area) and enjoy tramping through forests, living in harmony with nature, and building cities in migratory trees. The Altmer, or High Elves, can be found in the little-known Summerset Isles. The Khajiit, who missed out on the alternative name lottery, live in Elsweyr, whose climate is ideal for the cultivation of Moon Sugar.

        Got all that? Study up, there'll be a test. Feel free to read the full profiles, and keep an eye out for Ebonheart Pact information on Friday.

        MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        aldmeri-dominionbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldaggerfell-covenantelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinegame-informerhigh-rockmorrowindoblivionplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[Pathfinder Online kicks off a Kickstarter video series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/pathfinder-online-kicks-off-a-kickstarter-video-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/pathfinder-online-kicks-off-a-kickstarter-video-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/pathfinder-online-kicks-off-a-kickstarter-video-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

        Pathfinder Online Technology Demo
        Pathfinder Online's Kickstarter page got a video update today: the start of a promised "behind the scenes" glimpse of the goings-on at Goblinworks. The video is all about Mark Kalmes, Goblinworks' Chief Technology Officer. Kalmes is introduced as something of an industry veteran, having his hands in the City of Heroes, Champions Online, and World of Darkness pots as he progressed through his career. It was during the WoD years that he met Goblinworks CEO Ryan Dancey, and... well, you can hear the story for yourself in the video.

        Along with talking a little bit about himself and how he became part of the Pathfinder Online team, Kalmes says a bit about the company's goal (to "go into beta as quickly as possible, start getting a few people in the game, and then start building the game that they enjoy") as well as his hopes for the game and its development.

        This video is the first in a series of introductions to team members and their roles within Goblinworks. Keep tabs on the project's Kickstarter page (where if you're especially passionate, you can still donate even though the team has reached its goal and then some) for further updates!

        MassivelyPathfinder Online kicks off a Kickstarter video series originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        fantasygoblinworkskickstarterkickstarter-videomark-kalmespathfinderpathfinder-onlinepnpryan-danceysandboxsandparktechnology-demoWed, 16 May 2012 09:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/flameseeker-chronicles-dynomatic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        Guild Wars 2 concept art: Centaurs from hell
        After the first mostly-open beta weekend event, reaction to the dynamic event system of Guild Wars 2 is mixed. Some people see it as the revolution of gameplay that was promised, others think it's a refreshing and solid system, and others feel that it falls short. All of those are fair, although it mightn't be hard to guess that I don't share all of those opinions.

        Some people expecting the dynamic event system to be the trumpet that would herald the arrival of the salvation of the MMO world were rather let down. There've been a couple of bits of confusion about the nature and scope of dynamic events, so let's look into them.

        Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic

        MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Dynomatic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          anetarenanetcolin-johansondedynamic-eventsdynomaticfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionpveravious-makes-a-good-pointTue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[TERA prepares for political machinations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/tera-prepares-for-political-machinations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/tera-prepares-for-political-machinations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/tera-prepares-for-political-machinations/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

          TERA
          If you've thought that a bit of political campaigning and intrigue was all that was missing from your complete enjoyment of TERA, have we got good news for you. It's almost time for the vanarch election wheel to start a-turnin', so start polishing your speeches!

          Players elected to the vanarch position will reign for three weeks over their province. Vanarchs get to turn their whimsy into mandate by setting and collecting taxes and choosing which specialty shops to open up. They'll also be accruing fame (or infamy) for themselves and their guilds. Of course, not just anyone is worthy to rule o'er the masses: In order to be eligible, candidates must be the leader of a level three guild with at least 20 members, must have reached at least level 50 on their character, and must pay a fee of 3,000 gold and 100 Catharnach Awards.

          Sound like you? Registration for vanarch candidates opens up on Friday, May 18th, at 9:00 p.m. EDT and runs 'til Friday, May 25th, at 9:00 p.m. EDT. After registration week comes a week of voting, and then three weeks of sweet, sweet power. Registration for the following reign opens up in the second week of the on-going vanarch's office, so if you're interested in getting to the top and staying there, you don't have a lot of time to rest on your laurels.

          If the mantle of power isn't made for your shoulders but you still want to flex your political muscle, be sure to vote! Each game account gets one vote per continent on a given server. Are your fingers itching for a ballot? Next week TERA's game guide will be updated with some more juicy details on the political system. Knowledge, after all, is power.

          MassivelyTERA prepares for political machinations originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          blueholebluehole-studioselectionen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasypoliticsterav-for-vanarchyvanarchvanarch-electionvanarchyFri, 11 May 2012 20:30:00 EST          <![CDATA[Brace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/brace-yourself-the-guild-wars-2-stress-test-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

          Guild Wars 2
          The ArenaNet team is rallying the troops for a Guild Wars 2 stress test this coming Monday. While the existence and details of the test were already known, Rubi Bayer has added a note to participants to the game's Facebook page. The goal of the stress test is to see how the servers handle concentrated activity, so she gave a few tips on how best players can help the company during the short test. No simulation or prediction can ferret out as many problems as letting thousands of players loose on a game, so Rubi encouraged players to pile on the servers, find bugs, and be patient as they, well, find bugs.

          The test will run on Monday, May 14th, from 2:00 p.m. EDT to 9:00 p.m. EDT, and will be available to pre-purchasers only. One nice treat is that although the company has mentioned character wipes between beta weekend events, players will still have their darling creations from BWE1 to run around with. Get ready to flood the servers on Monday. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Fly, my pretties!

          MassivelyBrace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          anetarenanetbeta-weekend-eventbwefantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftrubi-bayerstress-testFri, 11 May 2012 17:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[WildStar Wednesday discusses quality of life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/wildstar-wednesday-discusses-quality-of-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

          WildStar
          Mobility is key when you're adventuring on an exciting frontier planet. Taking this to heart, WildStar developer Carbine Studios is building in some quality of life improvements to speed Settlers along their way.

          All players traveling on roads in WildStar will benefit from a speed boost, whether they're on a noble steed or going afoot. Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney mentions that, more than just cutting down on travel time, this allows developers to plan on players running into each other as they travel through the world as well as aiding in the design of exploration-driven content and proper timing of encounters. If players are really gung-ho about speed and being (profitable) good Samaritans, they'll have opportunities to add new taxi points to remote areas, pitch a vendor stall to sell mounts to lowbies, and set up speed-boosting machines at outposts, among other player-driven additions. Hopefully, this means that the more folks are in an area, the more luxuries are available -- or you can be the pilgrim running out into the wilds to spur on the advance of civilization.

          Speaking of running out into the wilds, we know no one likes doing that only to get called in 15 minutes later to pick up a new quest. Players' communicators are a big part of the accessibility of the world in WildStar. Many quests can be picked up and turned in via comm call, freeing players from the drudgery of having to actually track people down. To sum up, Gaffney listed the goals of this design approach. "Focus on the fun parts of the game. Eliminate tedium. Keep the challenge in there for advanced gamers. Overall, let you play the way you want to play."

          MassivelyWildStar Wednesday discusses quality of life originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          carbinecarbine-studiosdynomaticfast-travelncsoftquality-of-lifesandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsThu, 10 May 2012 17:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/flameseeker-chronicles-five-things-to-love-about-lions-arch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

          Guild Wars 2 concept art
          Lion's Arch, the quintessential Tyrian player hub, has undergone quite the extensive renovation for Guild Wars 2. As a special treat for the last beta weekend, the city was made explorable to players for the first time -- and what a treat it was! After the Rise of Orr and the accompanying land shift, Lion's Arch as we knew and loved it in the original Guild Wars was flooded. It has been raised anew, very near the first city, and stands as a monument to piracy, desperation, and inter-species cooperation (not, perhaps, in that order).

          So what makes Lion's Arch awesome? It's one of six huge cities that are the thriving populatiion centers of Tyria as we find it in Guild Wars 2, and since it doesn't have one single race to lend it culture and purpose, you can bet it had better be pretty special.

          Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch

          MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            anetarenanetcitydiving-boardfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2hublalions-archncsoftnew-lions-archopinionpiratespiratitudequaggantrailertrailersvideovideosTue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 EST            <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/flameseeker-chronicles-after-beta-action-report/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

            Guild Wars 2 -- you have NO IDEA how long I've been waiting to use my own screenshots
            Well there you have it, ladies and gents: The first Guild Wars 2 beta weekend over which people had direct control over their participation has come and gone. It was quite the exciting weekend, and it's amazing to see the volume and content of feedback being provided. If you missed out on a chance to get your hands on the game, feel free to form some vicarious impressions; there's tons of footage out there from oodles of people. Massively has a few streams recorded, and I have a niggling feeling that someone will have plenty of extra footage.

            It was great to be back in the game, it was great to get to talk about stuff with people and stream and share pictures, but mostly it was great to see the world populated the way it really needs to be to feel alive and whole. Beta being beta, that brought its own set of challenges and learning experiences -- mostly for ArenaNet -- but on the whole I hope that most people agree that this was, if not a truly delightful weekend (I can't expect everyone to share my taste in games), then at least a solid and informative one.

            Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report

            MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: After beta action report originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>              anetarenanetbetabeta-weekendbwe1fantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgroupingguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2multiplayerncsoftopinionoverflow-serverpreviewTue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST              <![CDATA[Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

              Guild Wars
              Spring is in the air in Guild Wars! I can hear the pitter-patter of speed-enhanced feet coming from the Dragon Arena, the roar of the crowds watching Rollerbeetle races, and the endless grunts of unlucky players on the Nine Rings. It's a celebration -- the celebration of the seventh anniversary of Guild Wars, to be precise.

              In and around the annual birthday cupcake hoarding that's going on for the duration of festivities, this year has a few other exciting tricks up its proverbial sleeve. For one thing, a new and limited-edition pet has been made available; the Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by having a brief chat with Ceira, Sworn to Fire, in Embark Beach. For another, the bonuses from all weekend events are active for the anniversary, so players will have to go pretty far out of their way to not reap sweet, sweet rewards for any time spent in-game between now and May 8th.

              Seven's a pretty nice number, don't you think? This is something of a special event, as ArenaNet's promise to get Guild Wars 2 shipped before year's end means that this'll be the last birthday that Guild Wars gets to have before the sequel comes along and grabs everyone's attention -- if, indeed, that's not already happening, what with the beta weekend that's going on right this moment. Even with Guild Wars 2 soaking up some limelight, though, Guild Wars is doing its creators proud and aging with grace and dignity. Let's take a look at some of the building blocks of the game's longevity.

              Continue reading Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back

              MassivelyGuild Wars: What keeps fans coming back originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                7th-anniversaryaging-gracefullyanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2hall-of-monumentsncsoftopinionseventh-birthdaywhy-players-keep-coming-backSat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[ArenaNet reveals world transfer details for Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-reveals-world-transfer-details-for-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                Image
                To wrap up what's been a very exciting day for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend participants, ArenaNet has published a blog post detailing world choice and the mechanics of transferring worlds.

                Upon first logging into the game, players will be able to pick any home world server available, including those in a different region from where they purchased the game. All characters thereafter are created on that home world. World transfers are possible, but have both a time and gem cost. A player can change home worlds only once every seven days and must shell out 1,800 gems to do so. Once the game goes live, however, a "guesting" feature will be available to allow players to join friends on any world, although players won't be able to participate in WvW for their temporary host server.

                Guesting won't be in for the beta weekend event, but players will be able to test out transferring worlds. Each account will be able to unlock 2,000 free gems for the BWE, which will cover the cost of a transfer and a little more.

                A complete server list for the upcoming beta weekend event is available in ArenaNet's blog post.

                MassivelyArenaNet reveals world transfer details for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                anetarenanetbeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventbwebwe1fantasyguild-wars-2gw2home-serverhome-worldncsoftnewsserver-mechanicsworldworld-transferTue, 24 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST                <![CDATA[ArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-prepares-fans-for-guild-wars-2-beta-weekend-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-prepares-fans-for-guild-wars-2-beta-weekend-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/arenanet-prepares-fans-for-guild-wars-2-beta-weekend-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                the writhing hordes are ready
                ArenaNet has followed up its recent beta weekend event blogpost with a short video going through the details of the upcoming Guild Wars 2 BWE. The team has also confirmed that emails are being sent out to get BWE participants the information they need to download the beta client and be ready for the weekend.

                The event, which runs from Friday the 27th at 3:00pm EDT to 3:00am on Monday the 30th, will introduce players to the Charr, Human, and Norn early zones as well as allowing players to get into epic WvW battles and hotjoinable PvP. Lion's Arch, a huge city that's undergone massive changes since the original Guild Wars, will be explorable for the first time. Check out what Martin Kerstein and Mike Zadorojny have to say about it in the video after the cut.

                Continue reading ArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event

                MassivelyArenaNet prepares fans for Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                anetarenanetbetabeta-weekendbeta-weekend-eventbwe1fantasyguild-wars-2gw2martin-kersteinmike-zMike-Zadorojnyncsofttrailertrailersvideovideosz-is-for-zadorojnyTue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST                <![CDATA[Guild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                Guild Wars
                It's that special time of year again! Despite the amount of effort that has got to be getting poured into the upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event, ArenaNet isn't neglecting the baby game's elder sibling. The Guild Wars site has been updated with some information about festivities for the in-game celebration.

                From April 24th through May 8th, players will be able to enjoy the time-honored traditions of Guild Wars' birthday celebrations: Players can stroll down the Shing Jea Boardwalk for some festival games, race Rollerbeetles, unlock birthday hats, and collect some sweet, sweet treats. In addition, a new pet is being made available. The Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by visiting Ceira, Sworn to Fire in Embark Beach and then traveling to the Zaishen Menagerie and tracking down the fiery beastie. After the anniversary has drawn to a close, the Hound will still be unlockable, but at the cost of 100,000 Balthazar Faction or 20 golden zaishen coins and 100 gold -- so maybe don't dawdle if you're interested in a shiny new pet. The updated page also promises "drops and activities never before seen in anniversary celebration," so join in the fun to find out what's new!

                [Update: According to a Gamebreaker TV special, all of the normal weekend events observed in Guild Wars will be running simultaneously for the anniversary celebration!]

                MassivelyGuild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                7th-anniversary7th-birthdayanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayfantasyfestivalguild-warsguild-wars-turns-7gwhound-of-balthazarncsoftrollerbeetle-racingshing-jea-boardwalkTue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/flameseeker-chronicles-dreaming-of-green-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/flameseeker-chronicles-dreaming-of-green-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/flameseeker-chronicles-dreaming-of-green-knights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                Guild Wars 2
                April's had some exciting moments, has it not? The month is going to end on a high note for many Guild Wars 2 fans. Even if you're not one of the many many people who'll be in the upcoming beta weekend event, the lack of a non-disclosure agreement for participants of this round means that anyone can stream, post, and chat about her experience. That means a new level of transparency and insight, hopefully, so that's cool.

                You know what won't be available in the beta? The Sylvari and the Asura, once again. ArenaNet's included Lion's Arch in this newest beta build, but that's about all that's new. I've gone on record as saying that I'm perfectly content to wait 'til launch for the Asura and Sylvari so that they're all pristine and new and ready to be explored, but I've got to say that that contentedness gets a little more strained each time we hear or see new stuff about the Sylvari. That's been true for months upon months, but it just keeps getting better.

                Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights

                MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Dreaming of green knights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                  anetarenanetfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionsylvarisylvari roxorzSylvariRoxorzTue, 24 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST                  <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                  Guild Wars 2 concept art
                  ArenaNet is designing Guild Wars 2 to appeal to bucketloads of people. The studio's got the PvP and competition, the high-end dungeon challenge, the super-cooperative and dynamic PvE content, the compelling and branching storyline, the flashy (and occasionally sensibly flashy) armors -- there's a lot going on. Part of what makes that possible is the use of very approachable systems.

                  These simple systems pop up all over the place: the straight-forward lists of boons and conditions that affect players, the common capture point mechanic over which more intricate PvP objectives can be layered, and the relatively small pool of skills from which to assemble a build. The beauty of their simplicity is that the simplicity itself isn't a limiting factor -- you can't do only simple things with them.

                  In this way, simple systems have a low entry barrier and a high complexity capacity. That means that more people can enjoy the game with relatively little skill and that there's a lot of room for time, dedication, and finesse to lead to outstanding results. Anyone can play, but not everyone can (or will) master elements of the game.

                  Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself

                  MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    anetarenanetcbtdynamic-eventsemergent-gameplayeventsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionskill-comboskillsTue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST                    <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Line of succession]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/flameseeker-chronicles-line-of-succession/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/flameseeker-chronicles-line-of-succession/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/flameseeker-chronicles-line-of-succession/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                    Guild Wars 2
                    Sequels are tricky business. The more fans swarm around a game or franchise, the thicker the air gets with opinions regarding what the heart and soul of that game is all about. With that in mind, I don't envy sequel game designers the task of figuring out the balance of enough of a nod to the original to maintain the emotional connection that longstanding fans have without making newcomers feel locked out of something.

                    One of the most frequent questions that pops up in the discussion of Guild Wars 2 anticipation is whether or not it's worth it for incoming players to take a spin through the original campaigns and expansion to pass the time. This is mostly tied in with discussion about the Hall of Monuments account rewards. In my opinion, the HoM rewards should be the least compelling reason to start a play-through, although it's still a good reason; even some members of our staff are haphazardly trying to find time to wade back through the stories before release. But considering everything in ArenaNet's design philosophy, we know the HoM rewards are unlikely to offer a statistical advantage, so they should be little more than a perk. Moreover, most of their value, it seems to me, should be from what they represent, which is both time spent in-game (forging that emotional connection) actually earning the reward points and the references some of them make to the original game. I still remember my first Stygian Reaver in GW, and that is why I'm looking forward to wielding one in Guild Wars 2.

                    Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Line of succession

                    MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Line of succession originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      ]]>                      anetarenanetascalonian-catecombseric-flannumfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2kill-your-ancestorslegacyncsoftopinionpax-east-2012pvp-mapsequelthat-special-somethingTue, 10 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST                      <![CDATA[PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-the-secret-world-demo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-the-secret-world-demo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-the-secret-world-demo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                      He wants to believe like I want to love this game. Can I get this shirt?
                      Funcom's The Secret World has had a big weekend at PAX East with its first public chance for hands-on interaction! It's a game that's been stirring up quite a bit of interest; the classless, level-less progression system, secret societies, and sword-and-automatic-rifle genre-bending are just a few of its selling points. My ears tend to perk up when the game gets mentioned, so of course I was all but falling over myself to hop into the playable demo this weekend. Walking away from that experience, though, I'm unconvinced.

                      Continue reading PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo

                      MassivelyPAX East 2012: The Secret World demo originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        ]]>                        conconventiondemoexpofactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhands-onhorrormythologypaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewssci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswSat, 07 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST                        <![CDATA[PAX East 2012: TERA hands-on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-tera-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-tera-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-tera-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

                        http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-tera-hands-on/
                        In the service of Massively's ongoing PAX East 2012 coverage, I spent some time today in and around the TERA booth, ogling the pretty trailers and getting a seat in a group press demo to tackle some fun high-end content in the form of a five-player encounter with an Argon boss. Read on for an overview of what I saw!

                        Gallery: TERA PAX 2012

                        Continue reading PAX East 2012: TERA hands-on

                        MassivelyPAX East 2012: TERA hands-on originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          ]]>                          blueholebluehole-studiosconconventionen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexpofantasyfeaturedgalleriesgalleryhands-onopinionpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsteratrailertrailersvideovideosSat, 07 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST                          <![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                          Dungeons and Dragons Online concept art
                          Dungeons and Dragons Online players are in for a whole new world of adventure when Menace of the Underdark launches this summer. The expansion, due to release on June 25th, will send players into the Forgotten Realms to fight against the Queen of Spiders, Lolth. Executive Producer Fernando Paiz and Senior Producer Eric Boyer welcomed us into their lair... er, Turbine's booth... to talk about the upcoming expansion at this year's PAX East. Read on for our preview!

                          Continue reading PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online

                          MassivelyPAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            ]]>                            conconventionddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeric-boyerexpansionexpof2pfantasyfeaturedfernando-paizfree-to-playinterviewinterviewsmenace-of-the-underdarkpaxpax-2012pax-eastpax-east-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewsturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST                            <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                            Guild Wars 2: Electric Boogaloo
                            On the Sunday of the most recent beta weekend for Guild Wars 2, I found myself trying to figure out precisely what incentive my friends and I might have to go through the explorable mode of dungeons before we hit level 80. The question arose, in a roundabout way, because there's not a tremendous amount of XP available (you spend more time killing fewer things), which makes sense if you're a developer trying to discourage players from entering a dungeon they have no intention of completing in order to farm experience, but it left us wondering whether we'd feel compelled to participate in explorable mode dungeons as we progressed through the game. The point of the matter is, unless you're well and truly enamored of the armor attainable through a specific dungeon's tokens, there might not be much empirical motivation to get through a repeatable dungeon. This stood out to me because so much of the game's reward structure is so clear and well-designed.

                            Although I'll certainly never make the claim that the game will please everyone, or even that ArenaNet's fine folks are trying to please everyone, it is evident that they're building in support for a wide variety of play and reward styles.

                            Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot?

                            MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              achieveranetarenanetascalonian-catacombsbartle-test-of-gamer-psychologycarrotcatacombs-of-ascalondungeonexplorerfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgolden-carrotguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betagwgw1gw2killerncsoftopinionsocializerthanks-for-the-pictures-guildcastTue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST                              <![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 pre-purchase locations announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-locations-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-locations-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/guild-wars-2-pre-purchase-locations-announced/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                              Guild Wars 2 CE Details
                              April 10th is fast approaching, and the ArenaNet team is doing its best to be sure fans are totally informed on how best to give up their money when Guild Wars 2 is finally available for pre-purchase. French Community Manager Stephane Lo Presti has put a list of retailers participating in the pre-purchase program up on the Guild Wars 2 Wiki.

                              According to the game's FAQ page, fans will be able to order the digital Standard and the Digital Deluxe editions directly from NCsoft (Steam is not on the list, so they're out for digital pre-purchasing). These physical retailers, though, will offer at least the Standard and possibly the Collector's editions of the game, which means that fans will have a special interest in which of the listed retailers provide the CE version of the pre-purchase. Keep in mind that these are the retailers for pre-purchase, not necessarily launch or pre-order. The list is pretty lengthy; it's almost like ArenaNet wants to make pre-purchase as convenient as possible for as many fans as possible. Hit up the list if you want to figure out where you're headed on April 10th.

                              MassivelyGuild Wars 2 pre-purchase locations announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              anetarenanetCEcollectors-editionfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpre-purchaseprepurchaseretailersTue, 27 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST                              <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                              http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/flameseeker-chronicles-life-in-the-legions/
                              Last week, Leif Chapelle, a content designer, took some time to update the ArenaNet blog with a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at personal story in Guild Wars 2. He sketched out the structure of how players' biography choices affect their storyline: "To experience every potential storyline being told from level one to 10, you'd need to play the game 30 times (five races times three initial storylines times two internal branches in each storyline)... We have 80 levels of progression for your character, and every 10 levels or so, you'll begin a new chapter in your story."

                              To someone who has rolled a seemingly endless string of alts in virtually every game I've played and is extraordinarily trigger-happy when it comes to remaking characters, this shows a great deal of promise. I'm sure it's quite an angstilicious idea for people who want to savor ALL THE STORY, but I hope that such types might admit (however grudgingly) that too much story is a better option than too little.

                              Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions

                              MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Life in the legions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                ]]>                                anetarenanetash-legionblood-legioncharrfantasyfeaturedflame-legionflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewguild-wars-nightfallgwgw1gw2iron-legionleif-chappellemike-zMike-Zadorojnyncsoftopinionpersonal-storyTue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST                                <![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-beta-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                                Guild Wars 2: Party On, dude!
                                The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

                                Last week we asked for your Guild Wars 2 questions as we prepared to head into the beta weekend, and boy did you rise to the occasion! After sorting through all the questions, we made a list of the most interesting and frequently repeated ones to investigate. Have a question you don't see answered here? Tonight I'll be doing a live question-and-answer session on Massively's own livestream! Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EDT and ask away!

                                Continue reading Guild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered!

                                MassivelyGuild Wars 2 beta questions: Answered! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  ]]>                                  anetarenaneteventsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2iron-legionncsoftpreviewpreviewsq-and-aqaquestions-and-answersrespecMon, 26 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST                                  <![CDATA[Guild Wars 2: For glory!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/guild-wars-2-for-glory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                                  GW2
                                  The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

                                  A lot of my weekend was devoted to glory, both the in-game resource that you earn for competing in PvP and that distinction that you wallow in after doing something cool. The game allows for a lot of something-cools to be done, but the ones I'm presently interested in are hot-joinable PvP and the beta's one accessible dungeon.

                                  Continue reading Guild Wars 2: For glory!

                                  MassivelyGuild Wars 2: For glory! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    ]]>                                    anetarenanetbattle-of-khylobetacatacombs-of-ascalondungeonfantasyfeaturedforest-of-niflhelguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-previewgw2gw2-beta-weekendncsoftpreviewpreviewspvptrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 26 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST                                    <![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/flameseeker-chronicles-setting-up-for-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                    Guild Wars 2
                                    Community Team Lead Martin Kerstein updated the ArenaNet blog a few days ago with some information about his team's plans for the Guild Wars 2 community. The two big bits of news were that there will be official forums (to the evident skepticism of the Guild Wars 2 Guru mods) and there will not be a typical fan site program. The most interesting bit, to me, is this:
                                    "Our goal is to use a scalable, inclusive ecosystem instead of a rigid fan site program that doesn't scale well and excludes large parts of the fan base."
                                    What I'm hoping this means is that the team members are opening themselves up to a lot more flexibility in which fan sites they support. This is great if it means that small blogs and niche communities can be more easily promoted; we already see this happening, as the Guild Wars 2 twitter feed is usually full of retweets pointing out various fan creations and posts. The flip side of this is equally true. In his article, Kerstein talks about wanting to promote a mature and helpful community, so hopefully the lack of a rigid structure in fan site support means the team members don't feel pressured to include and support toxic communities just because they've hit standardized milestones.

                                    I have high hopes for this scalable community engagement style, and I hope to see it pay off for a lot of smaller fan sites and projects. If the folks at ArenaNet want to demand more of the quality of their community, more power to 'em.

                                    Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success

                                    MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Setting up for success originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      anetarenanetcommunitydynamic-eventsfailurefantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesforumsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-is-scalygwgw2Martin-Kersteinncsoftopinionravious-makes-a-good-pointscalable-contentTue, 20 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[RIFT 1.8: Guild recruitment system preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/rift-1-8-guild-recruitment-system-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/rift-1-8-guild-recruitment-system-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/rift-1-8-guild-recruitment-system-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                      RIFT
                                      RIFT's upcoming 1.8 patch will come in handy for players still caught in the search for a guild to call home, thanks to the guild recruitment system. Guild leaders will be able to (but don't have to) post listings to try to attract more players to their guilds. These listings can be customized with such information as the guild's category (RP, hardcore, PvP, dungeons, raiding, and more), the sort of roles that need to be filled (tank, heal, damage, and support), character level, and play schedule. There's also a description field that'll allow leaders to give a more in-depth description of guild services and outlook.

                                      Players will access the guild finder through their social menu and be able to sort through guilds by roles, availability, guild size, and category. They'll then see all posted information and be able to decide which guild they think is a good fit for them. A message button in the finder screen will allow players to contact guild leaders, and thus shall many happy matches be made.

                                      MassivelyRIFT 1.8: Guild recruitment system preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      fantasyguild-recruitment-systemguild-searchguildspatchPatch1.8riftrift-1.8rift-literift-planes-of-telaraRift1.8triontrion-worldsupdateTue, 20 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[ArenaNet expands on microtransactions in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/arenanet-expands-on-microtransactions-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                      Guild Wars 2
                                      ArenaNet has put up a new blog post with information about Guild Wars 2's cash shop system as well as some of the philosophy behind the game's microtransaction design. Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet president and Guild Wars 2 executive producer, started off the post by saying that the microtransaction system will be part of this month's closed beta event, then went on to talk about the hows and whys of the system.

                                      ArenaNet's approach is this: Microtransactions are run on a currency of gems, which are purchased with physical-world money and traded in various quantities for the goods and account services available. Players also have the option of trading their purchased gems for in-game gold -- and purchase gems with in-game gold.
                                      "If you want something, whether it's an in-game item or a microtransaction, you ultimately have two ways to get it: you can play to earn gold or you can use money to buy gems. We think that's important, because it lets more players participate on a level playing field, whether they use their free time or their disposable income to do it."
                                      As to the micro-transaction items themselves, O'Brien steered away from specifics. He mentioned things like visual distinction and expression as well as account services (which we saw plenty of in the original Guild Wars) and "time-saving convenience items" while adding that ArenaNet is opposed to the idea of requiring players to spend cash in order to maintain an even playing field.

                                      MassivelyArenaNet expands on microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        anetarenanetcash-shopfantasygemgemsguild-wars-2gw2micro-transactionmike-obrienmtxncsoftTue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[Blizzard's project Titan still in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                        Some day we'll have images for Titan posts.
                                        In and around the flurry of news swirling about >World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion, a kind soul has been looking out for everyone waiting for news on the mystery-shrouded project Titan. Tom Chilton, a lead designer for WoW, told The OC Register about the "slow trickle of expertise" from the WoW team into the Titan team. Although he didn't confirm anything, Chilton said that it's possible that the movement of developer talent over to the Titan project may ramp up.

                                        Despite laying off about 13 percent of its workforce, Blizzard is still hiring in order to fill the development teams for both WoW and the new project. Chilton says:
                                        "I do believe there's room for us to have two highly successful MMO games. I don't feel like there's going to be a time where we just say 'OK, everybody on the WoW team, pack it up you're moving over to the Titan MMO.' I don't see that as being a realistic probability. I think we're going to try to staff up both teams and actually end up with two large, strong MMO teams."
                                        Hopefully this sort of talk means that MoP is nearing readiness so the company can give a little more attention to the Titan MMO -- might we someday soon find ourselves with actual, hard facts about this mysterious project?

                                        MassivelyBlizzard's project Titan still in the works originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariaproject-titantitantom-chiltonwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST