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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Second Wind: EverQuest II, part one]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-wind/" rel="tag">Second Wind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/"><img alt="Screenshot -- EverQuest II" data-src-height="339" data-src-width="580" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/header-1371093843.jpg" style="height: 310px; width: 530px;" /></a></div>

<div>Oh, Norrath. I don't know what it is about you, but for some reason I just can't stay away. I probably fell in love with the setting in the early 2000s, when I took my first (somewhat) serious dive into the original <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest">EverQuest</a></em>. In my eyes, it's the quintessential high-fantasy universe when it comes to MMOs, and every time I'm eyeing my bookcase and I catch sight of my <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Planes-of-Power/">Planes of Power</a></em> instruction manual, I get this strange urge to have another visit. But for this edition of <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-wind">Second Wind</a>, I figured I'd take a look at the <em>other </em>Norrath instead.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you something about <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest-ii"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> that I quickly discovered: It is absolutely immense. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it's, in many ways, overwhelming. I imagine I could spend 25, 50, even 100 hours with this game and still feel as if I had only dipped my toes into the sea. That aside, I'm still brimming with things I'd like to talk about, so how about joining me after the cut?</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Wind: EverQuest II, part one</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/">Second Wind: EverQuest II, part one</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20620060/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/second-wind-everquest-ii-part-one/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>post-launch</category><category>re-review</category><category>review</category><category>roundtable</category><category>second-impressions</category><category>second-look</category><category>second-wind</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>transcript</category><category>updated-impressions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Latest Dragon's Prophet trailer is SUPER METAL]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dragons-prophet/" rel="tag">Dragon's Prophet</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Dragon's Prophet" data-src-height="260" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/06/dragonsprophet.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>Have you ever been going about your day-to-day business and found yourself wondering, "Is this metal or not?" If so, then the latest <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dragons-prophet"><em>Dragon's Prophet</em></a> trailer may have some useful information for you. Said video features an original song titled "The Ballad of the DraGod" (seriously), which -- unsurprisingly -- tells the tale of the eponymous DraGod over the soothing sounds of "#SUPERMETAL" guitars and pounding drums. Yep.<br />
<br />
For those of you keeping score at home, flamingos, cacti, and chickens are decidedly not metal. Dragons and leather, however, are apparently SUPER metal. Don't ask me; I just work here. If you want to check out the new trailer for yourself, you can find it embedded past the cut.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/sony-online-entertainment">Sony Online Entertainment</a> press release]</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Latest Dragon's Prophet trailer is SUPER METAL</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/">Latest Dragon's Prophet trailer is SUPER METAL</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20599114/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/latest-dragons-prophet-trailer-is-super-metal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>dragon</category><category>dragons</category><category>dragons-prophet</category><category>housing</category><category>infernum</category><category>infernum-productions</category><category>runewaker</category><category>runewaker-entertainment</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>SUPERMETAL</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Wind Roundtable: Allods Online]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/allods-online/" rel="tag">Allods Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-wind/" rel="tag">Second Wind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/"><img alt="Second Wind Roundtable Allods Online" data-src-height="267" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/header-1369941613.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>

<div>Hello again, kind gentlefolk, and welcome to the latest installment of the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/second-wind-roundtable">Second Wind Roundtable</a>. This time around, I coerced, extorted, and otherwise blackmailed the wonderful Bree and Eliot (and Lis, though she was unfortunately unable to join us for the Roundtable chat itself, but she was there too!) to join me in a few rousing sessions of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/gpotato">gPotato's</a> aether-sailing free-to-play title, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/allods-online"><em>Allods Online</em></a>.<br />
<br />
We laughed, we cried, we nearly died from rage-induced aneurysms. But despite all that, we all survived to tell the tale. So buckle your swashes, raise your sails, and join us past the cut, won't you?</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Wind Roundtable: Allods Online</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/">Second Wind Roundtable: Allods Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 31 May 2013 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20588520/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/second-wind-roundtable-allods-online/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>allods</category><category>allods-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gpotato</category><category>post-launch</category><category>re-review</category><category>review</category><category>roundtable</category><category>second-impressions</category><category>second-look</category><category>second-wind</category><category>second-wind-roundtable</category><category>transcript</category><category>updated-impressions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2013 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Online dev blog discusses Odyssey UI changes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/"><img alt="Screenshot -- EVE Online's new Fleet Management window" data-src-height="307" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/eve-1369947121.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>The folks over at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ccp">CCP</a> have put up a new, puntastically titled post on the <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online">EVE Online</a></em> site to fill players in on some of the UI changes coming in <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/eve-online-odyssey"><em>EVE Online: Odyssey</em></a>. The changes range from the miniscule ("you can now make the input field in chat a single line and gain like 20 extra pixels! Yay!") to the more ambitious (such as a major reworking of the game's fleet management window), plus a few things in-between. To get the down-and-dirty details on all of the UI changes coming with <em>Odyssey</em>, just head on over and read the full post at the game's official site.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/">EVE Online dev blog discusses Odyssey UI changes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 30 May 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20593405/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/eve-online-dev-blog-discusses-odyssey-ui-changes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://community.eveonline.com/news/dev-blogs/u-and-i-made-some-changes">EVE Online dev blog -- U and I Made Some Changes</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>eve-online-odyssey</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>odyssey</category><category>real-punny-guys</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>ui</category><category>user-interface</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Repopulation dev blog gets down and dirty with harvesting details]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/"><img alt="Screenshot -- The Repopulation" data-src-height="217" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/repop.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>You may remember that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/cutting-to-the-heart-of-extraction-in-the-repopulation/">earlier this month</a>, the folks behind upcoming sci-fi sandbox <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-repopulation">The Repopulation</a></em> released a dev-blog that detailed part of the game's resource-gathering system which involved the ever-so-charming extraction of precious resources from your enemies' still-warm corpses. Thanks to the game's newest dev blog, we're now able to get some insight on the other half of the resource-gathering experience: harvesting.<br />
<br />
While extraction involves pilfering goodies from dead baddies, harvesting is the more uh... humane method of gathering resources from nodes such as ore deposits, trees, and so forth. Harvesting resources from a single node works in the same way as extracting resources from a corpse does, but harvestable resources are also available from rarely occurring resource clusters. These clusters "contain a larger stash of a single resource and [have] a better chance of yielding higher quality results." Up to four players can place a harvester at any given cluster, which will run dry after 2-4 hours, at which point the players can return to the cluster and pick up their share of the goods. This system, the diary mentions, encourages players to gather in groups or share the wealth with their hired help. If you can't wait to get your hands dirty and rob nature of her delicious bounty, you can find out all the details over at the game's official site.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/">New Repopulation dev blog gets down and dirty with harvesting details</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 30 May 2013 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20593459/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/new-repopulation-dev-blog-gets-down-and-dirty-with-harvesting-de/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.therepopulation.com/index.php/news/104-harvesting" target="_blank">The Repopulation dev blog -- Resource Harvesting</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>above-and-beyond</category><category>above-and-beyond-technologies</category><category>dev-blog</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>developer-blog</category><category>developer-diary</category><category>harvest</category><category>harvesting</category><category>repopulation</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>the-repopulation</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2013 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan's May Director's Letter details new content and tech]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Age of Conan" data-src-height="284" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/aoc.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>Crush enemies, see them driven before you, lamentations of their women, yadda yadda. You know the drill. The <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/age-of-conan">Age of Conan</a></em> Game Director's Letter for this month has hit the interwebs, and the topics of discussion are the recent 5th Anniversary event (and the new event system that it utilized), the impending transition to single-server technology, and a number of updates heading to the game soon. The first phase of <em>Age of Conan'</em>s switch to single-server tech (which involved moving all of the servers to the same physical location) has been completed, and the <em>AoC</em> team is now "preparing to move towards the new phase," which means merging all same-ruleset servers.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, in Hyboria proper, <em>Age of Conan</em> recently held an in-game event to celebrate its fifth anniversary, and this included the introduction of some snazzy new event tech. In a nutshell, the previous system required that the game be patched in order to both begin and end an event, but with the new system, the devs can run and adjust events on the fly. On top of that, <em>AoC</em> players can expect a smattering of new content over the summer, beginning with the new Coils of Ubah Khan dungeon. Later additions will include new Unchained Dungeons, the Palace of Cetriss, and a shiny new tradeskill system. To get all the delicious information straight from the barbarian's mouth (ew), just click on through the link below.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/">Age of Conan's May Director's Letter details new content and tech</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 30 May 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20592994/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/aoc-directors-letter/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/news/game_directors_letter_may_2013" target="_blank">Age of Conan Game Director's Letter -- May 2013</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>conan</category><category>directors-letter</category><category>event</category><category>events</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>hyboria</category><category>single-server-tech</category><category>single-server-technology</category><category>tech</category><category>technology</category><category>unchained</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 30 May 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic unveils dye module preview video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic" data-src-height="289" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/swtor.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a> is about to get a little more colorful. The upcoming game update 2.1, as you may remember, will herald the arrival of a number of new dye modules that players can use to satisfy their inner fashionistas. Well today, the fine folks at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/bioware">BioWare</a> have released a new video to give players a sneak peek at some of the lovely tints they'll be able to get their nerf-herding little hands on when 2.1 goes live. So what're hue waiting for (ha ha)? Click on past the cut to check out the full video.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Star Wars: The Old Republic unveils dye module preview video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/">Star Wars: The Old Republic unveils dye module preview video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 10 May 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20565564/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-unveils-dye-module-preview-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>bioware</category><category>dye</category><category>dyes</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online announces Tribble Test Weekend]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Star Trek Online" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/sto.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em>'s</a> first expansion, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/legacy-of-romulus"><em>Legacy of Romulus</em></a>, is going to be launching in less than two weeks, and to build up some hype for the new addition, the folks at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic</a> have deemed this weekend a Tribble Test Weekend. Beginning tomorrow, players can log on to the Tribble test server and get their first look at the new content coming when <em>Legacy of Romulus</em> goes live on the 21st.<br />
<br />
But if that's not enough to enthuse you to play on the test server, Cryptic is sweetening the deal. Any players who log in and play on the Tribble server for at least one hour over the course of the weekend will receive a special to-be-announced reward after <em>Legacy of Romulus</em> is released. For the full details on this Tribble Test Weekend, just head on over to the game's official site.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/">Star Trek Online announces Tribble Test Weekend</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 09 May 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20564365/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/star-trek-online-announces-tribble-test-weekend/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://sto.perfectworld.com/news/?p=884441" target="_blank">Star Trek Online -- Open Beta and Test Weekend!</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>expansion</category><category>expansions</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>legacy-of-romulus</category><category>open-beta</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-mmo</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><category>tribble</category><category>tribble-test-weekend</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Diablo III auction house down for 'at least another 24 hours']]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Diablo III" data-src-height="292" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/d3.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div><em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/diablo-iii">Diablo III</a>'</em>s auction house continues to be <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-iii-gold-dupe-bug-fixed-with-no-rollback/">the stuff of legends</a>.<br />
<br />
You may remember that a couple of days ago, the <em>Diablo III</em> auction house went down for a time due to a gold duplication bug that was being rampantly exploited by players. Thankfully, a patch was deployed in a nice, timely manner, and everything ended up all right.<br />
<br />
Or did it? Rather than performing a server rollback, which would set all <em>Diablo III</em> players back, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard</a> has decided to perform a complete audit of the transactions made on the auction house in order to find players guilty of utilizing the gold duplication exploit. Unfortunately, Blizz was a bit conservative in its estimate of how long the auction house would be down. While there's currently no new ETA for the auction house's return, a post by Blizzard CM Lylirra states that the studio anticipates the AH being down for "at least another 24 hours" while the audits are in progress.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/">Diablo III auction house down for 'at least another 24 hours'</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20564139/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/diablo-iii-auction-house-down-for-at-least-another-24-hours/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/8770118014" target="_blank">Diablo III official forums</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>ah</category><category>auction-house</category><category>audits</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>exploit</category><category>exploits</category><category>fantasy</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[World of Warcraft loses over a million subs since February, now down to 8.3 million]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/subscription/" rel="tag">Subscription</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/"><img alt="World of Warcraft's Algalon" data-src-height="300" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/algalon.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>The world's most popular MMO has gotten a bit less popular in the last few months, it would seem. During today's quarterly investor call, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/activision-blizzard">Activision-Blizzard</a> announced that <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em>'s</a> subscriber numbers are down to 8.3 million. While that's still nothing to thumb your nose at, it does represent a significant decline from the 9.6 million subscribers the game was reported to have last February.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/">World of Warcraft loses over a million subs since February, now down to 8.3 million</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 08 May 2013 16:41:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20562652/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscription-numbers-drop-by-1-3-million/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ACTI/2467365125x0x661950/3ea10697-2721-46d6-a188-c25fea50736e/ATVI%20Q1%202013%20press%20release.pdf">Activision-Blizzard first quarter 2013 earnings report</a><!--//--></li><li>Via: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/world-of-warcraft-subscribers-drop-by-1-3-million-in-three-month/">Joystiq</a><!--//--></via></ul></p>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>activision-blizzard</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>fantasy</category><category>subscription</category><category>subscriptions</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2013 16:41:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[DUST 514's Uprising update is now live]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dust-514/" rel="tag">DUST 514</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/"><img alt="Screenshot -- DUST 514" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/dust514.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>

<div>The official launch of <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dust-514"><em>DUST 514</em></a> is planned to go live later this month on -- what else -- May 14th. But judging by the latest <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ccp">CCP</a> dev blog, players can expect a whole bevy of new features before the game launches thanks to an update by the name of Uprising which, as it happens, went live today. For starters, the skill system is getting totally revamped in order to "make it more intuitive and deep." CCP is also introducing three new dropsuits to the game, along with a new assault dropship. As if that weren't enough, the studio has "done major rebalancing on weapons, dropsuits, modules, and vehicles." In light of all of these changes, players will be receiving full skill respecs and market refunds. Uprising will also include the addition of the new starmap, new UI and graphics features, and adjustments to the faction warfare system.<br />
<br />
But that's not all. When the game officially goes live on the 14th, CCP will introduce <em>DUST</em>'s planetary conquest system, which means that <em>DUST</em> players will be able to take part in the great territorial control battles that will tie the game into <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE Online</em></a>. The launch will also bring a few new weapons and a new game mode (Domination) and new maps over which players can vie for supremacy. If that's not enough to look forward to, then we're not sure what to tell you. For the full details on Uprising and <em>DUST 514</em>'s official launch, go on and check out the full dev blog on the game's official site.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/">DUST 514's Uprising update is now live</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 May 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20559780/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/dust-514s-uprising-update-is-now-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://dust514.com/news/blog/2013/05/whats-coming-in-uprising-launch-and-beyond">DUST 514 Uprising dev blog</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>console</category><category>dust</category><category>dust-514</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>fps</category><category>mmofps</category><category>patch</category><category>patches</category><category>playstation</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>ps3</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>uprising</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[First Impressions: Forge]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/buy-to-play/" rel="tag">Buy-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/"><img alt="He just wants a hug." data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/header.jpg" style="margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
When I first picked up <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/forge"><em>Forge</em></a> on Steam back in the day (when it first hit the Greenlight service), I was hesitant to say the least. The last time I played any sort of game billed as a class-based PvP arena, it was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fury_%28video_game%29"><em>FURY</em></a> (does anyone else remember that?) and <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Messiah_of_Might_and_Magic">Dark Messiah of Might and Magic</a></em> before that. To say those games were less-than-stellar would be a bit of an understatement. Despite my trepidation, I still snagged the game since it was fairly cheap and I felt there was at least a good deal of potential for it to finally do justice to the concept.<br />
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Unfortunately, <em>Forge</em> ended up being released far too early because of (as I understand it) a lack of funds, so many of the advertised features (such as a ranking system, matchmaking, and so forth) were conspicuously absent. So I figured I'd put it on the backburner and check it out once it had received some much-needed polish. So of course I was pretty pleased when <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/dark-vale-games">Dark Vale Games</a> announced that <em>Forge</em> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/">had been "re-released"</a> with many of the missing features in tow, but my initial worries about the game were far from assuaged, and I figured it would just be <em>FURY</em> 2: Electric Boogaloo.<br />
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But man, do I love being proven wrong.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Impressions: Forge</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/">First Impressions: Forge</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 May 2013 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20558391/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/first-impressions-forge/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action</category><category>b2p</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>dark-vale</category><category>dark-vale-games</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>first-impressions</category><category>forge</category><category>hands-on</category><category>opinion</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online dev diary details new species: The Remans]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/"><img alt="Star Trek Online dev diary details new species The Remans" data-src-height="331" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/05/remans.jpg" style="margin:4px" /></a></div>

<div><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em>'s</a> <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/legacy-of-romulus">Legacy of Romulus</a></em> expansion is slated for release in just over two weeks from now, and if you've been keeping up with the onslaught of dev diaries, you know that means <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/">new ships</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/star-trek-online-showcases-romulan-uniforms/">new fashions</a>, and of course, new playable alien species. The most recent dev diary from the folks at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic Studios</a> focuses on the Romulans' slightly nastier counterparts, the Remans.<br />
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Players will be able to unlock Remans as a playable species in one of two ways: They can either purchase it from the C-Store (standalone or as part of the Legacy Pack) or "achieve Tier 5 in the New Romulus Reputation." Remans, of course, come with their own unique racial traits, including the powerful Mind Drain ability, described as "a powerful single-target psychic attack which drains vital essence from the victim to the caster." Sounds rather unpleasant to us. Remans also have access to two exclusive ship materials that can alter the appearance of any Romulan vessel they own, and they'll also gain access to spiffy Reman-only uniform variants. To check out the details on the new species, head on over to the official site for the full post, and remember that <em>Legacy of Romulus</em> will be going live on May 21st.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/">Star Trek Online dev diary details new species: The Remans</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20557820/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/star-trek-online-dev-diary-details-new-species-the-remans/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://sto.perfectworld.com/blog/?p=881311" target="_blank">Star Trek Online developer diary</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>dev-blog</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>expansion</category><category>expansions</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>legacy-of-romulus</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>pwe</category><category>reman</category><category>remans</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-mmo</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>sto</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Diablo III PS3 preorders available now]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/"><img alt="Diablo III preorder banner" data-src-height="205" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/d3-1367261511.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Rumors of <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/diablo-iii">Diablo III</a></em> coming to consoles have been around since before the game ever launched, and not long ago it was confirmed that the ever-polarizing action RPG <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/diablo-iii-destiny-coming-to-playstation-4/">would be making its way to the PlayStation 3</a>. Well, the time has almost come for console players to set foot in the treacherous lands of Sanctuary. <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard</a> announced on its official site today that preorders for the PS3 edition of <em>Diablo III</em> are officially open.<br />
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	Players who preorder the game will be given a gift in the form of the PS3-exclusive Infernal Helm. Each character created on the PS3 version will start with this stylish chapeau that grants its wearer a bonus to experience gained. There's still no official release date for the PS3 edition of the game, however, and the studio states that it will announce the game's release date as launch draws nearer (in case that wasn't blindingly obvious). In the meantime, <em>Diablo</em> devotees can go ahead and lay down their preorders.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/">Diablo III PS3 preorders available now</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20552166/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/diablo-iii-ps3-preorders-available-now/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/9601894/diablo%C2%AE-iii-for-the-ps3%E2%84%A2-preorder-bonus-revealed-4-29-2013">Battle.net</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>fantasy</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>playstation-3</category><category>preorder</category><category>preorders</category><category>ps3</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Camelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/family/" rel="tag">Family</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crowdfunding/" rel="tag">Crowdfunding</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/camelot-unchained/" rel="tag">Camelot Unchained</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/"><img alt="City State Entertainment's Mark Jacobs" data-src-height="295" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/jacobs-1367262979.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	The <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/camelot-unchained">Camelot Unchained</a></em> information deluge continues with the release of a new video and a Reddit AMA by <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/mark-jacobs">Mark Jacobs</a> himself. The video is a half-hour-long affair in which Jacobs provides fans (and prospective Kickstarter pledgers) with an in-depth look at the lore of <em>Camelot Unchained</em> and the myriad features that the game is bringing to the table. Also, as it happens, you can check it out after the cut.<br />
	<br />
	Meanwhile, on Reddit, Jacobs stopped by /r/IAmA to answer questions from the communit. Suffice it to say, questions range from the standard, "tell us about the progression system" to details on server structure, maximum player population, and much much more. Surprisingly, however, horse-sized ducks don't appear to be mentioned even once. To check the full Q&amp;A session out for yourself, head on through the source link below.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Camelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/">Camelot Unchained unveils new video, Mark Jacobs visits Reddit for AMA</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20552174/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/camelot-unchained-unveils-new-video-mark-jacobs-visits-reddit-f/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1dcic2/i_am_mark_jacobs_cofounder_of_city_state/">Mark Jacobs AMA</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>ama</category><category>camelot</category><category>camelot-unchained</category><category>city-state</category><category>city-state-entertainment</category><category>cse</category><category>kickstarter</category><category>mark-jacobs</category><category>pvp</category><category>reddit</category><category>rvr</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online's Matt Firor answers closed beta questions]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/"><img alt="Screenshot -- The Elder Scrolls Online" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/teso.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	The interwebs have been all aflutter because of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/first-20-minutes-of-elder-scrolls-online-gameplay-leaked/">recently leaked video</a> of <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></em> beta footage, and it's left many people clamoring for more beta details. Thankfully, <em>ESO</em> Game Director <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/matt-firor">Matt Firor</a> has stepped forth to provide just that. In a new interview, Firor didn't care to comment on the leak itself, but he was more than willing to answer a number of questions regarding the game's ongoing closed beta.<br />
	<br />
	Firor states that the game's beta is progressing "very smoothly so far" and that the team is now "focusing more on the gameplay exerience" and "getting valuable feedback from beta testers." He goes on to explain that the current beta focus is on "moment-to-moment gameplay," including questing, combat, and the game's progression system. Also on the table are questions about the game's AI, the introduction of guilds, the importance of crafted gear, and of course, when the next round of beta invites will go out (spoiler alert: the answer is incredibly nonspecific). Regardless, there's probably some useful information to be found for <em>ESO</em> fans, so click on through the link below to check it out for yourself.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/">The Elder Scrolls Online's Matt Firor answers closed beta questions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20552123/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-answers-closed-beta-questi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=32287">ZAM: The Elder Scrolls Online closed beta interview</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>beta</category><category>bethesda</category><category>bethesda-softworks</category><category>bethsoft</category><category>closed-beta</category><category>daggerfall</category><category>elder-scrolls</category><category>elder-scrolls-online</category><category>eso</category><category>factions</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>matt-firor</category><category>morrowind</category><category>oblivion</category><category>pvp</category><category>rvr</category><category>sandbox</category><category>skyrim</category><category>tamriel</category><category>tes</category><category>teso</category><category>the-elder-scrolls</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>three-faction-pvp</category><category>three-way-pvp</category><category>zenimax</category><category>zenimax-media</category><category>zenimax-online</category><category>zenimax-online-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Virtual world economist says Guild Wars 2's pre-endgame economy 'broken']]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/buy-to-play/" rel="tag">Buy-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-ramin-shokrizade-delves-into-guild-wars/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/gw2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Ever since <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/guild-wars-2">Guild Wars 2</a></em> went live back in August of last year, the state of the game's economy has... fluctuated wildly, let's say. But now, about eight months down the line, how is the economy holding up? Virtual world economist Ramin Shokrizade (<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/using-eve-online-to-predict-the-recession/">the same fellow who wrote about using <em>EVE Online</em> to predict the real-world recession</a>) has published a new piece on Gamasutra that takes an in-depth look at the economy of <em>Guild Wars 2</em> as it stands today.<br />
	<br />
	The article is too detailed to summarize here, but one thing worth taking away is Shokrizade's observation that, "with the exception of craft materials, [<em>Guild Wars 2</em>'s] pre-endgame item economy is broken." He elaborates that, for example, a level 39 green-quality chestpiece regularly sells on the auction house for around 112 copper -- a scant 1 copper more than vendors pay for the same item. He concludes that <em>GW2</em>'s pre-endgame economy is "one of the worst [he has] studied in the last 14 years." Eesh. He also takes an in-depth look at the role crafting plays in the economy and the effects of the in-game economy on cash-shop purchases. The full piece is a bit long but certainly worth the time for anyone interested in the intricacies of virtual economies or <em>Guild Wars 2</em> players in general.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/">Virtual world economist says Guild Wars 2's pre-endgame economy 'broken'</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20552074/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/virtual-world-economist-says-guild-wars-2s-pre-endgame-economy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://gamasutra.com/blogs/RaminShokrizade/20130426/191346/Guild_Wars_2_Economy_Review.php">Gamasutra</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>buy-to-play</category><category>economics</category><category>economy</category><category>fantasy</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>ramin-shokrizade</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New Earthrise: First Impact screenshots unveiled]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise/" rel="tag">Earthrise</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/post-apocalyptic/" rel="tag">Post-Apocalyptic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Earthrise: First Impact" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/earthrise.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	We're sure many sci-fi sandbox fans have been looking forward to the (re)launch of <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/earthrise">Earthrise: First Impact</a></em> since German studio <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/silentfuture">SilentFuture</a> took the helm in May of last year. Unfortunately, those fans are going to have to wait a bit longer before they can get their hands on the game in earnest, but in the meantime, SilentFuture has released a new bevy of screenshots to help satiate their hunger.<br />
	<br />
	And we've gotta say, they look pretty darn spiffy. The screens include an arid desert outpost, mysterious ruins admist a lush, verdant jungle, and what appears to be an absurdly oversized artillery gun, amongst other things. It would certainly appear that the folks at SilentFuture have been hard at work, and although screenshots are no substitute for actual gameplay, they're still a feast for the eyes nonetheless. So how about checking them out in the gallery below?<br />
	<br />
	[Source: SilentFuture press release]<br />
	<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/">Earthrise: First Impact</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/#5840996"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/erfi001_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/#5840997"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/erfi002_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/#5840998"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/erfi003_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/#5840999"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/erfi004_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/earthrise-first-impact/#5841000"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/erfi005_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/">New Earthrise: First Impact screenshots unveiled</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20549186/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/new-earthrise-first-impact-screenshots-unveiled/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>earthrise</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>post-apocalyptic</category><category>pvp</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>shooter</category><category>silent-future</category><category>silentfuture</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Paladin and Warrior go mano-a-mano in new Hearthstone video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trading-card-games/" rel="tag">Trading Card Games</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mac/" rel="tag">Mac</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft" data-src-height="290" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/hearthstone-1366915433.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard's</a> online <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a></em> CCG, <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/hearthstone">Hearthstone</a></em>, is supposed to be heading into beta sometime soon[TM]. But to hold fans over until then, the studio has released a new video featuring a duel between the Warrior and Paladin classes, complete with play-by-play commentary.<br />
	<br />
	Whether you're looking to wrap your head around the basic rules of the game or trying to pick up on some more advanced strategies to get a leg-up on the competition, this video has something for you. So what are you waiting for? Click on past the cut for the full video; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeRC0Cu-QOQ">it's time to d-d-d-d-duel!</a> Or something like that, anyway.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Paladin and Warrior go mano-a-mano in new Hearthstone video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/">Paladin and Warrior go mano-a-mano in new Hearthstone video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20549172/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/paladin-and-warrior-go-mano-a-mano-in-new-hearthstone-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>ccg</category><category>collectible-card-game</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hearthstone</category><category>hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft</category><category>ios</category><category>ipad</category><category>mac</category><category>tcg</category><category>trading-card-game</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forge rerelease introduces tons of new features, goes 75% off on Steam]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/promotions/" rel="tag">Promotions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/buy-to-play/" rel="tag">Buy-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/"><img alt="Artwork -- Forge" data-src-height="213" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/forge.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Keen-minded readers may remember <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/forge">Forge</a></em>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/dark-vale-games">Dark Vale Games'</a> action-oriented PvP title that launched via Steam Greenlight in December of last year. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, the game was released in a decidedly unfinished state, lacking many of the key features that the studio hoped to incorporate. Despite this, many players flocked to the game, providing the devs with the money needed to polish up the game, and now <em>Forge</em> has been officially "rereleased" on Steam. To celebrate the occasion, Dark Vale Games is allowing fans to play <em>Forge</em> for free from today until Sunday.<br />
	<br />
	The game's rerelease brings with it a number of new features sure to satisfy fans of all playstyles. The fashionistas in the crowd will be pleased by the addition of new armor customization options, while completionists will have plenty to work toward thanks to the introduction of achievements to the game. New players will be able to jump into the action faster than ever thanks to a new-and-improved tutorial, and new ranking and matchmaking features ensure that players can always find the perfect match. On top of all of that, the UI has received an overhaul, and the addition of bots and co-op modes allows players to practice new strategies before they take them into the game proper. So if you're up for some adrenaline-fueled PvP action, you can check out the game for free and/or snag it on the cheap for a paltry $5 US.<br />
	<br />
	[Source: Dark Vale Games press release]</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/">Forge rerelease introduces tons of new features, goes 75% off on Steam</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20548490/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/forge-rerelease-introduces-tons-of-new-features-75-off-on-stea/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action</category><category>competitive</category><category>dark-vale-games</category><category>forge</category><category>promotion</category><category>promotions</category><category>sale</category><category>sales</category><category>steam</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[League of Legends player goes pro to pay rent]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/league-of-legends/" rel="tag">League of Legends</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/"><img alt="Yiliang " data-src-height="262" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/lol.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	What would you do if you were kicked out of your house as a teenager with nothing but a bicycle, a computer, and a tiny bit of cash to your name? Most people would probably answer, "beg on a street corner" or "curl up and cry forever," but not <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/league-of-legends"><em>League of Legends</em></a> player Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng, who decided he was going to make ends meet by becoming a full-time pro gamer. Seems like a long shot, right? After all, pro gaming isn't what most people would call a reliable source of income.<br />
	<br />
	But somehow, he pulled it off, becoming an integral part of pro-gaming team Counter Logic Gaming in the process. Peng's story is so remarkable that the folks over at Machinima.com have put together a short documentary video that highlights Doublelift's rise to power in the <em>League of Legends</em> pro scene. It's something of a rags-to-riches story for the gaming generation, and whether you're a fan of e-sports or just a fan of uplifting success stories, it's certainly worth a watch. And as it happens, you can find the video past the cut, so why don't you check it out for yourself?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>League of Legends player goes pro to pay rent</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/">League of Legends player goes pro to pay rent</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20547677/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/league-of-legends-player-goes-pro-to-pay-rent/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XQQhrssnBY">MachinimaVS YouTube channel</a><!--//--></li><li>Via: <a href="http://kotaku.com/kicked-out-by-his-parents-he-played-league-of-legends-477497282">Kotaku</a><!--//--></via></ul></p>]]></description><category>dota</category><category>e-sport</category><category>esport</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>league</category><category>league-of-legends</category><category>lol</category><category>moba</category><category>riot</category><category>riot-games</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Team-based arena combat game Panzar goes live]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/"><img alt="I don't even know." data-src-height="299" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/panzar.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Do you enjoy crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and all that fun stuff? Then <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/panzar">Panzar</a></em> just might be the game for you. The newly launched title from Moscow-based <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/panzar-studio">Panzar Studio</a> is described as "a third-person action game in the spirit of modern competitive multiplayer games" with an emphasis on team-based play. Players can choose from one of eight classes and clash in fierce team-based combat on a number of different maps in gametypes such as King of the Hill and Domination.<br />
	<br />
	While it's not an MMO in the purest sense of the word, <em>Panzar</em> does feature persistent character progression. After each match, players are granted experience and resources that can be used to level up their class of choice and craft spiffy new equipment, respectively. The game is free-to-play, so if it sounds like your cup of tea, you can head on over to the official site to give it a spin for yourself. Alternatively, click on past the cut to check out the game's official cinematic trailer.<br />
	<br />
	[Thanks to SKURVEL for the tip!]</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Team-based arena combat game Panzar goes live</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/">Team-based arena combat game Panzar goes live</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20547068/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/team-based-arena-combat-game-panzar-goes-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.panzar.com">Panzar official site</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>action</category><category>action-combat</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>orcs-with-berets-and-tiny-mustaches</category><category>panzar</category><category>panzar-studio</category><category>team-based</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Wind Roundtable: NSFW edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-wind/" rel="tag">Second Wind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/"><img alt="Yes, we know it's spelled " data-src-height="313" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/sbheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	For this edition of the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/second-wind-roundtable">Second Wind Roundtable</a>, I thought it'd be a funny little prank to coerce a couple of my colleagues into playing <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/scarlet-blade"><em>Scarlet Blade</em></a> with me. I was wrong. I was so, so very wrong. We lost some good men in there, but those of us who survived to talk about it gathered 'round for some group therapy over hard whiskey and mind-bleach.<br />
	<br />
	Coincidentally, we also transcribed it so that you can learn from our mistakes. Be warned, many screenshots below the cut are explicit, though some have been tastefully censored for the sake of all things holy and sacred. No, really, we are not kidding: <strong>This post is not safe for work/children/anyone with a sense of common decency.</strong> That being said, you can join us after the cut.<br />
	<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQkFNVhppXo"><br />
	I'm so, so sorry.</a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Wind Roundtable: NSFW edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/">Second Wind Roundtable: NSFW edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20544155/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/second-wind-roundtable-nsfw-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>aeria-games</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freemium</category><category>i-dont-want-to-live-on-this-planet-anymore</category><category>microtransaction</category><category>microtransactions</category><category>nsfw</category><category>opinion</category><category>post-launch</category><category>premium</category><category>re-review</category><category>review</category><category>roundtable</category><category>scarlet-blade</category><category>second-impressions</category><category>second-look</category><category>second-wind</category><category>second-wind-roundtable</category><category>transcript</category><category>updated-impressions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Online collecting player stories, CSM elections halfway over]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/contests/" rel="tag">Contests</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/"><img alt="Screenshot -- EVE Online" data-src-height="332" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/eveheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	In a lot of ways, <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/eve-online">EVE Online</a></em> players are a lot like vikings. Or so <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/ccp">CCP</a>'s new promotional video would have you believe. It draws comparisons between early Icelandic settlers carving out their place in the world to players in the galaxy of <em>EVE Online</em> doing much the same. It also makes the fine point that we would know nothing about the settlers of Iceland were it not for the few who took the time to write about the events of the time. The fine scholars at CCP want to preserve the history of <em>EVE Online</em> in a similar way, and they want players' help to do it. Internet spacefarers can go to the <em>EVE </em><a href="https://truestories.eveonline.com/">True Stories</a> site and submit their favorite tales, which will be voted upon by fellow players. One lucky player will even win a trip to Iceland to visit CCP's studios and take in the splendor of the country.<br />
	<br />
	<em>EVE </em>players and politicians may also want to remember that the 8th Council of Stellar Management elections are halfway done, and voting will close on April 17th (that's today!) at 7 p.m. EST (midnight GMT). So if you want to make your voice heard, head on over to <a href="http://community.eveonline.com/community/csm/vote/">the election page</a> and cast your ballot. Also, don't forget to check out the True Stories video after the cut.SM</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Online collecting player stories, CSM elections halfway over</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/">EVE Online collecting player stories, CSM elections halfway over</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20543969/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/eve-online-collecting-player-stories-cms-elections-halfway-over/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://community.eveonline.com/news/news-channels/eve-online-news/csm8-elections-haf/">EVE Online -- CMS 8 Elections Halfway Complete</a><!--//-->, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLFVEG9gB20">EVE Online YouTube</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>cms</category><category>cms-8</category><category>contest</category><category>contests</category><category>council-of-stellar-management</category><category>council-of-stellar-management-8</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>true-tales</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Wind: Final Fantasy XI]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-wind/" rel="tag">Second Wind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Final Fantasy XI" data-src-height="258" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/ffxiheader.jpg" /></a></div>
Here's a fun fact about me: <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/final-fantasy-xi">Final Fantasy XI</a></em> was one of the first MMOs I ever played. I had dabbled in <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/ultima-online">Ultima Online</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/everquest">EverQuest</a></em> before it, but at the time those games came out, I was but a wee lad of nine or so, and I truly had no idea what I was doing in either of them. What I did know was that I was in love with the idea of sharing a massive, persistent world with thousands of friends (and enemies) waiting to be made.<br />
<br />
So when <em>Final Fantasy XI</em> came out stateside in late 2003 (it launched in Japan in 2002), I was firmly in the grip of some kind of JRPG mania thanks to <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_IX">Final Fantasy IX</a></em>, <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_dragoon">Legend of Dragoon</a></em>, and others of that ilk. Naturally I took to the notion of a massively multiplayer Final Fantasy game like <a href="http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Vivi_Ornitier">a Black Mage to a comically oversized hat</a>. I was a devout player of <em>FFXI </em>for a couple of years after that, before all of my <em>FFXI</em>-playing friends decided to jump ship to some uppity little newcomer called <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a></em>, and I've had an on-again, off-again (mostly the latter) relationship with <em>FFXI</em> ever since.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Wind: Final Fantasy XI</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/">Second Wind: Final Fantasy XI</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20529615/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/second-wind-final-fantasy-xi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>ff</category><category>ff11</category><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-11</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>OPINION</category><category>post-launch</category><category>relook</category><category>second-impressions</category><category>second-look</category><category>second-wind</category><category>square</category><category>square-enix</category><category>updated-impressions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Camelot Unchained reveals final Kickstarter reward tiers]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/camelot-unchained/" rel="tag">Camelot Unchained</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/"><img alt="Artwork -- Camelot Unchained" data-src-height="187" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/04/cuheader.jpg" /></a></div>
Have you ever heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law">Poe's law</a>? It originally applied to parodies of fundamentalist behavior, stating that it's impossible to create a parody of fundamentalism that someone won't mistake for the real thing. Sometimes, though, the law finds applications elsewhere, such as in <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/camelot-unchained"><em>Camelot Unchained</em>'s</a> suspiciously timed unveiling of its final Kickstarter reward tiers. We're pretty certain that these are legitimate; after all, there's plenty of room for absurdity in rewards that only a small fraction of people will ever pay for. But some of these are so out there that we wouldn't be at all surprised if <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/mark-jacobs">Mark Jacobs</a> popped out of our computer screens and yelled, "April Fools!"<br />
<br />
Many of the rewards seem innocent enough, sure: Up to 50 particularly spendy players can drop a thousand bucks in exchange for the opportunity to work with the dev team to design their own custom-built house, for instance. But that same thousand bucks could also be used for the ability to "name a liquid substance" in <em>Camelot Unchained</em>, which is probably one of the more bizarre rewards we've seen in recent times, especially considering the exorbitant amount of money required. And if you're the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or some kind of oil sheikh, pledging a whopping $10,000 (yes, ten thousand bucks) will net you a three-day visit to the studios of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/city-state-entertainment">City State Entertainment</a>, on the final day of which you'll "get to say the magical words 'AOT DEKCUS' (protip: read that backwards) and throw your choice of fruit pies at Mark Jacobs." If that's not sufficiently surreal for you, then you might be living in an Dali painting. Either way, the full list of rewards can be found on the official <em>Camelot Unchained</em> site.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/">Camelot Unchained reveals final Kickstarter reward tiers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20525430/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/camelot-unchained-reveals-final-kickstarter-reward-tiers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://camelotunchained.com/en/reward-tiers-part-3/">Camelot Unchained Kickstarter reward tiers -- part 3</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>camelot</category><category>camelot-unchained</category><category>city-state</category><category>city-state-entertainment</category><category>cse</category><category>kickstarter</category><category>kickstarter-rewards</category><category>mark-jacobs</category><category>pvp</category><category>rvr</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: A second hands-on with WildStar's Draken Stalker]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wildstar/" rel="tag">WildStar</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker"><img alt="Screenshot -- WildStar" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/wildstar-header.jpg" /></a></div>
Everyone at the completely fictional Massively office seems to have some kind of schoolgirl crush on <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/carbine-studios">Carbine Studios'</a> quirky upcoming sci-fi title <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wildstar">WildStar</a></em>, and I can understand why. The setting is fresh, melding some aspects of our favorite sci-fi properties (cough Firefly cough) with a a healthy dose of fantasy and a not insignificant amount of witty comedy, and the list of features the game boasts is rather extensive. I mean, did you even see <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-a-first-look-at-wildstars-high-low-and-housing/">that housing trailer</a>? Holy wow, guys.<br />
<br />
In spite of all of that, though, I was still a little cautious about giving in to the hype. After all, I'm sure there's not an MMO fan in existence who hasn't gotten super excited about a game and become a devoted fanboy only to have his hopes and expectations shattered when the game didn't live up to the hype. So I let myself be excited, but reservedly so, until I could get my hands on the game for myself to complement <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-wildstars-spellslinger-and-warrior/">Eliot's earlier PAX hands-on with the game</a>. As it so happens, on the last day of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a>, I got to do just that. Though it was only a short 25-minute demo (thank goodness -- otherwise the lines would have circled the convention center), I think I was able to get a pretty solid idea of what we can expect from <em>WildStar</em>, and let me tell you right now, we can expect some great things.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2013: A second hands-on with WildStar's Draken Stalker</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/">PAX East 2013: A second hands-on with WildStar's Draken Stalker</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20523528/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/pax-2013-a-second-hands-on-with-wildstars-draken-stalker/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>carbine</category><category>carbine-studios</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>featured</category><category>hands-on</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>sandpark</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>wildstar</category><category>ws</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trion Worlds' Victoria Voss talks ArcheAge]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/archeage/" rel="tag">ArcheAge</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/"><img alt="Screenshot -- ArcheAge" data-src-height="261" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/archeageheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	There's been quite the hubbub surrounding <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/trion-worlds">Trion Worlds'</a> taking up the mantle as the Western publisher of Korean sandbox title <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/archeage">ArcheAge</a></em>, largely because many fans were doubtful that the game would even make its way to the western hemisphere at all. Now that we know that we're going to be able to get our hands on the title courtesy of Trion, a new set of questions have been raised. How will Trion be handling the game's localization? Will the game be receiving extensive westernization, or will we be getting the game as-is? Thankfully, some of those questions now have answers.<br />
	<br />
	In an interview with MMOCulture, Trion Worlds' Senior Producer for <em>ArcheAge</em>, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/victoria-voss">Victoria Voss</a>, answered a few questions on the upcoming western version of the hotly anticipated sandbox title. In the interview, Voss reveals that Trion is in constant communication with ArcheAge developer <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/xlgames">XLGAMES</a> in regard to the localization process, noting that Trion has discovered that "XLGAMES had many of the same thoughts [on localization] as [Trion], so many of the changes will be game-wide, not just for the west," though Trion is also "working with XLGAMES on some western-specific changes, such as character creation options, which [western] players are expecting." And of course, in the ultimate tease, Voss reveals that there is an internal ETA for the game's closed beta test, but Trion isn't quite ready to announce the specifics. For now, though, try to satiate your cravings by clicking through the link below to check out the full interview.<br />
	<br />
	[Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/">Trion Worlds' Victoria Voss talks ArcheAge</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20523929/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/trion-worlds-victoria-voss-talks-archeage/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.mmoculture.com/2013/03/archeage-interview-with-trion-worlds-for-upcoming-epic-title/">MMOCulture</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>aa</category><category>arche-age</category><category>archeage</category><category>fantasy</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>pvp</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sandpark</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>victoria-voss</category><category>xl-games</category><category>xlgames</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX 2013: Hands-on with Smashmuck Champions]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/moba/" rel="tag">MOBA</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Smashmuck Champions" data-src-height="256" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/smashmuckheader.jpg" /></a></div>
MOBAs are all the rage these days, with dozens of the things cropping up like weeds in my neglected back yard. As a result, it can be hard for me to pay attention to all of them, and with new ones being announced on what seems like a monthly basis, it's hard to figure out which ones are worth keeping an eye on and which ones can be safely relegated to the realm of ignorance, so as a result I tend to just shrug and say, "Oh, another MOBA," and carry on with my life.<br />
<br />
But then came <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/smashmuck-champions">Smashmuck Champions</a></em>. The bizarrely named game was probably my surprise hit of this year's <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a> convention, largely because I had absolutely no expectations when I walked up to the booth. "Another MOBA," I figured, "that's going to play the exact same as every other one (and that I'm going to suck at, also just like every other one)." Yawn. Man, was I wrong (about the first bit, anyway). <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/kiz-studios">Kiz Studios</a>, the studio behind this new entry into the multiplayer online battle arena... well, arena, has taken the tower-attacking, top-mid-bottom-ganking, minion-farming genre made famous by games such as <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/dota">DotA</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/league-of-legends">League of Legends</a></em> and turned it on its head. Sure, the general MOBA feel is still there, but it's definitely not like any MOBA I've seen before. But as we all know, "different" doesn't necessarily equate to "good," so why don't you click past the cut and find out whether <em>Smashmuck Champions</em> is worth your time?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX 2013: Hands-on with Smashmuck Champions</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/">PAX 2013: Hands-on with Smashmuck Champions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20516159/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/25/pax-2013-hands-on-with-smashmuck-champions/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>featured</category><category>hands-on</category><category>kiz-studios</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>moba</category><category>mobas</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>SHARK-DOCTOR-GUYS</category><category>smashmuck-champions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX 2013: Hands-on with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trading-card-games/" rel="tag">Trading Card Games</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mac/" rel="tag">Mac</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft" data-src-height="319" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/hsheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft">Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</a></em> is a brand-spankin'-new online collectible card game from <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard</a>, announced just yesterday here at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East 2013</a>. And since I love you guys soooo much, I took the time to stand in line to take a look for myself. It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that I flock to CCGs like a moth to flame. No sirree.<br />
<br />
Of course, this isn't your traditional MMO, so it's difficult to write a traditional review, especially considering I was able to play only a single match (which I won by a landslide, thank you very much), so instead I'm just going to give y'all a rundown of how the game plays and let you draw your own conclusions. Shuffle your cards, cut your decks, and read on for the skinny on <em>Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</em>.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX 2013: Hands-on with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/">PAX 2013: Hands-on with Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20515844/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-2013-hands-on-with-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>ccg</category><category>collectible-card-game</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freemium</category><category>hands-on</category><category>hearthstone</category><category>hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft</category><category>heroes-of-warcraft</category><category>joystiq</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>microtransaction</category><category>microtransactions</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>premium</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>tcg</category><category>testing</category><category>trading-card-game</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Hands-on with City of Steam]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business Models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-steam/" rel="tag">City of Steam</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/"><img alt="Screenshot -- City of Steam" data-src-height="275" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/cosheader.jpg" /></a></div>
I don't know what it is about steam engines, brass goggles, and copious amounts of clockwork mechanisms that excites me so much, but the steampunk genre has a special place in my heart. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that when I discovered that <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/mechanist-games">Mechanist Games</a>, the<br />
studio behind upcoming F2P browser MMO <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/city-of-steam">City of Steam</a>, was going to be at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a>, I immediately claimed the assignment.<br />
<br />
For the uninitiated, <em>City of Steam</em> is a title that mixes the traditional fantasy flavors of magic, elves, and goblins with steampunk staples of industrialism, clockwork automatons, and airships to create what is described as "industrial age fantasy in a fallen world." During my time at PAX East, I got to spend just under an hour exploring the world of <em>City of Steam</em> and chatting with the game's developers who were milling about the booth. It's a fairly ambitious title that's aiming to bring a high-quality, modern MMO experience to players' browsers, but will it run like clockwork or go up in a cloud of steam?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2013: Hands-on with City of Steam</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/">PAX East 2013: Hands-on with City of Steam</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20515778/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-city-of-steam/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>city-of-steam</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>goblin</category><category>hands-on</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>mechanist</category><category>mechanist-games</category><category>microtransaction</category><category>microtransactions</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>steampunk</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online, round two]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events (Real-World)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Events (Massively's Coverage)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two"><img alt="Screenshot -- The Elder Scrolls Online" data-src-height="331" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/tesoheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/massivelys-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online/">Last October, I paid a visit</a> to the <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/zenimax-online">ZeniMax Online</a> studios in Maryland in order to get some hands-on time with the studio's upcoming MMO, <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></em>. Well, today at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a> I got to pay the lands of Tamriel a second visit to see how far the team has come since my first look at the game. Honestly, I was initially dreading writing this because I was sure that I wouldn't have anything to say that I hadn't said in my previous review, but thankfully, I was worried for nothing.<br />
<br />
The game was hardly recognizable to me because of the sheer amount of attention that's been given to it since I first played it in its alpha stage last fall. Gone was the functional-but-barebones UI with which I was familiar; it's been replaced with a sleek, polished interface leaps and bounds above the (notoriously awful) interfaces seen in the single-player entries of the series. On top of that, I got my grubby paws on a different faction, swapping my Dunmer of the Ebonheart Pact for a Breton of the Daggerfall Covenant. After character creation (which, by the way, is insanely detailed with dozens of appearance sliders and customization options), I was dropped into Stros M'Kai, the starting zone for members of the Daggerfall Covenant. From there I was let loose to roam, explore, quest, and fight for a solid two hours.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online, round two</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/">PAX East 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online, round two</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20515492/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hands-on-with-the-elder-scrolls-online-round-two/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>bethesda</category><category>bethesda-softworks</category><category>bethsoft</category><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>daggerfall</category><category>elder-scrolls</category><category>elder-scrolls-online</category><category>eso</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>factions</category><category>featured</category><category>hands-on</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>morrowind</category><category>oblivion</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>pvp</category><category>rvr</category><category>sandbox</category><category>skyrim</category><category>tamriel</category><category>tes</category><category>teso</category><category>the-elder-scrolls</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>three-faction-pvp</category><category>three-way-pvp</category><category>zenimax</category><category>zenimax-media</category><category>zenimax-online</category><category>zenimax-online-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2013: Hi-Rez Studios' Todd Harris talks SMITE, Global Agenda 2]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/global-agenda/" rel="tag">Global Agenda</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/moba/" rel="tag">MOBA</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/"><img alt="Screenshot -- SMITE" data-src-height="298" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/smiteheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/smite">SMITE</a></em> just recently celebrated the release of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/aphrodite-joins-the-smite-fight-crew/">its 32nd playable deity, Aphrodite</a>, but she's far from the last thing in the wings for <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/hi-rez-studios">Hi-Rez Studios'</a> borderline blasphemous MOBA. We got the chance to catch up with Hi-Rez COO <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/todd-harris">Todd Harris</a> at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/pax-east-2013">PAX East</a> to find out what awaits in the studio's future. Obviously the studio's immediate focus is on its new golden child, <em>SMITE</em>, for which Hi-Rez (partnered with Twitch.tv) is holding a $10,000 tournament at PAX East over the weekend. Harris also mentioned that <em>SMITE </em>is looking to officially release once its roster reaches about 40 deities, which he says will likely be sometime this summer.<br />
	<br />
	And for those of you with itchy trigger-fingers, Harris also mentioned that <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/global-agenda-2">Global Agenda 2</a></em> is, in fact, still alive and kicking, though right now further details are scant. What we do know is that the team is focusing on the game's PvP for launch, which may be somewhat disappointing to fans of the original <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/global-agenda"><em>Global Agenda</em>'s</a> co-op PvE, but Harris says that the studio wants to put forth the most polished PvP experience possible before looking into expanding the game into PvE territory. Unfortunately, that's about all we know right now, so we'll just have to content ourselves with knowing that it hasn't been relegated to the realm of development hell.<br />
	<br />
	<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/pax3.png" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of March 22nd to 24th, bringing you all the best news from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pax-east-2013/">PAX East 2013</a>. Whether you're dying to know more about </em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wildstar">WildStar</a>,<em> </em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/dust-514">DUST 514</a>,<em> or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!</em></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/">PAX East 2013: Hi-Rez Studios' Todd Harris talks SMITE, Global Agenda 2</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20515067/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/pax-east-2013-hi-rez-studios-todd-harris-talks-smite-global-a/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>event</category><category>event-coverage</category><category>events</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>ga</category><category>global agenda</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>massively-event-coverage</category><category>mmofps</category><category>moba</category><category>multiplayer-online-battle-arena</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2013</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2013</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>Smite</category><category>spy-fi</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>todd-harris</category><category>tps</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Champions Online dev blog goes behind-the-scenes of the Lemurian Invasion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events (In-Game)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/champions-online/" rel="tag">Champions Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/"><img alt="Champions Online's Lemurian Invasion" data-src-height="311" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/coheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Last week, <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/champions-online"><em>Champions Online</em>'s</a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/lemurian-invasion">Lemurian Invasion</a> event hit the live servers, and since then players have been valiantly fighting to defend the world against the alien forces. But as the latest <em>Champions </em>devblog notes, "an invasion force like the Lemurians doesn't come out of nowhere." With that in mind, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cryptic-studios">Cryptic</a> has released a brand-new devblog that takes players behind the curtain for a look at the making of the Lemurian invasion. In the post, <em>Champions Online</em>'s new Live Producer, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/tom-edwards">Tom "Lord Gar" Edwards</a>, takes players on a brief tour of the process behind creating a live event.<br />
	<br />
	Edwards details all of the hard work that went into the Lemurian Invasion, from the event's initial conception to 3-D models, animations, and playtesting. But perhaps more importantly, he takes a few paragraphs to talk about the future: "[In] the first half 2013, [Cryptic's] plan is to release several story arcs of a similar scale to the Lemurian invasion." He adds that "each arc will have a lockbox, some smaller missions, and then a larger mission at the end." According to Edwards, each mission will " have its own themed rewards and new items [that will] sometimes focus on character improvements, and some on vehicles." <em>Champions</em>' next arc will involve "gladiatorial combat" and will focus on the aforementioned character improvements.<br />
	<br />
	Edwards promises that more info is coming soon. Until then, how about heading over to the <em>Champions Online</em> devblog for all the tasty Lemurian Invasion details?<br />
	<br />
	[Thanks to Matixzun for the tip!]</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/">Champions Online dev blog goes behind-the-scenes of the Lemurian Invasion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20507024/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/champions-online-dev-blog-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-lemurian/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://co.perfectworld.com/news/?p=839981">Champions Online devblog</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>behind-the-scenes</category><category>champions</category><category>champions-online</category><category>champs</category><category>co</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>devblog</category><category>devblogs</category><category>event</category><category>events</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freemium</category><category>in-game-event</category><category>in-game-events</category><category>lemurian-invasion</category><category>live-event</category><category>live-events</category><category>making-of</category><category>microtransaction</category><category>microtransactions</category><category>perfect-world</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>premium</category><category>pwe</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Firefall revamps progression system... again]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/firefall/" rel="tag">Firefall</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Firefall" data-src-height="313" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/ffheader.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/red-5-studios">Red 5 Studios</a> has not been shy about making sweeping changes to its in-beta massively multiplayer shooter <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/firefall">Firefall</a></em>. Entire game systems have been retooled, revamped, and sometimes removed entirely as part of the developers' efforts to improve the game. The latest <em>Firefall </em>devblog has revealed that the game's progression system is back on the operating table <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/firefall-extrapolates-on-its-new-progression-system/">for the second time</a>, and it's going to get some more nips and tucks in the March 22nd milestone patch.<br />
	<br />
	Senior Game Designer <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/cameron-winston">Cameron Winston</a> states that when the studio first overhauled the game's progression system (replacing the game's more traditional leveling system with battleframe-specific tech trees), the result was certainly for the best, but the change "came with some problems of its own," such as being "hard to understand... [with] arbitrary limitations that prevented players from exploring how they could customize their frames."<br />
	<br />
	To fix these issues, the studio will ensure that players will now have "far more flat access to the frames," meaning that there will still be different battleframe classes such as Assault and Recon, "but each battleframe will now have its own unique progression tree," which the developers hope will give more flexibility and customization options to players. Of course, the specifics of an entire system overhaul can't be adequately described in 300 words or less, so if you want all the fine details, head on over to <em>Firefall</em>'s official site.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/">Firefall revamps progression system... again</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20507015/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/16/firefall-revamps-progression-system-again/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.firefallthegame.com/2013/03/15/firefalls-new-progression-system/">Firefall devblog</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>cameron-winston</category><category>devblog</category><category>devblogs</category><category>f2p</category><category>firefall</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>mmo-shooter</category><category>progression</category><category>progression-system</category><category>pvp</category><category>red-5</category><category>red-5-studios</category><category>revamp</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shooter</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>war</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Second Wind Roundtable: Torchlight II]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game Mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-On (Massively's)</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-wind/" rel="tag">Second Wind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Torchlight II" data-src-height="292" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/header-1363380507.jpg" /></a></div>
Welcome to the first ever installment of this "roundtable" edition of <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/second-wind">Second Wind</a>, where the best and brightest (or barring that, whoever's available) here at Massively get together for an evening to act stupid in video games and then talk about it. For our first trip down the rabbit hole, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/brianna-royce">Bree</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/eliot-lefebvre">Eliot</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/elisabeth-cardy">Lis</a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/matt-daniel">I</a> decided to give our mouse-clickin'-fingers a workout by way of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/runic-games">Runic Games'</a> <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/torchlight-ii"><em>Torchlight II</em></a>.<br />
<br />
Our intrepid party of fearless adventurers was made up of Viase the Engineer (played by Eliot), ZERKIN the Berserker (played by Bree, and yes the caps are <em>necessary</em>), and a pair of Embermages played by Lis and me because it was the only class neither of us had played yet. We spent a few hours hacking and slashing our way through the first couple of zones of <em>TL2</em>'s campaign, and much hilarity ensued. Click on past the cut for our full, insanity-fueled conversation on the ups and downs of our joint <em>Torchlight II</em> experience.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Second Wind Roundtable: Torchlight II</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/">Second Wind Roundtable: Torchlight II</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20506124/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/second-wind-roundtable-torchlight-ii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>chat</category><category>featured</category><category>post-launch</category><category>re-review</category><category>review</category><category>roundtable</category><category>runic</category><category>runic-games</category><category>second-impressions</category><category>second-look</category><category>second-wind</category><category>second-wind-roundtable</category><category>tl2</category><category>torchlight</category><category>torchlight-2</category><category>torchlight-ii</category><category>transcript</category><category>updated-impressions</category><category>ZERKIN</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carbine unveils five-minute WildStar gameplay video featuring Deradune]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-Fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wildstar/" rel="tag">WildStar</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/"><img alt="Screenshot -- WildStar" data-src-height="289" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/wildstar-1363291125.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	In yesterday's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/wildstar"><em>WildStar</em></a> Wednesday post, the kind folks over at <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/carbine-studios">Carbine</a> took us on a textual tour of the savage wilds of Planet Nexus's Deradune zone. But while words are nice, we know that seeing is believing, so the studio has released a five-minute video showing off some Dominion gameplay across a number of Deradune's locales.<br />
	<br />
	Follow along with some Dominion adventurers as they explore the beautiful Deradune landscape and mercilessly slaughter its inhabitants. The video features some combat, some platforming, and even a showdown with fan-created monster Metal Maw. So what are you waiting for? Head on past the cut and feast your eyes, and be sure to look for more on Deradune in the future, since Carbine has announced that the zone will be playable at PAX East next week.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Carbine unveils five-minute WildStar gameplay video featuring Deradune</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/">Carbine unveils five-minute WildStar gameplay video featuring Deradune</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20503672/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/carbine-unveils-five-minute-wildstar-gameplay-video-featuring-de/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=J0TdsPVLna4">Wildstar official YouTube</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>carbine</category><category>carbine-studios</category><category>deradune</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>preview</category><category>sandpark</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><category>wildstar</category><category>wildstar-wednesday</category><category>ws</category><category>zone</category><category>zones</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[In the year 20XX, Mega Man Online is cancelled]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO Industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/"><img alt="Screencap -- Mega Man Online trailer" data-src-height="258" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/zero.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	It's been quite some time since we heard anything about <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/mega-man-online">Mega Man Online</a></em>, which we first heard about <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/mega-man-online-confirmed-for-pc/">in May 2010</a>. Unfortunately for fans of the Blue Bomber, it looks as if we've now heard the last of it, as Korean website This Is Game has received confirmation from the game's developer, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/neowiz">Neowiz</a>, that the project was officially canned last November.<br />
	<br />
	The studio's representative stated, "Both companies have continually discussed to find agreeable points on quality, development time, communication and etc. Ultimately, both companies have agreed to stop the development of <em>Rock Man</em> [Mega Man's Japanese name] <em>Online </em>[early last] November." It's sad news for fans who were looking forward to going Maverick-hunting with some of their closest friends, but if the much-requested <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man_Legends_3"><em>Mega Man Legends 3</em></a> can't even get through the pipeline, it shouldn't be too surprising that this didn't, either.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/">In the year 20XX, Mega Man Online is cancelled</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20503322/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/in-the-year-20xx-mega-man-online-is-cancelled/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://kotaku.com/5990487/so-mega-man-online-has-been-cancelled">Kotaku</a><!--//--></li><li>Via: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/mega-man-online-officially-canned/">Joystiq</a><!--//--></via></ul></p>]]></description><category>blue-bomber</category><category>cancel</category><category>cancellation</category><category>capcom</category><category>mega-man</category><category>mega-man-online</category><category>neowiz</category><category>rock-man-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dig through the sand(box) in the latest Camelot Unchained devblog]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/camelot-unchained/" rel="tag">Camelot Unchained</a></p><div>
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/"><img alt="Artwork -- Camelot Unchained" data-src-height="358" data-src-width="225" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/cu4.jpg" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt; float: left; padding-right: 10px;" /></a></div>
<em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/camelot-unchained">Camelot Unchained</a></em> continues its foundational principles series of dev blogs with entry number 11, in which <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/mark-jacobs">Mark Jacobs</a> talks about what exactly constitutes a sandbox game and the philosophy behind the sandbox elements in <em>Camelot Unchained</em>. He starts off with a clarification that "<em>CU</em> is not a true sandbox MMORPG" because "a true sandbox MMORPG would allow the player to build out his stats, skills, alter the world, etc. without most of the fixed conventions and limitations that are found in <em>CU </em>and most other RPGs." Regardless, Jacobs believes that his studio "can learn from and adapt the concept of [sandbox games]."<br />
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Jacobs goes on to talk about how and where he decided to implement traditionally sandboxy elements into <em>Camelot Unchained</em> and where he decided it was best to go a different route altogether. For instance, he argues that "in a true SBRPG a player's actions within the game would dictate evolution and progression." Jacobs claims that while <em>CU</em> earns some "sandbox points" because of its relatively unrestrictive class system, it loses some simply because it utilizes <em>a </em>class system. He spends the rest of the post running through the game's list of features and explaining the rationale behind the sandbox elements (or lack thereof) in each one, so if you want to get into the nitty-gritty of <em>Camelot Unchained</em>'s sandboxiness (which is now a word), settle in and read the full post at the game's official site.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/">Dig through the sand(box) in the latest Camelot Unchained devblog</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20501039/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/dig-through-the-sand-box-in-the-latest-camelot-unchained-devblo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://citystateentertainment.com/2013/03/foundational-principle-11/">Camelot Unchained -- Foundational Principles #11</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>camelot</category><category>camelot-unchained</category><category>city-state</category><category>city-state-entertainment</category><category>cse</category><category>design</category><category>design-philosophy</category><category>design-theory</category><category>dev-blog</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>mark-jacobs</category><category>pvp</category><category>rvr</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sandbox-design</category><category>sandboxes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[JOYHUBs announces new browser MMO Call of Camelot]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New Titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News Items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-Play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/"><img alt="Call of Camelot artwork" data-src-height="280" data-src-width="530" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2013/03/coc.jpg" /></a></div>
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	As great as big-budget MMOs can be, sometimes it's nice to have a game you can play to kill some time during your lunch break at work, and nothing fills that niche better than a good-ol'-fashioned browser game such as <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/joyhub">JOYHUBs'</a> newly announced title <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/call-of-camelot">Call of Camelot</a></em>. The game takes place in the mythical realm of Camelot, and features all the Arthurian fantasy staples people expect: dragons, wizards, demons, and kings who expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at them<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOOTKA0aGI0&amp;t=2m4s">[citation needed]</a>.<br />
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	The game's press release boasts a number of features such as three PvP modes (team-based battlegrounds, guild-vs-guild-vs-guild siege warfare, and open-world encounters), and instances "where players can train themselves or their mounts." Players can work toward enhancing their equipment, find and acquire new mounts, and even get married. <em>Call of Camelot</em> also features a method of idle-progression in the form of an "in-game legal bot" which "allows players to beat mobs automatically," which is a feature that will likely fall into love-it-or-hate-it territory. If any of that sounds like it tickles your fancy, the game will be entering alpha testing sometime this month, so keep an eye out for more news soon.<br />
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	[Source: JOYHUBs press release]</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/">JOYHUBs announces new browser MMO Call of Camelot</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20497326/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/joyhubs-announces-new-browser-mmo-call-of-camelot/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>call-of-camelot</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>joyhubs</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>