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Eurogamer pits Vanguard vs. EQII in first head-to-head MMO battle

Michael Zenke — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Vanguard, Humor

Eurogamer has begun a novel way of 'reviewing' MMOs, a hilarious head-to-head competition premise for this notoriously finicky genre of games. The series is called the "Ten Levels Test", and it couldn't be easier to understand. The writers are going to install each of the games involved in the test, and then play through the first ten levels of the content. Whichever game is more fun will stay in the running, while the other will be uninstalled. There are going to be several rounds of gaming goodness, each pitting 'similar' games to each other in a trial of the second tier of massively multiplayer titles. Full details on the competition are available on the Eurogamer editor blog.

The first competiion was between EverQuest 2 and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes ... and the result is not what you might have expected. Despite being welcomed into an EQ2 guild early in his career, writer Oli Welsh found that Vanguard was ultimately the more engaging world. A different twist on the typical fantasy, interactive combat, and a very fresh approach to storytelling grabbed the author, and gave the troubled title the clear win. Welsh points out that the starting experience in Vanguard was just recently added, and so its clear quality may be disarming or short-lived. Still, the purpose of this series is only to explore the first ten levels. Vanguard was the clear

Eurogamer pits Vanguard vs. EQII in first head-to-head MMO battle originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Test server patch notes for Warhammer's "Bitter Rivals" event released

Michael Zenke — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Bugs, Patches, Crafting, PvP, Warhammer Online

Patch days are like mini-holidays for MMO players. They're worth a beer, a cheer, and a heck of a lot of investigating. The upcoming Warhammer Online Patch 1.2 is worth a lot of cheering, as it ushers in the first of the proper Call to Arms expansion live events. What's more, at 55 pages, you'd cheer your throat raw before the improvements ran out. The biggest news, of course, is the addition of two brand-new character classes for the Greenskins and Stunties. The Choppa and Slayer will inject some much-needed enthusiasm into the game's playerbase.

Here are some of the other highlights the devs have chosen to single out:

A brand-new Tier 4 Scenario called the Twisting Tower. Much like the Reikland Factory during the Heavy Metal event, this is a limited-term engagement. Make sure you check it out while the event is up and running.
All-new systems are being put into place for Open RvR! A "Rallying Cry" will draw players to conflicts in the first two tiers, while a new Zone Control Domination system will give players incentives to truly conquer those zones.
Itemization has been revamped across the board, with dungeons, fortresses, and PQs all recieving tweaks and reconsideration.
"Easy-mode" Public Quests are being added throughout the 2-4 tiers, allowing solo players and small groups to get that sweet PvE loot without having to grind Stage 1.
Crafting is being given a significant overhaul. All the 'gathering' skills are now extraordinarily streamlined, and the 'creation' skills are now definitively associated with two gathering skills.

Beyond the above there are numerous changes to classes, user interface improvements, brand new mounts, and an army's worth of bug fixes. The scope of this patch is daunting to contemplate, let alone read through, but if you want to give it a try the full and unadulterated list is available at the Warhammer Herald. Put on your helmed horn and go check it out.

Gallery: Warhammer Online: Concept Art

Mythic has announced the first expansion to Warhammer Online! Check out the announcement itself, the two brand-new classes coming to the game, and the enormous new dungeon/zone slated for a few months away! Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Test server patch notes for Warhammer's "Bitter Rivals" event released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you craft more if it didn't bore you?

Michael Zenke — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Crafting, Opinion, The Daily Grind

The announcement of streamlining and clarification of crafting coming to Warhammer Online has us thinking: what do you think of crafting in MMOs? Most AAA games offer some sort of non-combat opportunities, but generally they're far less engaging than the combat component of the gameworld. There are exceptions, of course, such as the minigame offerings of Puzzle Pirates or the elaborate tiers of pre-NGE Star Wars Galaxies. EverQuest 2 has made enormous improvements on its simple design by adding vibrant rewards and unique non-combat instances into the mix.

The popularity of World of Warcraft has made their simple one-click crafting schema the 'defacto' standard, and a lot of players seem to enjoy that. What about you, though? If crafting was offered in a radically different way or was a central component to an MMO, would you be more inclined to participate? If it wasn't as simple as grinding through simple point-and-click recipes, would you join the noble ranks of the crafting elite?

The Daily Grind: Would you craft more if it didn't bore you? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Examining a new threat for the Old Republic

Michael Zenke — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, New Titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Over the weekend it was announced that The Old Republic would be arriving much sooner than expected. In comic book format, at least. The Threat of Peace will be an ongoing webcomic series written by one of BioWare's finest and produced by the same folks that handle the Dark Horse title Knights of the Old Republic. We had the chance to learn more about this undertaking thanks to an interview with the comic's writer over at IGN. Their discussion with Mr. Rob Chestney unveils a number of different infobits, including who will be doing art on the project (Alex Sanchez).

According to Chestney the writers on the comic have a very specific length in mind, but they're open to more spin-off stories if the series does well. Readers will have the chance to familiarize themselves with characters they'll see in-game; as the comic will act as a sort of prequel to the Old Republic MMO, we should all have a greater appreciation for those characters when we meet them on quests. They'll apparently be posting three pages a week starting on the 27th, and that publishing rate should increase as they closer to the game's launch. Check out the interview for full details, and we'll be sure to give you a heads up when the first comics drop.

Examining a new threat for the Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview of the revamp to the EverQuest 2 Lavastorm zone

Michael Zenke — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Patches

The next big content drop for EverQuest 2 is coming in Game Update 51. As we discussed at the end of last year the developers are doing an 'EverFrost redux' on the Lavastorm zone, and now there's a preview of the new content up on the official EQ2 site. They'll be streamlining and refining the content that's already in place, making it easier to traverse the zone and enjoy the ongoing battle with the Sootfoot Goblins. In addition to this existing content two new dungeons, dozens of new quests, and a brand-new crafting zone for tradeskilling players. One of these dungeons will be an "x2", while the other will be an "x4", varying sizes of raid dungeons.

The high level adventuring content sounds particularly interesting, as the Sootfoots turn from their dark magics to seek help against even greater evils. They'll be available as a faction that can be developed, without a doubt eventually leading to factional benefits and rewards. Full details on the Sootfoots, The Ward of Elements, and The Order of Flame are available on the official EverQuest 2 Players site.

Preview of the revamp to the EverQuest 2 Lavastorm zone originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare and Dark Horse team up for The Old Republic webcomic

Michael Zenke — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Star Wars: The Old Republic

The official Old Republic website has a great announcement up today, undoubtedly the surprise that Sean Dahlberg mentioned in yesterday's Friday design post. In collaboration with Dark Horse Comics, BioWare writer Rob Chestney is going to be penning a comic book entirely within the world of Star Wars: The Old Republic. What's even better: the comic will be entirely web-based and free to read.

Here's the precis: "War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire has gripped the galaxy for generations, but the sacking of Coruscant and a subsequent peace treaty are changing everything. As the Republic scrambles to re-establish order, the Sith Empire moves quickly to consolidate power within its new dominion. Behind closed doors, however, individual Sith Lords engage in a quiet but deadly power struggle, and discord breaks out among the Jedi as they wrestle with the moral implications of the new galactic balance. During these chaotic days, the stories of several critical characters interweave as they pursue their passions, stand up for their convictions and ultimately lead the galaxy back to the brink of a catastrophic conflict."

Read the announcement over at the official site, or dig into the full press release below the cut.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Concept Art

Continue reading BioWare and Dark Horse team up for The Old Republic webcomic

BioWare and Dark Horse team up for The Old Republic webcomic originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Defining the design process for Star Wars: The Old Republic

Michael Zenke — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Every Friday like clockwork the fine folks at BioWare Austin offer up a new tidbit to sink our teeth into. Last week was kind of a blowout, with the enormous video of Tython and how it was made. If you haven't had a chance to check out the best look we've had to date at Star Wars: The Old Republic, you owe it to yourself to do so. This week's offering was quite a bit more focused, delving into the design process used by the team to create a piece of the gameworld. Dallas Dickinson, Senior Content Designer for the game, walks us through the numerous steps required to get even one planet prepped for play.

Beginning with the all-important research phase, the designers and developers iterate endlessly on the dialogue, writing, area layout, and art of a planet. What's striking is the sheer amount of interdependency and coordination required for something of this scale. Get a sense of that scale by reading through Dickinson's entry and mulling through the enormous amount of content the developers released last week to accompany the Tython video.

Plus! Sean Dahlberg drops in near the end of the comments on the post to let us know something is coming. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for a special announcement!

Defining the design process for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Love is in the air as the Night of Murder goes live in Warhammer

Michael Zenke — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Warhammer Online

Last week we brought you the news that the Night of Murder would be the precursor event to the ambitious Call to Arms live expansion to Warhammer Online. As February 14th inches ever closer (remember, your leveling partner might like a gift or two), the developers have pushed the first of these in-game events live to the servers. To accompany the new event, the Herald has a brand-new Grab Bag of bountiful information for you to sink your teeth into.

Some highlights:

All tasks for the event are unlocked from the get-go. No need to wait to get into the thick of it.
Roughly 2 out of every 10 players will be marked, so there should be plenty of death to go around. Additionally, all keep lords are marked.
Credit for marked kills goes to the group that killed the marked player; keep lords slain during the event bestow credit to everyone involved in taking out the keep.
Rewards for the event include: a special title, a unique Night of Murder trophy, and at the top tier a unique trinket that will give you +5% renown when you're participating in RvR. That last item has a level 35 item restriction placed on it.

For the full story, make sure to check out our interview with Jeff Hickman about the event, the official event page on the WAR site, and the full Grab Bag about the Night of Murder.

Love is in the air as the Night of Murder goes live in Warhammer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vanguard celebrates its second anniversary, game update

Michael Zenke — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Vanguard

We were just recently talking about how much Vanguard: Saga of Heroes has improved over the years. Make that, as of this week, two years exactly as the MMO celebrates its anniversary with an in-game event. The actual birthday was on the 30th of January, but we're not going to quibble. While you missed the first night of festivities last night, tomorrow night there's a whole 'nother round for weekend warriors. They're giving out cake and fireworks for free, along with the chance to meet some of the well-known CMs and developers in-game.

This week also saw the release of a brand-new update to the game. Unlike the massive Game Updates that have given Vanguard players so much in the way of new content, this is just a bug-fixing backend sort of thing. Highlights include a handful of new quests, some fixes to the appearace slot and general appearance systems, a few class tweaks, and some general housekeeping. Our favorite patch note: "The waters around the towers of BOD are now shark infested. Beware those who like to skinny dipping."

Vanguard celebrates its second anniversary, game update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumors abound of a massive layoff at Mythic Entertainment

Michael Zenke — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, MMO Industry, New Titles, Warhammer Online

Joystiq is reporting today that Mythic Entertainment has been hit by another round of layoffs, this one much more substantial than the first. Using information corroborated by Massively.com sources, they're reporting that anywhere between 60 and 130 people have been let go from the company. Unlike the last round of layoffs, which primarily affected infrastructure positions, these have cut deeply into the design and development departments. Including, it is rumored, cutting into the ranks of the senior designers.

This comes less than a week after the announcement of the Call to Arms expansion to Warhammer Online. The ambitious live event expansion is to introduce two new character classes and an entirely new zone's worth of content to the title, which just launched last year. Both Massively and Joystiq have extended invitations for comment to EA and Mythic, and we hope to have more information on this news soon.

Update: Mark Jacobs, in a post to the Warhammer Herald, attempts to assuage possible player anxiety over today's layoffs. He describes the layoffs as a part of moving from the pre-launch to post-launch footing, alongside layoffs in line with EA's general cost-cutting measures.

Rumors abound of a massive layoff at Mythic Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 42

Michael Zenke — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Warhammer Online, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking

Massively Speaking Episode 42 has a lot of information all about WAR! Appropriate, since joining us this week is Massively.com's newest blogger, Brooke Pilley. A writer on the Greenskin blog, Brooke brings a bevy of Warhammer Online knowledge to the podcasting booth and, along with Shawn and Michael, offers up a great deal of insight into the recent expansion announcement. That and a whole lot more await you in this episode!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[Zune] Subscribe to Massively Speaking via the Zune service.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:

Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 42

Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 42 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online patch 1.1.1 drops onto the live servers today

Michael Zenke — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, Warhammer Online

Just a week after the announcement of the ambitious Call to Arms expansion for Warhammer Online, the first in a series of live events drops onto the game servers. Today sees the release of the 1.1.1 patch to WAR, bringing with it the sinister Night of Murder Valentine's Day event. This macabre outing (traditionally associated with the Witch Elf class) will give a poisonous new meaning to this traditionally saccharine-sweet holiday. Check out a snippet from our interview with Mythic's Jeff Hickman to get a sense of what you'll be doing for the next week.

Other features of the 1.1.1 patch include the addition of new flight points throughout the game world, brand new quests from Keep Lords, and the launch of Warhammer Online in Russia. The Open RvR changes in particular are outstanding, continuing to build on the influence system the company put in with the last few patches. Full patch details are available on the Warhammer Herald site.

Warhammer Online patch 1.1.1 drops onto the live servers today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What WAR could learn from WoW about hybrid classes

Michael Zenke — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classes, Game Mechanics, Opinion

Wizards and Wenches, a member of the ever-growing legion of Warhammer Online bloggers, put up an interesting post this week discussing the differences between hybrid classes in Mythic's flagship and World of Warcraft. He specifically takes WAR to task for the hard choices the designers require from players of healing classes. All healers in Warhammer are hybrids to some degree, and as a result their gear is split to support the different roles they can take on. In many ways this split resembles the first few years of hybrid gearing in World of Warcraft ... a gear structure the WoW desingers have since fundamentally changed to reflect player interests.

Gear in Blizzard's behemoth now supports multiple specs with a single piece of loot, allowing players the luxury of choosing what role to play without having to maintain several different 'loot sets' to support their choice. They merged statistics to allow different specs and classes to get a bigger bang for their buck, and developed a series of interlocking token-based loot mechanisms to allow players a wide variety of choices. In the view of one blogger's mind, it's a huge frustration that the Warhammer developers haven't followed in WoW's footsteps on this issue.

What say you? Should WAR hybrids stay differentiated, or would it be more fun to have flexibility?

What WAR could learn from WoW about hybrid classes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analysts praise free-to-play MMOs, casually insult MMO players

Michael Zenke — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models

A thoughtful Reuters piece explores a concept that MMO players have themselves been talking about since the economy began to take a downturn. Free to play MMOs, which have been gaining in popularity in the US for years, may be one of the biggest winners of this depressed financial situation. The article explores the benefits and increasingly high quality of online titles that don't require a subscription fee. While South Korea and other Asian countries have long enjoyed a strong connection with inexpensive social online gaming, that message is only just reaching saturation here in the states.

What's troubling to this blogger is that amid this very common-sense analysis, one of the most well-known commentators on videogaming sees fit to take a cheap swipe at a cross-section of gamers. Said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan: "I don't think (online multiplayer games) get impacted at all, because people who play them are addicts ... Losing their jobs makes them more likely to play because they have more time to play." It's frustrating that one of the few business analysts out there in the business world that understands gaming could be so dismissive of the online gaming genre. We'd like to suggest he do a bit more research in the future on this subject before making snappy statements like that.

Analysts praise free-to-play MMOs, casually insult MMO players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Team: Michael Zenke

Michael Zenke — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Meet the Team

Once a week our writers will give you a glimpse into their lives, to let you get to know them and the characters they play a little better. Click here to read more Meet the Team.

What do you do for Massively.com?

I'm the Managing Editor for the site. That means that in addition to doing regular news blogging and the occasional feature, I help the contributing editors focus their coverage and writing. I try my best to connect the site with development houses and publishers, and generally work towards getting new and better content on the site every day. For the past year plus the site's been my life and fulltime work, and I'm really very fond of it.

That probably sounds weird, but that's the way it is.

Gallery: Meet the Team

Continue reading Meet the Team: Michael Zenke

Meet the Team: Michael Zenke originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What is the expansion of your dreams?

Michael Zenke — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Expansions, The Daily Grind

Last week's announcement of Warhammer Online: Call to Arms has a lot of folks re-examining their views on Mythic's baby. Some are frustrated that Mythic is taking their eyes off of bug fixes, while others can't wait to roll their first slayer. Regardless of personal opinion, Call to Arms has definitely gotten the playerbase talking. Which, of course, is what we always want to provoke from you in these morning discussion threads. Today we're wondering what expansion you want to see coming down the pipe for your favorite game.

Whatever your game, what's the big chunk of content you want to hear them announcing? Do you want a return to Luclin in EverQuest 2? News of the Emerald Dream coming to World of Warcraft? Does the word "Rohan" hold any meaning for you Lord of the Rings Online players? Think big and dream big! New classes, new zones, maybe a whole new style of play? What would be the perfect compliment to the way you already play your MMO of choice? What would make it perfect?

The Daily Grind: What is the expansion of your dreams? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft makes up half of Activision/Blizzard's earnings

Michael Zenke — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Business Models, MMO Industry

According to the analyst firm Stern Agee, the games megacorporation Activision-Blizzard makes a lot of money. No surprise there, with franchises like Call of Duty and Guitar Hero backing their finances. What really makes their bottom-line work, though, is apparently the mightiest MMO on the planet. According to an analyst at the firm, World of Warcraft is backing a full half of the company's stock price. That is, above and beyond the actual revenue the game pulls down the game is responsible for $400 million of the company's share price.

Despite a few reservations and a belief that the company is currently over-valued, the analysis firm believes the house that WoW built is one of the soundest games industry investments in these troubled times. The full post at Edge Online has details, if you're thinking about combining your love of the Lunar Festival event with online trading.

World of Warcraft makes up half of Activision/Blizzard's earnings originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Choppa or Slayer?

Michael Zenke — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classes, The Daily Grind

Oi you gits! We'z been choppin' stunties for months witout you! We chopped and chopped till their bloody heads was all over the floor. But where was you? Off with the Bigguns and the Squigies and summat. Leavin' us to do all the Choppin witout help. We likes dat fine, don't you mistake, but more choppin's always better than less choppin, I always say. So what do you say, you going to start choppin' with us?

I think that's a mistake, lads and lassies. Don't listen to that befanged mongrel over there. He'd as soon gut ye as look at ye. Now, my life has been wasted. My honor has been ruined and the goal of me father's blood oath is forever beyond my reach. My life is at an end ... I just haven't died yet. If you want to eat wee babies and gut cats, go with him. But if you want to find an honorable end among the orange, you want to go to WAR with me. Are ye in, or out?

The Daily Grind: Choppa or Slayer? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythic's official website highlights the new Call to Arms expansion

Michael Zenke — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, New Titles, Warhammer Online

All through the mid-day we've been talking about the newly-announced Call to Arms expansion coming for Warhammer Online. It's impressive stuff, with brand-new classes, an enormous new mega-zone, and a brand-new holiday event slated all for the next few months. That ambitious schedule and the great information we've had on the site today is great to read through.

For more details, head on over to the official Mythic website for their take on the events. Their preview of the expansion itself gives a great timetable on the events:

Call to Arms: Bitter Rivals Live Event (March):
The Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer answer the Call to Arms and join WAR! (March)
Call to Arms: Beyond the Sands Live Event (April)
Call to Arms: Rise of the Tomb Kings Live Event (May)
Land of the Dead Opens (June)

They also have more information on the Bitter Rivals event (including some hints about the tasks we'll be taking on). And as for the Night of Murder, well, they have a bunch of information about how we'll be marked for death come Valentine's Day (as in the picture above). Head over to the Herald for more of those great WAR-related details.

Mythic's official website highlights the new Call to Arms expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valentine's Day in Warhammer Online announced as the Night of Murder

Michael Zenke — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Warhammer Online, Interviews (Massively's)

Alongside the announcement of the Call to Arms expansion, the Bitter Rivals event introducing the Choppa and Slayer, and the Lands of the Dead mega-zone, Jeff Hickman revealed to us earlier this week that Valentine's Day will be a scream in Warhammer Online. Tying into the recent 'bloody valentines' sent to bloggers, Jeff walks us through the Night of Murder.

Warhammer Executive Producer Jeff Hickman: We have a new event coming out soon, it's our Valentine's Day event. Starting in Mid-February it begins before call to arms, but we've been planning this event for some time. It really highlights some of the things we're trying to do with live events that are different and unique. It's an event that happens in the IP called "The Night of Murder." We felt that was appropriate for Valentine's Day.

The Night of Murder is this great week-long event, very RvR-centered. As a player I can go get a murder quest, where I will be asked to go assassinate five marked targets. We've put some interesting tech in that causes enemy players to be marked. They're literally marked on the battlefield, a big skull hovers over their heads. The players don't know that they're marked, though, so you get to the battlefield and you see your opponents arrayed against you ... and they don't know who you'll be going for. Unbeknownst to you, you might be targeted as well. So it will be pretty exciting.

Some of these marked targets, when you loot them, they'll drop a skull. One of the tasks for the Night of Murder is to play a game of skull tossing; literally on the battlefield there will be people tossing their dead enemy's skulls back and forth to each other. You'll see skulls flying around, all over the place. And in some rare cases when I kill a marked enemy target I'll be able to loot his head. When I loot that, it will give me the ability to send my enemy a special Valentine's Day surprise. A Night of Murder message about the trophy I got at his expense.

It's clever, it's comical, but there are just a ton of cool new things we're doing with that event. Things we haven't done before.

Valentine's Day in Warhammer Online announced as the Night of Murder originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mega-dungeon called the Lands of the Dead coming to Warhammer Online

Michael Zenke — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Endgame, Warhammer Online, Interviews (Massively's)

Darkness Falls. Those two little words conjure up amazing vistas to players that delved deeply into Dark Age of Camelot. The release of that content in that game - an enormous dungeon fraught with danger and loot, and disputed by vicious PvP skirmishes - is arguably the finest hour of Mythic's development. Hearing Warhammer Online's Jeff Hickman talk about new content that harkens back to that style of gameplay may mean a return to truely rare form for the still-struggling title.

In the same discussion with Mr. Hickman where we unveiled the new classes coming to WAR and the Valentine's Day event, he walked us through the capstone of the Call to Arms expansion. The Land of the Dead, a massive egyptian-themed zone, will be unleashed on the armies of Order and Destruction sometime around May. We have full details on the expansion's crown jewel below the cut, including why they went in this direction and what you're likely to see the first time you set foot in the zone. Check it out below!

Continue reading Mega-dungeon called the Lands of the Dead coming to Warhammer Online

Mega-dungeon called the Lands of the Dead coming to Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dwarf Slayer and Orc Choppa coming to Warhammer Online with a live event

Michael Zenke — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Events (In-Game), Expansions, Warhammer Online, Interviews (Massively's)

The Mythic developers have been having a little fun with the blogosphere over the last two weeks, sending out clippers and movies hinting at what might be coming down the pipe for Warhammer Online. Despite the teasing, it looks like fan supposition about what these gag gifts mean was entirely accurate. Today we've been walking through a discussion we had with Mythic's Jeff Hickman, and he confirmed that the Dwarf Slayer and Orc Choppa are indeed going to WAR.

In fact, the very first event in the Call to Arms live event expansion will be Bitter Rivals, an event much like the one that introduced the Blackguard and Knight of the Blazing Sun to the game late last year. Join us below the cut as we talk to Jeff about the new classes, the event that will introduce them, and how Bitter Rivals differs from the much-beloved Heavy Metal live event.

Continue reading The Dwarf Slayer and Orc Choppa coming to Warhammer Online with a live event

The Dwarf Slayer and Orc Choppa coming to Warhammer Online with a live event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online!

Michael Zenke — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Expansions, New Titles, Warhammer Online, Interviews (Massively's)

Massively.com recently had the chance to speak with Warhammer Online Executive Producer Jeff Hickman. Mr. Hickman laid out for us the much anticipated 'bombshell' news for their PvP-focused MMO: an entire expansion being released over the next few months as live events.

Warhammer Executive Producer Jeff Hickman: We've been launched for four or five months now, and all we've done for this time is looking at the game, listening to our players, playing the game ourselves. We've been drilling down into all of the little pieces that weren't quite right for us. We've been looking at client/server stability, what we can do with the RvR system, introducing the two new classes ... we've drilled down on any and all concerns that players might have to perfect the game as it stands right now.

With that starting to be under control, we looked ahead and said to ourselves, "we have about four or five months to do some really interesting, cool new events." We're calling it a live expansion. We're trying to hit really hard for players that haven't tried Warhammer, or perhaps players that tried it and then went off to play Lich King or something like that. We want them to come back, see all the improvements we've made, and all the new content coming up.

We're calling it "a Call to Arms."

Read on below the cut for full details on the expansion, head over to the official site for their take, or click through to one of our related posts for further information:

Gallery: Warhammer Online: Concept Art

Continue reading Mythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online!

Mythic announces the first live expansion to Warhammer Online! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same)

Michael Zenke — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry

Tom Chick is a well known and (generally) respected games journalist probably best known for his contentious reviews and championing of the New Games Journalism movement. He also isn't a big fan of the MMO genre. At least he isn't today, in a writeup on his Sci-Fi Channel co-branded site Fidget. The article is entitled Five Reasons MMOs Are Broken, and follows up that contentious beginning with a breakdown of the MMO genre. His primary issues seem to revolve around the established contrivances of the genre itself, such as the concept of aggro or respawning enemies. He's also very frustrated by the innumerable barriers put up between players, the levels/classes/dungeons/servers/gear restrictions that stop us from playing with our friends.

As blogger Scott Jennings points out, more than the genre he's specifically breaking down World of Warcraft. He's effectively using WoW as a synonym for MMO, and as a result Jennings (and us) can point out that some of his failings have already been addressed. Read into Scott's dissection of Chick's writing for more analysis and insight on this issue and the supposed failings of the genre. Then, let us know what you think below. Is the MMO genre really that flawed ... or is it just the standard Diku-style successor that's old hat?

Five big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 41

Michael Zenke — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking

Massively Speaking Episode 41 continues our great tradition of inviting in podcasters from beyond the walls of Massively! John "Shuttler" Nicholson of the Limited Edition superhero MMO/comics podcast joins Shawn and Michael for talk of all the day's MMO news! Come along with us as we chat about WoW's 3.0.8 'disaster' patch, our recent feature on Free Realms, and the upcoming Warhammer events that must not be named! Tune in for the commentary, the laughs, and a bit of information along the way.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 41

Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 41 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq 3.0 launches to fanfare, cake

Michael Zenke — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta

The other day we noted that our big-sister site Joystiq had some big plans in the works, including a new site design and the conglomeration of the former 'Fanboy' sites. Well, the changes have gone down and "Joystiq 3.0" is now live as of late last night. Many congratulations to the Joystiq staff for their new and shinier site. It's not just a slick new interface to your favorite game news blog, though, there's a lot of 'behind-the-scenes' goodness as well. There are larger images, easy access to video and podcasting, and a bunch more.

Head over to the brand-new Joystiq.com and let them know what you think!

Joystiq 3.0 launches to fanfare, cake originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going down the rabbit hole with Warhammer Online's live events

Michael Zenke — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Warhammer Online

With just a few months of live service under their belts, the team behind Warhammer Online has already distinguished itself with quality and innovative live events. Heavy Metal, the Reikland Factory preview, Keg End, Witching Night ... all new looks at old holidays, highlighted by the game's unique Tome of Knowledge system. Crispy Gamer has a look at the creation of these events with Mark Davis, Mythic associate producer and live events designer. Davis talks a bit about Mythic's philosophy behind creating these events, and notes their high level of popularity with the playerbase.

Their popularity isn't hard to figure out. Offered Davis, "[WAR is] all about the bragging rights. Players like to show off how powerful they are or what accomplishments they've unlocked, and this is one way that they can show how cool they are." We at Massively have definitely enjoyed the events they've offered up so far. What about you? Which Warhammer live event has been your favorite? Any holidays you're particularly looking forward to the team tackling?

Going down the rabbit hole with Warhammer Online's live events originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Killer Croc comes to DC Universe Online

Michael Zenke — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, New Titles, DC Universe Online

The most recent update to the DC Universe Online MySpace page has given us a new look at an old Batman adversary: Killer Croc. The bestial figure depicted in the newest batch of screenshots appears to call back to the heavily-mutated villain fans of the Hush story will be used to. Croc has gone through numerous permutations over the years, and this newest appears to be extraordinarily inhuman. The team will apparently be offering up these character focuses as the months progress. You can read up on Croc's place in DCUO, or click on through to our gallery to see the new screenshots on offer.

Gallery: E308: DC Universe Online Screenshots

Killer Croc comes to DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean MMO developer offers update on Korean gaming

Michael Zenke — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aion, Culture, MMO Industry

RPG Vault (a fantastic site) recently had the chance to speak with Korean MMO developer Seonho Kim all about the state of Korean gaming alongside our favorite genre. Seonho is the Game Publishing Department Manager for CJ Internet, one of the country's 'big five' publishers. He paints a vivid picture of gaming in South Korea, with the unique blend of online gaming and popular culture something completely foreign to our experience here in the west. As Seonho tells it, online FPS titles have been at the forefront of Korean gaming for the last few years. This is all in comparison, of course, as MMO gaming in Korea is still a massively popular genre.

In the last year, though, MMO gaming has made a big comeback. This has primarily been driven by new titles like Aion and Atlantica Online, with the five big Korean publishers all working on their own MMO 'take' to draw in new players. The second part of his analysis deals primarily with this element, the balancing act that the Korean games industry maintains. Both pieces of his discussion are very interesting reads, and well worth checking out. If you're curious about the games he mentions, make sure to check out Massively's coverage of Altantica and Aion before you head elsewhere!

Gallery: Aion Wallpapers 1920x1200

Korean MMO developer offers update on Korean gaming originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The week in Massively features

Michael Zenke — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Massively Meta

Every week we take a bit of time to reflect. To look back on the last week's worth of content on Massively.com, and applaud the hard work of Massively bloggers. Read on below as we highlight the best original content posted to the site. You might want to shout at your monitor, or you might be thrilled by an upcoming game you've never heard of. You might laugh at us, or you might find a new favorite blogger. Either way, you'll find something you won't regret reading this week in Massively features.

	Checking in on Free Realms, just months away from Beta! Join us as we talk about their Diablo-style combat, their deep pet system, the role of innovation in 'kiddie' games, and a bit about their extensive collections system. We'll even get a sense of when Beta for this novel project will begin! Read on through below the cut for the full details.
	Massively interviews Champions Online's lead designer Massively recently had the chance to speak with Champions Online's intrepid lead designer, Randy Mosiondz. Topics included are the game's unique brand of action-combat (and how it differs from other games), a substantial achievement system, new mission structure and even what new and exciting travel powers would be featured come launch time.
	Anti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies Darkfall. Everyone talks about it. Our mailboxes get flooded with requests about it. Comments regarding the game are both frothingly energetic and intensely angry. Just writing a piece about it can get a writer wacked.
	Checking in with Warhammer Online It's been a while since Warhammer Online was released and in that time we've seen a lot of crazy stuff happen. Namely, Wrath of the Lich King launched, became the fastest selling PC game of all time and rocketed World of Warcraft into an even high number of subscriptions.
	Massively's EVE Online new player guide In the past few months, the column has been aimed at informing new and prospective players about the varied world of New Eden and giving them the helping hand they deserve in getting started. In this handy wrap-up (or should I say warp-up?) article, I've collected all of the articles aimed at new and prospective players into a set of handy clickable image links.

Continue reading The week in Massively features

The week in Massively features originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Age of Camelot Grab Bag touches on Origins server issue

Michael Zenke — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, Culture, Game Mechanics

Just a few days ago we wondered aloud about the absence of the 'Origins' server for Dark Age of Camelot. We linked to a post on MMO Champions that talked about the history of the Origins server (a promised new server returning to the old days of DAoC), but the big question was 'where is it'? While the server was promised months ago and the playerbase seemed very much in favor of the new/old mix, Mythic has been tight-lipped about the possibility of late. Thankfully the recent interest seems to have reminded the developers of that discussion.

This week's edition of the Dark Age of Camelot Grab Bag touched directly on the Origins server ... though perhaps not as informatively as we would have liked. CM Joanne Laroche offered: "I know that many of you are eager to know what the status of the Origins server is and can't wait for an update. I just wanted to let you know that while there isn't any information to share with you right now, I'm pleased to say that there will be in the weeks ahead. As always keep an eye the Herald for the latest news." So, hopefully more news soon on this front. Read through to the Grab Bag as a whole for additional details on everything from Dragonsworn armor to crafting. Forsooth!

Dark Age of Camelot Grab Bag touches on Origins server issue originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq announces conglomeration of subsites, new site look

Michael Zenke — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta

Massively's big-sister site, Joystiq, is undergoing some pretty impressive changes. They're getting an all-new site look and a bunch of tech upgrades. More dramatic than that is their announcement that the console-specific 'Fanboy' websites are going to be merged with the central Joystiq URL. Xbox 360 Fanboy, for example, will become xbox.joystiq.com. I'll reiterate what Chris has to say about this here, that this is not the result of cutbacks, rollbacks, required layoffs, or anything of that nature. This is purely about making Joystiq a better site with an eye towards the future. Check out the full extent of the site's plans in Chris's post, or listen in on the latest edition of the Joystiq podcast so that Luddy, Chris, and Justin can explain it to you.

From our side of things, Massively isn't going to be changing one bit as a result of this decision. Massively and our fellow bloggers at WoW Insider and Big Download have different sets of plans, ones we're really excited to be working towards. If you've come to enjoy Massively's take on the world of MMO gaming, worry not: we're not going anywhere.

Joystiq announces conglomeration of subsites, new site look originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This year's GDC offers a lot for MMO fans

Michael Zenke — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Academic

A fan of MMOs? This year's Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco will have a lot to offer you. Every year GDC offers game developers and (by proxy) the gaming public an inside look at the way the industry as a whole is swinging. The Game Design track is, in this blogger's opinion, always the most interesting. 2009, above and beyond the average, is going to appeal to those of us with a love of online gaming. Two well-known MMO industry leaders will be speaking at the event. Those aside, there are numerous talks that fall well within the interests of folks who like open world environments and roleplaying combined.

Whether you're going or just reading coverage, you're definitely not going to want to miss Cruise Director of Azeroth: Directed Gameplay within World of Warcraft. Jeff Kaplan will talk about the guidelines and philosophies behind making the uber-popular game, and (tantalizingly) will be going into the evolution of Blizzard's quest design leading up to Wrath of the Lich King. The other big draw is going to be Making an MMO Based on a Beloved IP (Without Pissing Everyone Off), done by none other than Mythic Entertainment's Paul Barnett. Barnett will be speaking to the challenges of working with an established IP, as well as sharing humorous anecdotes from the years-long dev process. There are plenty more tantalizing events on the docket; be sure to check out the Cliff's notes at GameSetWatch.

This year's GDC offers a lot for MMO fans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Grab Bag No. 8 tackles mods, stats

Michael Zenke — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Warhammer Online

The eighth Grab Bag has come rolling down the mountain from the Community Managers at Mythic Entertainment. Every so often the folks behind Warhammer offer up some answers to questions prompted by the players themselves, and this week the questions delve deeply into the PvP-focused game's minutiae. Grab Bag #8 covers everything from Tome unlocks to the differences between Armor Penetration and Armor Ignore on gear.

Head on over to the official Warhammer Online Herald site to get educated on everyone's favorite RvR title. And, if you were wondering, you can still get tome unlocks even if you've been 'chickened'. Some, in fact, require it! Bawk!

Gallery: Warhammer Online

WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Warhammer Grab Bag No. 8 tackles mods, stats originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New dungeon, PvP options coming to Age of Conan

Michael Zenke — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Patches

With the server merges slated for Age of Conan complete, Funcom can now turn their full development attention to bug fixes and new content for their violent fantasy title. A brand new Director's Letter from Craig Morrison has outlined new shinies that are coming to Hyborea very soon - so soon they're already on the test server. The biggest chunk of newness has to be the Xibaluku dungeon. It's a six person instance aimed at level 80 players, and located in Thunder River. The "goal" of the dungeon for the developers was to create a dynamic encounter that is eminently replayable. Depending on a given run-through, the locale might contain up to a dozen boss encounters. "Some of the bosses may even appear with different abilities or in different forms across different visits! I also say 'up to' a dozen because not all the bosses may appear on any given single play through."

The other big focus for the next content drop focuses on PvP. Battlekeeps will now require new resources harvested from the Border Kingdoms to expand. The designers hope to focus open world PvP into these areas, giving PvP guilds not only specific areas to skirmish over, but also allowing them the opportunity to thwart their foes. They're also introducing a new signup process for the PvP mini-games that should be joining and enjoying that content easier than ever. Read through to the full letter for all the details.

New dungeon, PvP options coming to Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom's The Secret World seeing sweeping design changes

Michael Zenke — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, New Titles, The Secret World

Funcom may still be hard at work getting Age of Conan into just the right position for Hyborean players, but that doesn't mean AoC is their only project. Indeed, after recent confirmation that The Secret World was still a going concern, we now learn that it's getting a bigtime design overhaul. Writing on his personal blog, Game Director Ragnar Tornquist notes that they're completely revisiting some underlying assumptions about the title. As Tornquist puts it, nothing we've seen so far will actually be changing; the game's look and 'feel' remains intact. Instead, all of the changes they're making are more about underlying design assumptions.

What's going to result from these changes is an MMO that actually tries to be different. Conan's run at the playspace dominated by World of Warcraft has obviously taught these designers the value of differentiation, and they want to capitalize on the unique strengths of their project. Says Tornquist, "We want The Secret World to stand out and be remembered - obviously. To not be just another MMORPG, a WoW clone, of which there are already too many. We're going to play up the strengths of our universe and differentiate ourselves in both the setting and the gameplay." Hopefully we'll be able to provide a few more details on these changes soon.
[Via Eurogamer]

Funcom's The Secret World seeing sweeping design changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Galaxies Producer's Letter outlines appearance tab, future plans

Michael Zenke — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Star Wars Galaxies

Early last week the sixth Game Update hit the live servers for SOE's Star Wars Galaxies. While previous updates have focused on bug fixes, class rebalancing, and other tweaks, GU6 added a whole new system long asked-for by SWG players: the Appearance tab. We've already talked about this system earlier this month, when the SOE Austin team did a preview of this brand new system. It's functionally very similar to the ones found in EverQuest 2 and Lord of the Rings Online, and you can find full details on the new tabs in our previous post.

The patching in of the system, though, was accompanied by a new Producer's Letter from Chris "Dotanuki" Fields. He offers up just a taste of what's coming for SWG players: Game Update 7 will be all about Spies! Plus, this year's Valentine's Day event will be an even bigger and better version of the Ewok Love Festival than last year. Beyond those updates, the team is playing things a bit close to the chest; the only other piece of news he had touched on a fun and interesting re-entitlement reward. Read through to the official forums for all the details.

Star Wars Galaxies Producer's Letter outlines appearance tab, future plans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde'

Michael Zenke — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Video, Culture, MMO Industry, Humor

I love Leverage. The newish modern-day thinking man's action show from TNT offers a weekly look at a gang of crooks doing a little bit of bad for a lot of good. It's actually a lot like the tabletop RPG Shadowrun, if you've ever heard of that game. The show is appealing on a number of levels, but the producers obviously know the demographic one of its characters attracts. The man in the snazzy suit above is Aldis Hodge, playing the part of Alec Hardison - resident geek and computer/technology expert. And, apparently, a member of World of Warcraft's Horde.

In this week's episode of the show Hardison bonds with an officer worker in a corporate megaplex he's infiltrating. We actually got a preview of this clever schtick in an interview done by the folks at WoW Insider. They spoke with episode writer John Rogers about the episode last month. You can catch full episodes of the show over on TNT's website, but if you just want to check out the full clip of their exchange you can do so below the cut. Now I want to know what class he rolls.

Continue reading TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde'

TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Checking in on Free Realms pt. 2

Michael Zenke — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles, Free-to-Play, Free Realms

To further explore the combat, the different classes look like they offer some differentiation for players. That said, though, it doesn't look like a typical MMO situation where you'd need like a Brawler, a Mage, etc to make a balanced party. Are combat scenarios going to be possible to complete regardless of party makeup?

Laralyn: It's a combination of things. Every job can be solo'd, if you want to. You have the opportunity, as an individual player, to really broadly explore your jobs. You can level each job, each job plays differently, so it's like rolling a new character in any other MMO. If you're playing with friends, yes you can all take on different roles, but they're not as rigidly defined as in other titles. That allows them to solo well, but it also lets players make a personal choice. If you're playing with a buddy and he's maxed out his warrior and really want to play his healer that's fine because you probably have a melee class you can work on. Or, that said, you can both play a healer and you should do fine.

Continue reading Checking in on Free Realms pt. 2

Checking in on Free Realms pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Checking in on Free Realms, just months away from Beta!

Michael Zenke — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Free Realms, Interviews (Massively's)

Earlier this month we brought you impressions from visitors to the annual Consumer Electronics Show, folks who had the chance to see the few games at the show up-close and personal. One of the titles on display at the event was SOE's Free Realms, an ambitious free-to-play title Massively has been following quite closely since the site launched. We couldn't make it to CES this year, but we definitely wanted a chance to get caught up on all the latest developments behind this innovative title.

We were thrilled, then, to have the chance to speak to Laralyn McWilliams, the Creative Director for Free Realms. Ms. McWilliams was kind enough to lay out a number of improvements and changes to the game since we last saw it, and further clarified some of the interesting newfeatures demonstrated at CES. Join us as we talk about their Diablo-style combat, their deep pet system, the role of innovation in 'kiddie' games, and a bit about their extensive collections system. We'll even get a sense of when Beta for this novel project will begin! Read on through below the cut for the full details.

Gallery: Free Realms

Continue reading Checking in on Free Realms, just months away from Beta!

Checking in on Free Realms, just months away from Beta! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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