Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Fringe: Farming games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/the-fringe-farming-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/the-fringe-farming-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/the-fringe-farming-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Welcome to The Fringe, where we totter on the edge of MMOs with a guide for playing Facebook games. If you aren't one of the millions playing games on Facebook and aren't interested in joining the throng, that's ok. We won't judge you. But we'd appreciate you returning the favor.

In before all the "you got Facebook in my Massively again!" complaints: GDC was full of Facebook game announcements and with all the money being made by Zynga and others, we have a long future of Facebook MMOing ahead of us. With massive amounts of people playing and interacting in these online games, it's time to take off the blinders and check out what's going on in your peripheral gaming vision. Or not. That's fine. If you don't want to read about Facebook games, you can skip to all of the other great content here on Massively. But unlike my last column, where I let the haters vent their frustrations in the comments, only constructive criticism will be allowed from now on.

I was going to write up a guide to Country Life next, but it has been going through much development over the past few weeks. So even if illness hadn't delayed my writing about it, the information would have been obsolete soon after. There are many farming games to choose from, varying in features and popularity. So this week I'll be covering how to choose a Facebook farming game by giving an overview of three notable ones.

Continue reading The Fringe: Farming games

MassivelyThe Fringe: Farming games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    appscountry-lifefacebookfacebook-gamesfarm-gamesfarmingfarmtownfarmvillefeaturedlil-farm-lifetiki-farmMon, 22 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[The Fringe: The Dos and Don'ts of Facebook games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/the-fringe-the-dos-and-donts-of-facebook-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/the-fringe-the-dos-and-donts-of-facebook-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/the-fringe-the-dos-and-donts-of-facebook-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

    Welcome to The Fringe, where we totter on the edge of MMOs with a guide for playing Facebook games.

    When we asked on the Daily Grind if you played Facebook games, many of you said you did. But Facebook is very polarizing. Some people love the games, while others don't see them as games at all and hate everything having to do with them. It doesn't help that there's so much spam associated with most of the games. But those of us who do play know that there are a wide variety and that many of them include the same gameplay that our favorite MMOs have. We get XP, levels, acquire loot, make avatars, play minigames within the games, quest, trade items and even participate in PvP. The sim games are extremely popular and require quite a bit of strategy for proper allocation of resources. But if you don't like text adventure games or never got into games like old school SimCity, you're not going to get the Facebook versions either.

    If you do play these MMO-lite games, there are things you can do to get the most out of your play sessions. And there are things you shouldn't do so that you don't annoy your friends (as much) nor imbalance your life. Those of us who have spent time playing casual games of all kinds know that they can suck you in even more than full-blown MMOs. Most of us can't play WoW at work, but casual games with their low resource consumption and their easy access are tempting when work isn't keeping our full attention. This applies to games like solitaire, but add the comeraderie and variety of Facebook games and we can be even more tempted to play when we shouldn't. So here are some general Dos and Don'ts:

    Continue reading The Fringe: The Dos and Don'ts of Facebook games

    MassivelyThe Fringe: The Dos and Don'ts of Facebook games originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      cafe-worldcountry-lifefacebookfacebook-gamesfeaturedguidesocialsocial-gamingthe-fringeSun, 14 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[Love is in the air in your favorite MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/love-is-in-the-air/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/love-is-in-the-air/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/07/love-is-in-the-air/#commentsFiled under: ,

      Love is in the air in World of Warcraft and the event has completely changed this year over previous years. WoW.com has the latest on this Valentine's Day-themed event.

      But WoW is not the only MMO that has an event going on now or soon:

      Which MMO do you think does this romantic holiday best?

      MassivelyLove is in the air in your favorite MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        blizzardblizzard-entertainmentlove-is-in-the-airvalentinesvalentines-dayvalentines-day-2010world-of-warcraftwowSun, 07 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[Toontown Online makes it harder for griefers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/toontown-online-makes-it-harder-for-griefers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/toontown-online-makes-it-harder-for-griefers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/toontown-online-makes-it-harder-for-griefers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

        We were swimming in the apartment community pool this weekend and were unfortunate enough to be there when a kid was practicing his griefing skills. He was about 10 years old and was doing the standard stuff: throwing trash in the pool and blaming other kids, stealing the other kids' pool toys, and of course calling everyone "gay" when they left the pool and took their toys with them.

        We see griefers of all ages in the MMOs we play and the kids games are no exception. We've discussed before how games like Toontown Online take steps to prevent griefing with canned chat phrases and passworded friend features. The worst thing a toon in Toontown can say to you is "You stink!" which is really not very hurtful. But it is rather bothersome when it is spammed at you until you are able to escape the griefer, say by going home and gardening. .

        Continue reading Toontown Online makes it harder for griefers

        MassivelyToontown Online makes it harder for griefers originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          childrendisneygrieferskidstoontown-onlineSun, 06 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Battle of the hobbies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/gamer-interrupted-battle-of-the-hobbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/gamer-interrupted-battle-of-the-hobbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/gamer-interrupted-battle-of-the-hobbies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


          Every other week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs. I know, it used to be weekly and then it disappeared again. But I mean it this time.

          This year, WoW Insider had all of their bloggers write an About the Bloggers post. When I wrote mine, I got the following comment from Supernoob:

          Robin, my wife loves knitting but hates me playing Warcraft. Any advice on how to pacify a warcraft widow?

          This surprised me, being a knitter, because I have found that the knitting community in general is pretty respectful of other people's hobbies. Knitters don't get a lot of respect from other hobbyists, so we are pretty understanding of people in similar situations. In fact, one of my first recommendations for guys with non-gamer significant others is to encourage them to get their own hobby.

          There are a few things that could possibly cause this Battle of the Hobbies, and I will go over some of them and suggest solutions. But it is important to remember that in all relationships, communication is key. If you are in a similar situation, asking your MMO Widow what her specific concerns are about your gaming activities is the best way to start to solve the problem.

          Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Battle of the hobbies

          MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Battle of the hobbies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            azeroth-interruptedfeaturedgamer-interruptedhobbieshobbyjoystiqfeaturesknittingTue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST            <![CDATA[Open forums and a patched patch for Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/open-forums-and-a-patched-patch-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/open-forums-and-a-patched-patch-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/open-forums-and-a-patched-patch-for-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


            Things are happening at Hellgate: London these days -- so many, that we're going to make a list! (We love lists.)
            • The forums are now open: You no longer need to have an account to read the Hellgate: London forums, though you still need an account to post in them.
            • Patch 1.3 is out: It has the usual number of bug fixes along with a lot of new features like emotes and shared stashes.
            • Patch 1.3 has been patched: It also has the usual number of bugs that had to be fixed for the game to be fully playable again.
            • Patch 1.3b is on the test server: There are still more bugs to be fixed and the changes are being tested now.
            • The Test Server has been patched: The database crashed and needed to be rebuilt. So the Test Server is currently being tested.
            • The Abyss Chronicles are coming soon: The next content patch or Patch 2.0 is in the works and information will be released shortly.
            For more details on all of this news and more, check out Issue 5 of the Underground Communique.

            MassivelyOpen forums and a patched patch for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>              abyss-chroniclescommuniqueflagship-studiosforumshellgate-londonhglSun, 11 May 2008 09:00:00 EST              <![CDATA[April Fools' in Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/april-fools-in-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/april-fools-in-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/april-fools-in-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


              Not wanting to be left out of the fun, the folks at Flagship Studios have a couple of April Fools' jokes of their own. The acquisition of Hellgate High School in Missoula, Missouri is an amusing read. The team name is the Hellgate Knights and Flagship Studios plans to farm the school for in-game music and sound effects.

              But really, it's all about Hellgate Barbie. We don't know which is funnier, Evoker Barbie with the hot pink pentacle or the fact that they beg Mattel not to sue them. It's really too bad this is a joke, because dressing up dolls in armor like our characters isn't such a bad idea.

              Would you buy a Guardian Ken or a Summoner Skipper?

              MassivelyApril Fools' in Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                april-fools-08flagship-studioshellgate-barbiehellgate-highschoolhellgate-londonhglWed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[New way to talk to Flagship Studios: YouTube comments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/new-way-to-talk-to-flagship-studios-youtube-comments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/new-way-to-talk-to-flagship-studios-youtube-comments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/new-way-to-talk-to-flagship-studios-youtube-comments/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                Do you want to communicate with a representative of Flagship Studios with all of your Hellgate: London or Mythos related questions? Are you tired of not getting a response on the forums? Well, the unlikely place of YouTube may be the answer for you.

                We were surprised to find that Scapes, Hellgate: London's Community Manager was answering both HGL and Mythos questions in the comments of their YouTube videos.

                For example, if you go to take a look at the new Patch 1.2 trailer, you will find comments about the new Single Player patch as well as the difference between Video development and Game development.

                So if you have a burning question for Flagship Studios, go sign into your YouTube account and leave a comment. You may just get a response straight from the source. Or you could wait until the next time they do an IRC developer chat.

                MassivelyNew way to talk to Flagship Studios: YouTube comments originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                  flagshipflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglmythosyoutubeTue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST                  <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Are you a Funsucker?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/gamer-interrupted-are-you-a-funsucker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/gamer-interrupted-are-you-a-funsucker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/gamer-interrupted-are-you-a-funsucker/#commentsFiled under: , ,


                  Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs. Well, it used to be each week... and then stuff happened -- lots of stuff that made things go out of balance. But that just means more stuff to write about here... weekly.

                  Recently, the Spousal Unit and I got into an argument over this article about Blizzard's Naming Policy enforcement. In this post, WoW Insider's Daniel Whitcomb asks why Blizzard must be informed of every instance of a name like "Longjohnson", before they will enforce their policy on each one. I say people who blatantly name themselves against the policy are ruining the game immersion and are sucking other people's fun. The Spousal Unit says that the real Funsucker is the person who reports the name, unless he or she plays on an RP server. He says people who name themselves after pornstars and genital euphemisms are just having fun and that people who talk about game immersion are taking themselves too seriously. I say that I play games to escape from the latest train wreck and don't want to see a version of her name on a Blood Elf Rogue when I'm bringing up an alt.

                  The problem here is a difference in opinion of what fun is. We play MMOs to have fun (and relieve stress and escape), but when we are playing with a massive number of other players, the many views of what fun is can and do clash. So the question is, should we care about other people's fun when we are having our own? In my opinion, your "right" to have fun, in-game or out, ends as soon as you start infringing on someone else's fun. But this rule can't be strictly applied because some people's fun may not fit into the scope of the game... or reality. I've tried to come up with some basic guidelines as to when we should worry about someone else's fun and when it's OK not to without being a Funsucker.

                  Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Are you a Funsucker?

                  MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Are you a Funsucker? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    city-of-villainscohcox covfeaturedfunsuckergamer-interruptedpvpwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 25 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST                    <![CDATA[Hellgate: London developer chat on IRC today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/hellgate-london-developer-chat-on-irc-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/hellgate-london-developer-chat-on-irc-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/hellgate-london-developer-chat-on-irc-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


                    If you are interested in chatting with the developers of Hellgate: London and you are available at 7pm EST today, then fire up your favorite IRC client and get ready to talk to Flagship Studios. Their last developer chat was pretty candid, so if you are still playing HGL or have renewed interest since the release of Stonehenge, participating in this chat may be fun and informative.

                    Here are the details:

                    Server: irc.ForTheGamers.org
                    Channel: #FlagshipStudios

                    For questions during the event, type /msg DevBot yourquestionhere where "yourquestionhere" is your actual question. There will also be a separate channel just for chatting with other attendees.

                    I use Trillian for IRC, but mIRC is another good one. For The Gamers is also providing a web-based client for the chat. Full details on how to connect if you are having issues are provided here.

                    Maybe I'll see you there, preschooler permitting.

                    MassivelyHellgate: London developer chat on IRC today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      ]]>                      breakingchatdeveloperflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglircstonehengeFri, 08 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST                      <![CDATA[How to make ToonTown work with your router]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/how-to-make-toontown-work-with-your-router/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/how-to-make-toontown-work-with-your-router/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/how-to-make-toontown-work-with-your-router/#commentsFiled under: , ,


                      Are you or your children getting the above message when trying to play ToonTown Online? When I first started playing, I was unable to play for more than 10 minutes at a time. Whenever I zoned, I only had about a 30% chance for actually staying in the game. I submitted many bug reports, but the responses from TT customer service, while prompt, were completely unhelpful:
                      • Update my video driver
                      • Update my router firmware
                      • Update my network card driver
                      • Don't use wireless
                      • Delete a possibly corrupted file
                      The first three "solutions" are of course good things to do. Your drivers should always be up to date for optimum performance, but they didn't solve my problem. Fortunately, Knuckles Fiddlefinger, an employee of the Nerd Herd Geek Squad, posted the solution on the ToonTown Central Forums. The problem is how ToonTown handles routers. So even if you are running WoW or City of Heroes or even Disney's own Pirates of the Carribean Online just fine, you still need to setup your router to handle ToonTown Online. Instructions on how are after the jump.

                      Continue reading How to make ToonTown work with your router

                      MassivelyHow to make ToonTown work with your router originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        ]]>                        disneyhow-toroutertoontownTTThu, 10 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST                        <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Making MMOs safe for your children]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/gamer-interrupted-making-mmos-safe-for-your-children/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/gamer-interrupted-making-mmos-safe-for-your-children/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/gamer-interrupted-making-mmos-safe-for-your-children/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                        Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                        I have a lot of hopes for my two year old daughter. I hope that she will be more athletic than I am (which, frankly, won't be that hard). I hope that she will continue to be sociable and friendly and not the introvert that I was. And I hope that she will play video games with me because, well, it will be nice to have something in common with her if my other hopes come true.

                        Of course, I also have a lot of fears for her. There are a whole lot of scary people out there who have internet access. But, even if this were a crime-free world, there are still topics and language that I would prefer that she not be exposed to until she's mature enough to be able to handle them. And there is a lot to be said for letting our children keep their innocence for as long as possible. Not that I want to coddle her too much or keep her in a bubble, but she doesn't need to be reading R rated guildchat, either.

                        I really do believe that there are a lot of benefits for children playing MMOs with their parents and that there are also benefits from allowing them to play MMOs solo. The problem is that there are also a lot of dangers. I'm talking here about children who can read but are not yet teenagers. Teens are a whole separate issue. I can't wait for those years (sarcasm intended).

                        Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Making MMOs safe for your children

                        MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Making MMOs safe for your children originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          ]]>                          azeroth-interruptedchildchild-safetychildrenfeaturedgamer-interruptedsafetyWed, 09 Jan 2008 10:30:00 EST                          <![CDATA[The Stonehenge Chronicles delayed for Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-stonehenge-chronicles-delayed-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-stonehenge-chronicles-delayed-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/the-stonehenge-chronicles-delayed-for-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


                          Hellgate: London's Patch 1.0 aka Stonehenge aka The Stonehenge Chronicles has been delayed until January. This will be the first major quarterly update and, if released in January, will still be on schedule. Bill Roper, in a letter sent to registered players, said that they want to take the time to make this patch right:

                          If there is one lesson we've learned from launching Hellgate: London, our releases should be a question of "what" and not "when".

                          Huzzah.

                          In other patch news, Single Player Patch 0.6 is live and available for download. Multiplayer Patch 0.7 has been live since December 14th on US servers and went live December 19th on EU server Sydonai.

                          Subscribers who login to Patch 0.7 will find that Nemo in Holbrook Station has a goodie for them. My first try to receive it got me the much treasured Server Error, but after restarting the game I received the even more intriguing Transmogrifying Cube which, as promised previously, will look familiar to Diablo II fans.

                          Patch 1.0 notes from the Test Center are after the jump.

                          Continue reading The Stonehenge Chronicles delayed for Hellgate: London

                          MassivelyThe Stonehenge Chronicles delayed for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            ]]>                            breakingflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglpatch-1.0stonehengestonehenge-chroniclesThu, 20 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST                            <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Playtime Management Workshop]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/gamer-interrupted-playtime-management-workshop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/gamer-interrupted-playtime-management-workshop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/gamer-interrupted-playtime-management-workshop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                            Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                            Despite my chosen screenshot, I do not believe that money is the root of all evil. Nor do I believe that about video games. But if you're reading this blog, you are probably wishing you could spend more time playing video games and less time worrying about money and the other necessities of life.

                            Unless you are fabulously wealthy with no job, family or significant other and with servants to do all of your chores, you probably wish you had more time on your hands. Most of us have work and school or work and family or work and dating and not so much time to just play around doing whatever we like. While it is not a good idea to bring the stresses of work home with you, it is a very good idea to apply some of the skills and techniques you use at your job in your non-working life as well.

                            I'm not saying you should hold morning meetings with your family, write up your children when they misbehave or insist on the appropriate cover sheet for their TPS reports. I do think that using some basic project management techniques to help you balance your MMO playtime with the rest of your life may be very helpful if you are having trouble juggling it all.

                            Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Playtime Management Workshop

                            MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Playtime Management Workshop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              azeroth-interruptedfeaturedgamer-interruptedgaming-and-familygtdjoystiqfeaturestime-managementWed, 19 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST                              <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Playing together with different playstyles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/gamer-interrupted-crunchy-vs-creamy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/gamer-interrupted-crunchy-vs-creamy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/gamer-interrupted-crunchy-vs-creamy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                              Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                              Last week, we talked about how Duos can help you balance your gametime with your relationship building time. The comments pointed out an obstacle to pure couple-gaming bliss which I like to call the "Crunchy vs. Creamy" issue. Avid gamers who love the same game can still have trouble playing together if they have different playstyles. Back in the 80's, I heard of a relationship book that said a couple can't live together if one likes creamy peanut butter and one likes crunchy peanut butter. (No, I don't remember the book. Yes, I'm showing my age again. Get off my lawn!) Whether it's peanut butter or gaming styles, I do think gamers of different tastes can play together, but it does take some effort.

                              There a few general non-gaming things to remember here:

                              All relationships take effort: They do. Whether roommates or siblings or spouses or whatever, you need to be considerate of the other person and do things to nurture the relationship. If you don't, you will eventually find that your favorite hard-to-find food has been eaten or your mom has found out about that time you did that thing or you're facing legal fees and an empty bed.

                              Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Playing together with different playstyles

                              MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Playing together with different playstyles originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                ]]>                                azeroth-interruptedcreamycrunchyduosfeaturedgamer-interruptedjoystiqfeaturesplaystylesWed, 12 Dec 2007 08:35:00 EST                                <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Duos are good for relationships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamer-interrupted-duos-are-good-for-relationships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamer-interrupted-duos-are-good-for-relationships/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamer-interrupted-duos-are-good-for-relationships/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


                                Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                                Sharing your leisure time with a friend and/or loved one is a great way to strengthen your relationship. This is not a controversial statement. But if that leisure time includes video games, we are getting into much debated territory -- though things are improving. Newer studies are finding that social games do in fact make people more social, rather than the basement dwelling stereotypes that exist. In my opinion, MMOs are a great way to spend quality time together with friends, family and significant others -- particularly when some are in different physical locations.

                                Couples can have in-game dates where they spend only the money that they are already spending on their account fees and with the kids sleeping nearby. Separated friends can spend time together even if they are in different countries. And, in my favorite story (though I am biased), brothers who have never met can get to know each other though they are hundreds of miles apart.

                                Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Duos are good for relationships

                                MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Duos are good for relationships originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  ]]>                                  azeroth-interruptedcohcoxduoduosfeaturedgamer-interruptedhgljoystiqfeaturesrelationshipsswgwowWed, 05 Dec 2007 08:30:00 EST                                  <![CDATA[More patches incoming for Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/more-patches-incoming-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/more-patches-incoming-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/more-patches-incoming-for-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



                                  The two most notable changes on Patch 0.6 are:
                                  • The invisible group member bug has been fixed.
                                  • The bug that unequips engineer pet weapons is improved, but not fixed.
                                  There's no official word as to when Patch 0.6 will be live, but they say that Patch 0.7 will be hitting the test servers next week and therefore, we can assume that Patch 0.6 will go live before then.

                                  Patch 0.7 will include:
                                  • Memory usage improvements
                                  • UI tweaks
                                  • Subscriber items and quests for Diablo 2 fans
                                  The official patch notes for 0.6 are after the jump.

                                  Continue reading More patches incoming for Hellgate: London

                                  MassivelyMore patches incoming for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    ]]>                                    flagship-studioshellgate-londonhglpatch-0.6patch-0.7Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST                                    <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: Gamers behaving badly]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/gamer-interrupted-gamers-behaving-badly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/gamer-interrupted-gamers-behaving-badly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/gamer-interrupted-gamers-behaving-badly/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


                                    Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                                    Every time someone in the world does something horrible and is also a gamer, the media makes the most of it. I don't want to cite specific examples here because these acts don't need more press, nor do I want to point out the connections with gaming. I'll leave that to the always entertaining Jack Thompson, Virtual Ambulance Chaser.

                                    I do think that it is natural for humans to try to find the "why" behind horrific crimes, it is just unfortunate that our hobby is the current scapegoat. We don't know what television shows the criminals watch, what books they read, what music they listen to (though all of these have been scapegoats in the past) -- but the media makes sure to mention if some kind of video game is involved. And that is another product of human nature: The Witch Hunt. When we think we've found the reason, we generalize it to every act we don't like. I haven't read that video games are responsible for global warming yet, but it's only a matter of time.

                                    Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: Gamers behaving badly

                                    MassivelyGamer Interrupted: Gamers behaving badly originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      azeroth-interruptedfeaturedfunsuckerfunsuckersgamer-interruptedgamers in mediagamers-behaving-badlyGamersInMediajoystiqfeaturesWed, 28 Nov 2007 08:30:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[The Massively Guide to the Hellgate: London Mini-game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-in-hellgate-london-is-the-mini-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-in-hellgate-london-is-the-mini-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/what-in-hellgate-london-is-the-mini-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


                                      When I was reading the Patch 0.5 notes, I came across a couple of items about the Mini-game. I bought Hellgate: London the day after it came out and have been playing ever since. I even looked at the very small manual. I knew nothing about the Mini-game. Questions to friends produced the same results. What Mini-game?

                                      I found nothing official on their website, but I did find a couple of posts on the forums that describe the Mini-game. (If you don't have a Hellgate: London account, you are unable to read the forums.) MSKoSSK summarizes the game and Nocktis has a handy printable cheatsheet. I have further investigated the game and researched the icons, so after the jump, you will find the Massively Guide to the Hellgate: London Mini-game.

                                      Continue reading The Massively Guide to the Hellgate: London Mini-game

                                      MassivelyThe Massively Guide to the Hellgate: London Mini-game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        featuredflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglhow-tomini-gameminigamepatch-0.5Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: How to turn your wife into a gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamer-interrupted-how-to-turn-your-wife-into-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamer-interrupted-how-to-turn-your-wife-into-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/gamer-interrupted-how-to-turn-your-wife-into-a-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


                                        Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                                        I aim to please. So, by popular demand, this week's column is about getting your wife or live-in girlfriend to enjoy playing MMOs with you. This advice will only apply to women who are non-gamers. Turning your WoW-playing wife into an EVE Online player requires a completely different strategy. And getting guys to play video games has historically been an easier task. Also, this is directed toward those who are sharing the same living space and expenses because you may not want to be spending a grand or more on outfitting the girl who turns out to be the one before you meet Ms. Right.

                                        Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: How to turn your wife into a gamer

                                        MassivelyGamer Interrupted: How to turn your wife into a gamer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                          ]]>                                          azeroth-interruptedfeaturedgamer-interruptedjoystiqfeaturesspousewifeWed, 21 Nov 2007 02:45:00 EST                                          <![CDATA[Patch 0.5 for Hellgate: London coming tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/patch-0-5-for-hellgate-london-coming-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/patch-0-5-for-hellgate-london-coming-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/patch-0-5-for-hellgate-london-coming-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


                                          The Hellgate: London servers will be down tomorrow, November 20th, from 9am to 11am PST to implement Patch 0.5.

                                          I'm very excited about the new patch because the game as is has some cumbersome bugs and clunky features. One bugfix that will not be in tomorrow's patch is the Invisible Party Members bug, though they do have some solutions for this and promise it for the next patch. I have not noticed this bug because, like our Soloist, I tend to play alone.

                                          Some differences between previously published patch notes and the new official ones are:
                                          • Because the Guy Fawkes event is ending, there is some more information about "Fawkes Force Five"
                                          • They are no longer adding an automatic reset to the Minigame, which means the people who were upset about that (which included me) will be much happier.
                                          Full patch notes are after the jump.

                                          Continue reading Patch 0.5 for Hellgate: London coming tomorrow

                                          MassivelyPatch 0.5 for Hellgate: London coming tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                            ]]>                                            breakingflagship-studioshellgate-londonmini-gameminigamepatch-0.5Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:55:00 EST                                            <![CDATA[Patch 0.5 coming next week for Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/patch-0-5-coming-next-week-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/patch-0-5-coming-next-week-for-hellgate-london/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/patch-0-5-coming-next-week-for-hellgate-london/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


                                            The people at Flagship Studios have announced that patch 0.5 for Hellgate: London is moving to the test servers and, if enough goes well, they will be releasing it sometime next week. They invite everyone with a U.S. account to help test the new patch this weekend. They've even copied all of our characters over for us.

                                            (You're right, the picture has nothing to do with the post. But, seriously, isn't that a great pet name? Khaaaan!)

                                            Some highlights for the new patch are:

                                            Increased character slots:                                             You no longer have to be a subscriber to get 24 character slots. I think this is a very good change. 3 character slots is embarrassingly few.

                                            Chat interface improvements: Thank the gods! How did the current chat system ever get into the "final" build? It stinks in a way that only a trip to the dump can approximate. The chat window is no longer going to cover up other menus (this really should have been a showstopper) and will be open by default when logging into Multiplayer. You'll be able to see whispers in all tabs. Whispers and Admin announcements will automatically open the chat window. It looks like we'll finally have something we can use.

                                            Many Quest fixes:                                             My favorite will be the ability to complete an interrupted side quest. There is nothing like running around trying to figure out if I missed something or if it is just another bug. After going through a zone 4 times, I did discover that the rare and legendary/epic mobs have a higher chance of spawning and dropping fun gear. I guess they like to reward the stubbornly optimistic.

                                            Full patch notes are after the jump.

                                            Continue reading Patch 0.5 coming next week for Hellgate: London

                                            MassivelyPatch 0.5 coming next week for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                              ]]>                                              breakingflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglpatch-0.5updateSat, 17 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST                                              <![CDATA[Gamer Interrupted: You can be a great parent, spouse and gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/gamer-interrupted-you-can-be-a-great-parent-spouse-and-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/gamer-interrupted-you-can-be-a-great-parent-spouse-and-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/14/gamer-interrupted-you-can-be-a-great-parent-spouse-and-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                              Each week, Robin Torres contributes Gamer Interrupted, a column about balancing real life with MMOs.

                                              There is an interesting article over at Channel Massive that states in very strong terms that "You can be a great parent or a great gamer but you can't be both." He defines a "great gamer" as someone who is in a hardcore raiding guild in WoW or a top level ranked PvPer. He compares gaming to other activities which parents indulge in to escape familial responsibilities. He also claims that these "great gamers" play more in their MMO of choice than the average person watches TV and that watching TV is more conducive to parenting than "hardcore" gaming is. He breaks down the hours that must be required to be a "great gamer" and that leave no time for being a great or even good parent, spouse, billpayer, etc.

                                              Hi, my name is Robin Torres and this is the new home for my column about having a successful MMO life while still having a successful real life -- formerly Azeroth Interrupted on WoW Insider. I have a hard time with many of the opinions put forth by the article mentioned. I don't like the definition of "great gamer". I disagree with the playtime required to maintain a "great gamer" status. And I really dislike the judgmental tone directed at anyone who seems to be trying to achieve the balance of "hardcore" MMO gaming and living an otherwise successful life.

                                              Continue reading Gamer Interrupted: You can be a great parent, spouse and gamer

                                              MassivelyGamer Interrupted: You can be a great parent, spouse and gamer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                ]]>                                                azeroth-interruptedfeaturefeaturedgamer-interruptedjoystiqfeaturesparentingparentsraiderraidingwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 14 Nov 2007 03:15:00 EST                                                <![CDATA[Hellgate: London extends Founder's Offer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/11/hellgate-london-extends-founders-offer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/11/hellgate-london-extends-founders-offer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/11/hellgate-london-extends-founders-offer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                Like Pirates of the Carribbean Online, Flagship Studios has extended their Founder's Offer for Hellgate: London. Previously the Founder's offer ended this month, but has now been extended until the end of the year.

                                                What is the Founder's Offer? For $149.99 you can have a lifetime subscription to Hellgate: London.

                                                What's the catch? You have to have pre-ordered the game in order to be eligible for the offer.

                                                Well, there are other catches, too. The game is patched daily and is far buggier than anything with the name Diablo was at this stage. Who knows if they're going to have to extend character wipes to more than Asia. Also, as much as I loved Diablo 2, I only played it for a couple months as did most of my friends. I'm not sure that they are going to offer enough content in Hellgate: London to warrant spending a minimum of 15 months-worth of subscription fees.

                                                Are you a Hellgate: London Founder? Do you think it's worth it?

                                                MassivelyHellgate: London extends Founder's Offer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                  ]]>                                                  diabloflagship-studioshellgate-londonhglpirates-of-the-carribbean-onlinesubscriptionSun, 11 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST                                                  <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean Online extends Founders program]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-extends-founders-program/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-extends-founders-program/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-extends-founders-program/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


                                                  Disney has announced that they are extending the Pirates of the Caribbean Online Founders program which was supposed to end the midnight before Halloween. It has been extended for a limited time, presumably to attract more paid players.

                                                  The Founders program includes a Founder title which looks like a pretty gold coin with an F on it next to your name as well as some goodies that come in the mail at a later date.

                                                  Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a free to play browser game with optional Unlimited access for $9.95 a month. I signed up to be a founding member because I wanted to see the goodies, but I didn't realize that free players don't get access to my favorite part of the game: poker. It's not listed in the Unlimited Access features list -- I only found out from the tips on the loading screens. I'm not sure what other ingame-only documented benefits I'm enjoying that aren't on the list.

                                                  If you'd like unlimited access and the Founder's benefits, you can go to their signup site to enter your payment info. The official list of Unlimited Access benefits is after the jump.

                                                  Continue reading Pirates of the Caribbean Online extends Founders program

                                                  MassivelyPirates of the Caribbean Online extends Founders program originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                    ]]>                                                    breakingdisneyfounders-programpiratespirates-onlinepokerpotcoFri, 09 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST                                                    <![CDATA[RF Online opens new world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/rf-online-opens-new-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/rf-online-opens-new-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/rf-online-opens-new-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                    Codemasters Online has opened a new world server for RF Online called Solus. It seems that ever since the game has gone free to play, the popularity of the game has overpopulated the other two worlds, Novus and Lumen. Lumen was also opened within the last 30 days, so they are trying to respond to the increased popularity of the game as quickly as possible.

                                                    The game is gorgeous and fun, particularly for a free game. I have yet to play very long, however, because their European downtimes have unfortunately coincided with my U.S. available playtimes.

                                                    If you are interested in trying RF Online, you can sign up for and download your free copy here. Codemasters highly recommends starting new characters on Solus in order to avoid any population related issues.

                                                    Now, if I can just figure out how to turn off that song in the launcher...

                                                    MassivelyRF Online opens new world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                      ]]>                                                      codemasters-onlinenew-serverrf-onlinesolusWed, 07 Nov 2007 16:30:00 EST                                                      <![CDATA[Hellgate: London class overview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                      I am having a blast playing Hellgate: London, but it took me a while to sort through the different classes and choose one for playthrough. After dabbling with them all, I have settled on the Summoner as my current favorite. Following is a very general breakdown of the different classes to help you choose which one to try.

                                                      The Templars
                                                      These are the melee classes. They have some good survivability skills, especially when surrounded by mobs.

                                                      Guardians:                                                       This is the standard tank class -- sword, shield, the best armor, etc. They can also do a decent amount of melee damage and can acquire a healing aura at level 2 which heals the Guardian more as the number of mobs attacking increases.

                                                      Blademaster: DPS Melee. If you like dual wielding blades, the Blademaster is your class. They can also carry shields if you like and get auras of their own like the Guardians.

                                                      Continue reading Hellgate: London class overview

                                                      MassivelyHellgate: London class overview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                        ]]>                                                        blademastercabalistclassclassesEAengineerevokerfeaturedflagship-studiosguardianhellgate-londonhunterjoystiqfeaturesmarksmansummonertemplarWed, 07 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST                                                        <![CDATA[Hellgate: London subscriptions are now live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/hellgate-london-subscriptions-are-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/hellgate-london-subscriptions-are-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/hellgate-london-subscriptions-are-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


                                                        So, there I was, about to enter the Upper Kingsway Sewers for Mac Kenzie to help him create a strange brew, when I see that Tiggs announced that the subscriptions for Hellgate: London are now live. She also went on to say that they are only live for Visa and Mastercard but they are working on the other options.

                                                        Who is Tiggs? Well, she was the Director of Community Relations for Star Wars Galaxies until she quit a couple years ago. Now she seems to be the official announcement maker on the forums and in-game.

                                                        Subscription is $9.99 a month. Now I don't know if it is worth it yet, but they promise a lot of goodies for the future. It is an MMO-like fee for a game that is not really an MMO, but I am having a lot of fun playing it.

                                                        The official benefits of subscription to Hellgate: London are after the jump.

                                                        Continue reading Hellgate: London subscriptions are now live

                                                        MassivelyHellgate: London subscriptions are now live originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                          ]]>                                                          breakingEAflagship-studioshellgate-londonsubscriptionstiggsSun, 04 Nov 2007 01:15:00 EST                                                          <![CDATA[Hellgate: London satisfies Diablo cravings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/hellgate-london-satisfies-diablo-cravings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/hellgate-london-satisfies-diablo-cravings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/hellgate-london-satisfies-diablo-cravings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


                                                          Every time Blizzard sneezes, I think Diablo 3 is coming, but now that I have tasted a little of Hellgate: London, my Diablo needs have been satisfied. Yes, it's buggy, but if you tried to get on Battle.Net for Diablo 2 updates when it was first released, you ran into huge issues for a few days there, too.

                                                          Other than the lore, what do you look for in a Diablo game?
                                                          • Demons? Check.
                                                          • Undead? Check.
                                                          • Basic combat archetypes? More to choose from without an expansion.
                                                          • Intuitive and innovative UI? Check. Check. (Though the spousal unit disagrees.)
                                                          • Cutting edge graphics? Check.
                                                          • Story quests and side quests? Again, more to choose from out of the starting gate.
                                                          • Grid inventory screen for creative item arranging? Check.
                                                          • Single player and online multiplayer options? Checky McCheckerstein.
                                                          It is obvious that the core creators of the Diablo series created Hellgate: London by the very familiar gameplay, look and feel of the game. There are differences of course. Hellgate: London is a 3D world that pushes the current technology. It is set in an alternate future of Earth instead of a fantasy D&D derivation, making the setting and in-game technology vastly different from the Diablo world.

                                                          If and when Diablo 3 is released, I will be there with bells on. Until then, I will be happily questing for people who live in subway stations and helping make London safe for the living, while still remembering the dead.

                                                          MassivelyHellgate: London satisfies Diablo cravings originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                            ]]>                                                            diabloEAflagship-studioshellgate-londonSat, 03 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST                                                            <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean Online is now live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-is-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-is-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-is-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                                            Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online has launched.

                                                            For those of you who don't know, it is a MMO that uses your browser and is based on the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. It is free to play for limited access and unlimited access is $9.95 a month.

                                                            If you are interested in checking it out, http://www.piratesonline.com will redirect you to either the news site or the Play Now site.

                                                            The game still has some issues such as frozen black screens, but it does seem more robust than the last time I played in the beta.

                                                            The character creation is fun and the in-game Poker playing is a blast, so I do recommend at least trying the free-to-play portion.

                                                            See you in Port Royal!

                                                            MassivelyPirates of the Caribbean Online is now live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                              ]]>                                                              breakingdisneylaunchpiratespirates-onlinepotcoWed, 31 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EST                                                              <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean Online launching on Halloween - maybe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-launching-on-halloween-maybe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-launching-on-halloween-maybe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/30/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-launching-on-halloween-maybe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                              Though no official launch date has been announced as of this writing, all signs point to a Halloween launch for Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

                                                              Fact: The Pre-Order offer expires at midnight on Tuesday, October 30th.

                                                              Fact: The beta is over and all beta testers can transfer their accounts to the Test Server using the information in emails sent to their registered accounts.

                                                              Fact: Beta testers are being invited to "celebrate the long night before the dawn of Pirates Online" on the test server where their beta characters await. New characters will have to be created when the game launches, however.

                                                              Conjecture: If the offer to pre-order expires at midnight before Halloween and the beta is over, then Pirates Online will probably launch on October 31st.

                                                              Is it ready? I don't know, but I'll be there with my colors hoisted. You'll most likely find me at the poker table. Yar!

                                                              MassivelyPirates of the Caribbean Online launching on Halloween - maybe originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                ]]>                                                                launchmmopirates-of-the-caribbeanpirates-onlinepotcoTue, 30 Oct 2007 07:00:00 EST                                                                <![CDATA[Pocket Guide to Inventions in CoX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/pocket-guide-to-inventions-in-coh-cov/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/pocket-guide-to-inventions-in-coh-cov/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/pocket-guide-to-inventions-in-coh-cov/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                Just like Amanda, I have recently returned to CoH/CoV from a long hiatus and I find there is a lot of new and wonderful stuff happening in Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. I'm particularly excited about the Invention system and was happy to see that there is an in-game tutorial for learning about crafting.

                                                                In order to complete the Invention Tutorial, you need to attend a University. Heroes go to the University in Steel Canyon while Villains attend the one in Cap Au Diablo. You get a badge, experience, Influence/Infamy and a nice Invention Enhancement for completing the tutorial, so it is well worth it.

                                                                The info in the Invention Tutorial is invaluable, but a bit tedious to read through. So I've put together the basics of Inventions in this handy pocket guide. All of the tutorial info is included here, so if you just breezed through it to get the goodies, you won't have missed out on the essentials.

                                                                What you need to create an Invention:
                                                                • Some Salvage (appropriate for the item you are creating)
                                                                • A Recipe
                                                                • A Workbench
                                                                • Influence or Infamy
                                                                • Enough room in your inventory (if not a Costume Piece)

                                                                Continue reading Pocket Guide to Inventions in CoX

                                                                MassivelyPocket Guide to Inventions in CoX originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                  ]]>                                                                  city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcraftingfeaturedguidehow-toinventionsThu, 25 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EST                                                                  <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean Online offering pre-order incentives]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-offering-pre-order-incentives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-offering-pre-order-incentives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/pirates-of-the-carribbean-online-offering-pre-order-incentives/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

                                                                  Disney wants YOU to be one of the founding members of Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

                                                                  If you pre-order the Unlimited Access for Pirates Online, you will get a few benefits that presumably won't be available after launch:
                                                                  • 50% off your first month
                                                                  • Limited edition cloth map
                                                                  • Founder title for every pirate on your account
                                                                  • Crew Kit (unknown contents)
                                                                  If you are considering this, there are a few things you should know:

                                                                  Free play: Like most web-based MMOs, you don't have to pay to play. There will be limited free play access to the game.

                                                                  Subscription fees: The cost of Unlimited Access will be $9.95 a month. As a Founder, your first month will be $4.95.

                                                                  Tangible gifts not immediate: The cloth map and Crew Kit will be mailed to your home address "a few weeks" after the launch of the game.

                                                                  No specific launch date: The launch "date" for Pirates of the Caribbean Online is Fall. So they have until December 20th to honor this time frame. Founders will not have their credit cards charged until launch.

                                                                  They may not be ready on time: Pirates of the Caribbean Online was supposed to be released with the third movie which was out this past summer. They have come a long way since then, but I'm not sure if they are far enough along to launch this season.

                                                                  I would recommend trying to get into the beta and seeing if you like the gameplay. Just remember that Beta testing means lots of bugs and lag and rollbacks. Otherwise, unless you are into collectibles, you may want to wait and try the free aspects of the game before you sign up for Unlimited Access.

                                                                  I signed up to be a Founder, but I'm a dork who loves pirates. I'll make sure to let you know if it was worth it.

                                                                  MassivelyPirates of the Caribbean Online offering pre-order incentives originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                    ]]>                                                                    founderpirates-onlinepotcopre-orderTue, 23 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST                                                                    <![CDATA[Pirates of the Caribbean Online: First Impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-first-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-first-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/pirates-of-the-caribbean-online-first-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                    Pirates of the Caribbean Online is in the Stress Testing part of Beta right now, which means there are regularly scheduled lagfests occurring on a weekly basis. This is usually the final part of Beta testing which means they should be able to meet their "Fall" release time.

                                                                    I haven't gone too far in the game and there is quite a bit of hint text missing on the loading screens, but for the most part things seem to be a lot more stable and "filled in" compared to when Beta first began a few months ago.

                                                                    Here is what I think of PotCO so far:

                                                                    Graphics: Not so great. A bit dated actually. But the overall look and coloring works well for what it is.

                                                                    Character Creation: There is a lot of customization available for your pirate. And the name generator is quite a bit of fun as well -- I am Samantha Truepaine. I would not rate the character creation as high as City of Heroes/Villains, but it's close enough.

                                                                    Continue reading Pirates of the Caribbean Online: First Impressions

                                                                    MassivelyPirates of the Caribbean Online: First Impressions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                      ]]>                                                                      disneypiratespirates-onlinepotcoWed, 17 Oct 2007 05:31:00 EST                                                                      <![CDATA[Gods & Heroes development set aside for Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/gods-and-heroes-development-set-aside-for-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

                                                                      Perpetual Entertainment officially announced that they were putting Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising on "indefinite hold" in order to pool all of their resources into developing Star Trek Online.

                                                                      Chris McKibbin, Co-Chairman and President of Perpetual Entertainment posted a good bye letter/thank you note to the Gods & Heroes Community main page stating that the investment involved in developing two quality games plus their online platform would be "significant". So all resources will shift over to Star Trek Online and their Platform Services division.

                                                                      Binky, the Community Relations Manager, posted a eulogy on the forums. Before an excerpt from Mark Antony, Binky stated:

                                                                      Even though we are stepping back from Gods & Heroes for the time being, it does not mean that it is over. We always have the opportunity to revisit G&H and build the game we had envisioned from the beginning.

                                                                      I can only imagine how frustrated and disappointed the beta community is over the loss of this game. Though G&H is only on hold, by the time Star Trek Online is released, the technology and concepts of G&H will probably be outdated. The Roman world view is different from the other MMOs in the making and I would have liked to see it come to life. But, then again, I was President of the Latin Club in highschool. <Insert geek noise here.>

                                                                      Do you think Gods & Heroes will ever rise again?

                                                                      [via MMORPG]

                                                                      MassivelyGods & Heroes development set aside for Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                        ]]>                                                                        perpetual-entertainmentWed, 10 Oct 2007 02:20:00 EST