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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leaderboard/" rel="tag">Leaderboard</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/"><img alt="Permadeath" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/permadeath.jpg" /></a></div>
Permadeath is one of those game mechanics that seems destined to forever be nibbling away at the fringe of the MMO genre than invited to the cool kids' table. Many players find themselves aghast at the notion of losing all their hard-earned progress with one untimely demise, and it seems like game developers agree with them: Very few MMOs have any sort of permadeath option.<br />
<br />
However, this most-severest-of-severe death penalties does persist. Some players elect to form <a href="http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Mortal_Voyage_Permadeath_Guild">guilds</a> and <a href="http://wowironman.com/">meta-groups</a> to pursue a permadeath lifestyle in their games. A few upcoming titles, such as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/salem/"><em>Salem</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/wizardry-online/"><em>Wizardry Online</em></a>, have permadeath as a core mechanic. Even the recently released <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/"><em>Diablo III</em></a> has a "hardcore" permadeath mode for the brave at heart.<br />
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The question we put before you today is yet another nibble that may never be noticed by the mainstream, but it's important to consider: Is permadeath worth including in MMO design, even as an optional mechanic or server, or should this brand of death penalty kick the bucket once and for all? Vote after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/">Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241604/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battle-royal</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>ddo</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>historical</category><category>leaderboard</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>new-england</category><category>one-on-one</category><category>one-vs-one</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>opinion</category><category>paradox</category><category>paradox-interactive</category><category>permadeath</category><category>permanent-death</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>salem</category><category>sandbox</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>versus</category><category>vote</category><category>votes</category><category>voting</category><category>vs</category><category>wizardry-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Diablo III players report eruption of hacked accounts]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Diablo III" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/diablo3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	It seems like <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/diablo-iii"><em>Diablo III</em></a> just can't catch a break. The game got off to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/blizzard-issues-an-apology-for-the-state-of-diablo-iiis-launch/">a rather rocky start</a> with a number of launch issues that have since subsided, but there's no rest for the wicked because now a number of players are reporting hacked accounts and stolen items. <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-21-diablo-3-accounts-hacked-gold-and-items-stolen">Eurogamer writer Christian Donlan</a> is just one of many unlucky players who have had their accounts compromised and their hard-earned items and gold stolen.<br />
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	What's peculiar about these hacks is the fact that <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/blizzard-entertainment">Blizzard</a> authenticators don't seem to be doing anything to deter the hackers. Many players on the forums are speculating that, whatever this hack is, it has the ability to bypass Blizzard's authentication entirely, which is a fairly scary prospect to say the least. That's all of the information we have for the time being, but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for further details as they develop.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/">Diablo III players report eruption of hacked accounts</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20242042/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/diablo-iii-players-report-eruption-of-hacked-accounts/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-05-21-diablo-iii-problems-persist-with-rumored-hacking-attempts">GamesIndustry.biz</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>fantasy</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>hack</category><category>hacking</category><category>hacks</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/"><img alt="SWTOR" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/group.jpg" /></a></div>
A long time ago on a server far, far away, the Imperial forces <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/BioWare/">BioWare</a> prepared a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a> update to rule the online world: <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/21/star-wars-the-old-republics-13-patch-revealed">patch 1.3</a>. Called Allies, patch 1.3 will usher in a group finder, character transfers, and legacy perks.<br />
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The group finder will aid in banding together interested adventurers to tackle operations and flashpoints. Lead Designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/daniel-erickson">Daniel Erickson</a> said that the time is ripe for the feature, as players are spread out in levels and are rolling plenty of alts. Saying that BioWare wants to "respect the communities" that have formed, Erickson reports that the group finder will not be cross-server.<br />
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He also revealed some of the other key features for patch 1.3. Additional perks to the Legacy system will allow players to customize their experience; we'll see new ports, earlier access to mounts, and bonus XP modifiers for PvP. The patch will also change social gear to fit the armor type of the class using it, server transfers, and the ability to add augments to any crafting items. Looking past 1.3, Erickson promises a "return to big content" with patch 1.4.<br />
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If you're a fan of the <em>SWTOR </em>novels, you'll also be delighted to hear that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/drew-karpyshyn/">Drew Karpyshyn</a> <a href="http://www.darthhater.com/articles/swtor-news/20431-new-swtor-novel-details-revealed">announced that his next novel</a>, Annihilation, is scheduled for November 13th.<br />
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You can watch the patch 1.3 preview video after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/">SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20242048/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/swtor-patch-1-3-bringing-group-finder-legacy-perks/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/05/21/star-wars-the-old-republics-13-patch-revealed">IGN</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>1.3</category><category>1.3-patch</category><category>1.3-update</category><category>adaptive-gear</category><category>allies</category><category>annihilation</category><category>augments</category><category>bioware</category><category>character-transfer</category><category>character-transfers</category><category>crafting</category><category>daniel-erickson</category><category>Drew-Karpyshyn</category><category>dungeon-finder</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>group-finder</category><category>interview</category><category>legacy</category><category>legacy-perks</category><category>legacy-system</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>patch</category><category>patch-1.3</category><category>people-finder</category><category>preview</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>server-transfer</category><category>server-transfers</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>sub</category><category>subscription-fee</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>update</category><category>update-1.3</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Spacetime Studios teases Arcane Legends]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mobile/" rel="tag">Mobile</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/"><img alt="Spacetime Studios" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/arcane.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Pocket-Legends/"><em>Pocket Legends</em></a>. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Star-Legends/"><em>Star Legends</em></a>. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Dark-Legends/"><em>Dark Legends</em></a>. And now... <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/arcane-legends/"><em>Arcane Legends</em></a>?<br />
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Yes, it appears to be true! <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/spacetime-studios/">Spacetime Studios</a> is working on a fourth title for its popular mobile MMO library, <a href="http://www.trademarkia.com/arcane-legends-85589926.html">filing a trademark</a> that has since been approved. The application for a U.S. federal trademark was submitted on April 5th and was given the thumbs up May 10th. As one of its categories is "electronic game software for cellular telephones," we can reasonably deduce that <em>Arcane Legends</em> will launch on mobile devices in the same manner of its older siblings.<br />
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Spacetime Studios told us that it will release an official announcement of the title later this week. The studio <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/dark-legends-launches-on-apple-devices-hits-500k-players/">recently released</a> the vampire-themed MMO <em>Dark Legends</em> on iOS and Android devices.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/">Spacetime Studios teases Arcane Legends</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241993/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/spacetime-studios-teases-arcane-legends/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.trademarkia.com/arcane-legends-85589926.html">Arcane Legends trademark page</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>android</category><category>announcement</category><category>arcane</category><category>arcane-legends</category><category>dark-legends</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>ios</category><category>new-title</category><category>pocket-legends</category><category>spacetime</category><category>spacetime-studios</category><category>star-legends</category><category>trademark</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/runescape/" rel="tag">RuneScape</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/"><img alt="RuneScape -- Queen Black Dragon concept art" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/runescape.jpg" /></a></div>
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	<em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/runescape">RuneScape</a></em> players, do you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes of <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/jagex">Jagex's</a> popular free-to-play title? If so, then you're in luck because today we've got the first in a series of weekly videos that take fans on a behind-the-scenes tour of the game's upcoming content.<br />
	<br />
	This first video focuses on the upcoming Queen Black Dragon update, which is a members' update that will be coming in two parts. The first part of the update will bring a new questline and a "multi-level training dungeon," while part two will bring the Queen Black Dragon herself. The video promises that the fight will be one of the biggest that <em>RuneScape</em> has ever seen, and players who emerge victorious will have plenty of loot to look forward to. For the full, juicy details, check out the full behind-the-scenes video after the cut.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/">RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241874/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/runescape-behind-the-scenes-video-gives-players-a-peek-at-upcomi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=CnFrqUVRjp0#%21">RuneScape official YouTube</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>behind-the-scenes</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>classic-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>jagex</category><category>jagex-games-studio</category><category>queen-black-dragon</category><category>rs</category><category>runescape</category><category>sandbox</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/vindictus/" rel="tag">Vindictus</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/"><img alt="Vindictus - Glas Gobbledegook something or other" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/vseuglas2.jpg" /></a></div>
This must be the day for sexy MMO news. On the heels of one <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/">risque announcement</a>, we have a trailer for the latest <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/vindictus"><em>Vindictus EU</em></a> update that features a scantily clad lass named Succubus and a demonic colossal called Glas Ghaibheleann. Succubus is, well, a succubus, and she's also a raid boss who will challenge players like no other.<br />
<br />
Except for maybe Glas Ghaibheleann. He's also a raid boss. While he's not quite as attractive as his partner-in-crime, he's equally deadly. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/nexon">Nexon</a> says that the pair will awe players with their appearance and unique abilities. Get a load of the latest <em>Vindictus EU</em> update in the video after the cut.<br />
<br />
[Source: Nexon Europe press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/">Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241837/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/vindictus-eu-update-features-two-new-raid-bosses/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>glas-ghaibheleann</category><category>nexon</category><category>nexon-america</category><category>nexon-entertainment</category><category>nexon-europe</category><category>raid</category><category>raiding</category><category>raids</category><category>succubus</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><category>vindictus</category><category>vindictus-eu</category><category>vindictus-europe</category><category>vindictus-raid-boss</category><category>vindictus-raid-bosses</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-anvil-of-crom/" rel="tag">The Anvil of Crom</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/"><img alt="The Anvil of Crom - Comparing Age of Conan's free and premium services" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/aocbannermain-1337364763.jpg" /></a></div>
As I mentioned <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-anvil-of-crom-four-reasons-to-return-to-age-of-conan/">last time</a>, I'm currently test-driving the EU servers. As such, my <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan </em></a>subscription fee is spoken for, and my US server characters are now relegated to free-to-play status. Since I'm still deciding on an EU main (I just rerolled after getting a PoM to 22), I figured I'd use this week's column to take a quick look at my veteran account through the eyes of a free-to-play customer.<br />
<br />
When <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC Unchained</em></a> debuted last summer, I read the <a href="http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=166952">account services matrix</a> like everyone else, but to be frank, I didn't pay it much attention because I'd always been a subscriber. In the back of my mind, I figured that anyone who's halfway serious about <em>Age of Conan</em> would want to sub up, and my experiences this weekend have only reinforced that notion.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/">The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20237220/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>aaa-f2p</category><category>account-downgrade</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-account-downgrade</category><category>age-of-conan-extended-trial</category><category>age-of-conan-f2p-matrix</category><category>age-of-conan-free-vs-premium</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>anvil-of-crom</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-account-downgrade</category><category>aoc-advanced-riding</category><category>aoc-downgrade</category><category>aoc-mounts</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>aoc-veteran-rewards</category><category>business-models</category><category>conan</category><category>downgrade</category><category>f2p</category><category>f2p-conversions</category><category>f2p-matrix</category><category>f2t</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>free-to-try</category><category>freemium</category><category>freemium-conversion</category><category>funcom</category><category>godslayer</category><category>hyboria</category><category>khitai</category><category>khitai-f2p</category><category>opinion</category><category>rise-of-the-godslayer</category><category>the-anvil-of-crom</category><category>trial</category><category>unchained</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars/" rel="tag">Guild Wars</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/"><img alt="Guild Wars" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/tyria.jpg" /></a></div>
As many <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars"><em>Guild Wars</em></a> players know, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> takes place in the same world and often in the same areas -- just 250 years after its predecessor. Because of this, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/arenanet">ArenaNet</a> elected not to wipe the slate clean and start over with 100% new environments but instead to incorporate old locales and landmarks into its upcoming game.<br />
<br />
<em>Guild Wars</em> fan Claire became fascinated with this concept and has dedicated a new blog to documenting all of the visual changes in the world between the first and second game. It's called <a href="http://projecttyria.blogspot.ca/">Project Tyria</a>, and each post consists of several <em>Guild Wars </em>locales contrasted with screenshots of the same areas from the sequel.<br />
<br />
Claire writes, "I've always loved the graphics of the <em>Guild Wars</em> games and have grown to love the world of Tyria. We were there in the before times, and now we arrive again in the after."<br />
<br />
It's fascinating to see how ArenaNet has envisioned 250 years taking its toll on the monuments, cities, and vales of the original game; realizing the importance of keeping the world accurate for the hardcore fans seems to be a noted priority for the team. Head over to <a href="http://projecttyria.blogspot.ca/">Project Tyria</a> to see more on the comparison screenshots.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/">Fan documents visual changes between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241681/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/fan-documents-visual-changes-between-guild-wars-and-guild-wars-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://projecttyria.blogspot.ca/">Project Tyria</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>compare-and-contrast</category><category>comparison</category><category>fan-blog</category><category>fan-site</category><category>fansite</category><category>fantasy</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw</category><category>gw2</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>project-tyria</category><category>screenshots</category><category>tyria</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Orgia Romanus MMO looks to 'facilitate sexual interactions between players']]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/"><img alt="Orgia Romanus - yep, really" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/orgia.jpg" /></a></div>
Sex in MMOs isn't particularly new, especially given the titillating ad campaigns that accompany your average fantasy title. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/orgia-romanus"><em>Orgia Romanus</em></a> is new, and it's aiming higher (or lower) than scantily clad elven babes. One of its gameplay goals "is to facilitate sexual interactions between players," according to a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/foxysoft-gaming">FoxySoft Gaming</a> press release.<br />
<br />
FoxySoft is the brainchild of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/alex-allen">Alex Allen</a>, a former artist and project director at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/acclaim">Acclaim</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/soe">Sony Online Entertainment</a>. In mechanical terms, <em>Orgia Romanus</em> looks to marry traditional merchant-, politician-, and warrior-centric play with sexual content. Gamers will become "engaged emotionally as they are allowed to build relationships with other players that help them advance through the game," FoxySoft says.<br />
<br />
Full development on <em>Orgia Romanus</em> will commence after a crowdfunding campaign scheduled for next month. A playable demo is expected this fall.<br />
<br />
[Source: FoxySoft Games press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/">Orgia Romanus MMO looks to 'facilitate sexual interactions between players'</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241699/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/orgia-romanus-mmo-looks-to-facilitate-sexual-interactions-betwe/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>adult-mmo</category><category>alex-allen</category><category>foxy-soft</category><category>foxysoft</category><category>foxysoft-games</category><category>foxysoft-gaming</category><category>game-of-bones</category><category>mmo-orgy</category><category>orgia-romanus</category><category>orgy</category><category>orgy-mmo</category><category>sex</category><category>sex-in-mmos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Game of Thrones Facebook title in the works]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/"><img alt="Joffrey golf-clapping" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/golfclap.jpg" /></a></div>
HBO's Game of Thrones is getting the online gaming treatment for the second time in the space of a calendar year. First it was <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/bigpoint">Bigpoint's</a> free-to-play browser MMO, and now it's a Facebook game called <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/game-of-thrones-ascent"><em>Game of Thrones Ascent</em></a>, which is being developed by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/disruptor-beam">Disruptor Beam</a>, a social gaming company headed by former GamerDNA CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/jon-radoff/">Jon Radoff</a>.<br />
<br />
The company says that players will "lead the life of a noble during the time of upheaval as portrayed in the books and the series thus experiencing a new type of game that unites both story and strategy."<br />
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Precious little info is given on the title, including a release date, but we'll bring you the latest as it becomes available.<br />
<br />
[Source: Disruptor Beam press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/">Game of Thrones Facebook title in the works</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241665/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/game-of-thrones-facebook-title-in-the-works/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>disruptor-beam</category><category>f2p</category><category>facebook</category><category>facebook-games</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-of-thrones</category><category>game-of-thrones-ascent</category><category>great-idea</category><category>jon-radoff</category><category>social</category><category>social-games</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/"><img alt="Guild Wars 2" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/gw007.jpg" /></a></div>
Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/christopher-lye/">Christopher Lye</a>, the global brand director for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/arenanet/">ArenaNet</a>, who publicly denounced the post-<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> trend in the industry as stagnant.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/170650/Is_Guild_Wars_2_the_answer_to_stagnant_MMO_design.php">In an interview with Gamasutra</a>, Lye stated that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that <em>Guild Wars 2</em> is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."<br />
<br />
Lye pointed to <em>Guild Wars 2's</em> scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples of how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.<br />
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Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/">ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241585/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/170650/Is_Guild_Wars_2_the_answer_to_stagnant_MMO_design.php">Gamasutra</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-combat</category><category>activision</category><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>beta</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>chris-lye</category><category>christopher-lye</category><category>dynamic-events</category><category>fantasy</category><category>gamasutra</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>industry</category><category>interview</category><category>mmo-industry</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>stagnant</category><category>trend</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/livestream/" rel="tag">Livestream</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mv-guide/" rel="tag">MV Guide</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/"><img alt="EverQuest II" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/eqii-forest-ruins.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mv-guide/">MV Guide</a> is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/livestream">Massively TV</a>.<br />
<br />
Every week, the Massively Stream Team logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)<br />
<br />
Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/">MV Guide: May 21 - 27, 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241567/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/mv-guide-may-21-27-2012/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>livestream</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>meta</category><category>mv-guide</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvtv</category><category>stream</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/"><img alt="Paragon Market, CoH" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/cohmarket.jpg" /></a></div>
When <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Lord-of-the-Rings-Online/">Lord of the Rings Online</a></em> first went free-to-play, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Turbine/">Turbine</a> put quest zones on sale for a song, and <em>I missed it</em>. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Guild-Wars/">Guild Wars'</a></em> storage panels, which I delayed buying for several <em>years</em> until they were half off).<br />
<br />
This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?<br />
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<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/">The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20238835/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>cash-shop-sale</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>coh</category><category>daily-grind</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>opinion</category><category>patience</category><category>patience-is-a-virtue</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aeria Games unveils new multiplayer shooter, Born to Fire]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/real-life/" rel="tag">Real life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/war/" rel="tag">War</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/"><img alt="Born to Fire image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/born-to-fire-header.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/aeria/">Aeria Games</a>, with numerous free-to-play titles already under its belt, just unveiled a new multiplayer first-person shooter called <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Born-to-Fire/"><em>Born to Fire</em></a>. This character-driven game is set following the Cold War, when rules of engagement are thrown out the window and the world is a free-fire zone.<br />
<br />
Director of Publishing Tom Nichols describes the game:<span> "In <i>Born to Fire</i>, players step in the boots of five distinct classes of elite operatives engaged in a global firefight for domination. With the instant gratification of one-click matchmaking and the in-depth analysis provided by elaborate replay tools, <i>Born to Fire</i> represents a new class of character-driven, highly customizable MMOFPS that's easy to get into but nearly impossible to fully master.</span>"<br />
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The five classes available for play are Rifleman, Duelist, Ranger, Heavy-Hitter, or Warden; each comes with unique backstory, tactics, and a fully customizable arsenal.<br />
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<a href="http://borntofire.aeriagames.com/">Sign-ups for closed beta</a> are going on now! Players can keep informed of the latest news, updates, and contests by "liking" <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Born-To-Fire/220636011381423"><em>Born To Fire's</em> Facebook page</a>. Also, be sure to check out the screenshots and artwork in the attached gallery.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/">Born to Fire</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/#5036483"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/16-1337592366_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/#5036479"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/12-1337592359_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Born to Fire" title="Born to Fire" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/#5036480"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/13-1337592360_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/#5036481"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/14-1337592362_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/born-to-fire/#5036482"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/15-1337592363_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<br />
[Source: Areia Games press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/">Aeria Games unveils new multiplayer shooter, Born to Fire</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241455/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/aeria-games-unveils-new-mmofps-born-to-fire/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>aeria</category><category>aeria-games</category><category>Born-to-Fire</category><category>first-person-shooter</category><category>fps</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>new-titles</category><category>screenshots</category><category>war</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/week-in-review/" rel="tag">Week in Review</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/"><img alt="Diablo III" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/monk-001-full.jpg" /></a></div>
<em>At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on <a href="http://www.massively.com">Massively</a> and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or <a href="http://wow.joystiq.com">WoW Insider</a> story last week, you've come to the right post.</em><br />
<br />
We got you started in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/diablo-iii-launch-day-roundup/"><em>Diablo III</em></a> this week with our best <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/five-top-tips-for-your-first-few-days-of-diablo-iii/">tips</a>, a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/learn-the-basics-of-diablo-iii-gameplay/">guide</a> for MMO players, details on the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/diablo-iii-starter-edition-lets-you-play-for-free/">starter edition</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blizzard-uses-a-video-to-explain-what-diablo-iii-is/">videos</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blizzard-awarding-australian-game-customers-free-copy-of-diablo/">warm fuzzies</a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/eve-talks-smack-about-diablo-iiis-login-woes/">friendly rivalries</a>. Hopefully, that gave you plenty to read during all of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/blizzard-issues-an-apology-for-the-state-of-diablo-iiis-launch/">downtime</a>. Ouch!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, gamers everywhere looked on as the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-38-studios-may-be-having-financial-trouble/">38 Studios</a> ship continued to founder. Early in the week, we learned that the studio might default on its state loan, leaving the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/if-38-studios-goes-under-rhode-island-taxpayers-will-be-footing/">debt</a> to Rhode Island taxpayers. A few <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/no-relief-in-sight-for-38-studios-after-emergency-meeting/">emergency meetings</a> later, 38 Studios' employees' <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/">paychecks are going unpaid</a> and the state governor is throwing out <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/">release dates</a> for the seemingly doomed MMO <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Project-Copernicus/">Project Copernicus</a></em>. But hey, flythrough <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/">video</a>, right?<br />
<br />
More of the week's top MMO stories are prepped for your eyes after the cut.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/">MMO Week in Review: Sanctuary</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240927/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/mmo-week-in-review-sanctuary/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>featured</category><category>joystiq</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>meta</category><category>roundup</category><category>top-stories</category><category>week-in-review</category><category>weekly-recap</category><category>weekly-roundup</category><category>wow-insider</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/" rel="tag">EVE Evolved</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/"><img alt="EVE Evolved title image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/prepinferno-title.jpg" style="border-bottom: 0px solid; border-left: 0px solid; margin: 4px; border-top: 0px solid; border-right: 0px solid" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/inferno"><em>Inferno</em></a> expansion is set to launch on Tuesday May 22nd, promising a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/25/eve-evolved-extra-revamping-pvp-in-inferno/">complete revamp</a> of <a href="http://www.eve-online.com/"><em>EVE Online</em></a>'s war declaration system and a whole host of new modules. If you're in a wardec corp, you'll need to make a few adjustments to the way you operate when the patch goes live. The minimum war fee will increase to 50 million ISK even if you're declaring war on a small corporation, making very small corps less-appealing targets. The fee increases based on the number of members in the target corp, but it doesn't start increasing until around the 130-member mark. If you want to get your money's worth, you'll be best off picking a target corp with 100-150 members or selecting very high-value small targets.<br />
<br />
Be very wary of wardeccing large alliances after the patch. While the previous war system <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/eve-evolved-fixing-the-wardec-system/">swung in favour of the attacker</a>, the new system has gone to the opposite extreme. Large corps and alliances are now significantly more costly and dangerous to declare war on, especially as the defender can now call mercenaries into the war at any time. Players have complained that the increasing war costs could be abused by getting all alliance members to add alts to the corp, but this would be a logistical nightmare to apply in practice and would increase fees by only a few hundred million ISK. If alt padding becomes a problem, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ccp-games">CCP</a> will undoubtedly step in and revise the fee structure.<br />
<br />
In this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/">EVE Evolved</a>, I look at the new modules and gameplay changes coming in Tuesday's <em>Inferno</em> expansion and give some tips on preparing for the patch.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/">EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240784/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>ancillary</category><category>archaeology</category><category>bhaalgorn</category><category>blob</category><category>blobbing</category><category>blueprint</category><category>blueprints</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>dominix</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-evolved</category><category>eve-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>exploration</category><category>featured</category><category>fleet</category><category>gang</category><category>hacking</category><category>inferno</category><category>labs</category><category>magnetometric</category><category>magsheath</category><category>neutraliser</category><category>pvp</category><category>radar</category><category>research</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shield-booster</category><category>shield-tanking</category><category>tank</category><category>tanking</category><category>tech-1</category><category>tech-2</category><category>wormhole</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Shots: Lone wolf]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/one-shots/" rel="tag">One Shots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf"><img alt="One Shots" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/header-1337296695.jpg" /></a></div>
Long-time Massively follower but first-time <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/One-Shots/">One Shots</a> contributor Ilix sent along today's highlighted screenshot of <a href="http://www.gamersfirst.com/fallenearth/"><em>Fallen Earth</em></a>, which we think is quite timely, given the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/exclusive-interview-going-global-with-fallen-earths-pvp/">PvP revamp</a> soon headed to everyone's favorite post-apocalyptic sandbox. He writes in,<br />
<blockquote class="bq-standard">
	<em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Fallen-Earth/">Fallen Earth</a></em> is my top hard-RP MMO. Ilix, after three decades of isolation, attempted to fit in with a player-run town. But he was too rough-edged, too guarded, and still isolated in his mind, and he could not find joy among others. After several days trying to force himself back into what remains of humanity in the blasted terrain of the apocalypse, he admitted to himself that he could never return because he was too quick to anger, and he wandered off back into the desert. Irradiated scorpions haunt the land he wandered into, so he finds rest on the blade of a ruined helicopter's rotor, just out of reach of stingers. This shot defines the dual beauty and harshness of the life he resigns himself to.</blockquote>
Ilix's gorgeous sunset is tucked behind the break along with two other One Shots shots!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>One Shots: Lone wolf</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/">One Shots: Lone wolf</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20239739/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/one-shots-lone-wolf/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>bluehole</category><category>bluehole-studios</category><category>bring-back-one-shots</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>en-masse</category><category>en-masse-entertainment</category><category>f2p</category><category>fallen-earth</category><category>fantasy</category><category>fe</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>g1</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>one-shots</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>pics-or-it-didnt-happen</category><category>post-apoc</category><category>post-apocalyptic</category><category>reader-screenshots</category><category>reader-submissions</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>tera</category><category>user-submissions</category><category>wastelands</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perpetuum/" rel="tag">Perpetuum</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/"><img alt="Perpetuum robot duel" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/perpetuum.jpg" /></a></div>
A couple of weeks ago, we told you about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perpetuum"><em>Perpetuum's</em></a> new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/perpetuum-putting-player-built-settlements-on-new-test-server-to/">player-build settlements</a> functionality and its new test server. Now, the devs at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/avatar-creations">Avatar Creations</a> have even more exciting news: an expansion!<br />
<br />
It's called <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gamma-frontier">Gamma Frontier</a></em>, and Avatar calls it the biggest expansion since the game went live over 18 months ago. Player corporations will be able to build home bases, launch industrial projects, and colonize the new Gamma islands (not to mention defend them from invasion-minded players).<br />
<br />
The expansion also features extensive new terrain-shaping abilities. Avatar has given players full control over the land, including the ability to form hills, dig holes, and level the surrounding terrain as they see fit. Due to complications with pre-existing systems and landmasses, the terraforming capabilities are available only on the new Gamma islands (24 in total). Click past the cut to see a brief video of terraforming in action, then head to the <em>Perpetuum</em> website to read all the expansion details.<br />
<br />
[Source: <em>Perpetuum</em> newsletter]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/">Perpetuum expansion coming May 30th, bringing terraforming, new land masses</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241329/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/perpetuum-expansion-coming-may-30th-bringing-terraforming-new/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>avatar</category><category>avatar-creations</category><category>expansion</category><category>gamma-frontier</category><category>gamma-islands</category><category>nia</category><category>perpetuum</category><category>perpetuum-expansion</category><category>player-built-settlements</category><category>player-cities</category><category>player-content</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>terraforming</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>user-generated-content</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: BatMUD]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rise-and-shiny/" rel="tag">Rise and Shiny</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/"><img alt="BatMUD UI screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/fullscreen-capture-5182012-92718-pm-1337437735.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px; width: 530px; height: 340px; " /></a></div>
Here I am making myself crazy once again. Why? Why do I insist on visiting games that I know will provoke issues both physical and mental? I guess it's because lately I have been fascinated with MUDs, or multi-user-dungeons. They are better described as text-based MMOs or choose-your-own-adventure books written with thousands of other players. It's a fascinating concept, especially when you consider how dissimilar it is to today's modern, easy-to-play offerings. The ancient design of the MUD now feels fresh, so much so that I have decided to dedicate a future article about the possibility of MUDs' viability in today's three-dimensional world.<br />
<br />
I have found some good and some very bad over the last several weeks. I've also stumbled across brand-new versions of the migraines that often bother me when I concentrate way, way too hard on PC text. I have to admit that my issues do not seem that common, but it is important to look at a game from all angles, even from the angle of someone who has specific issues. <a href="http://www.bat.org/"><em>BatMUD</em></a> has tested my patience over the last few weeks and several hours. It's also shown me some wonderful adventure and sparked my imagination.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Rise and Shiny: BatMUD</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/">Rise and Shiny: BatMUD</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241144/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>BatMUD</category><category>beau-hindman</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hands-on</category><category>livestream</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>mud</category><category>multi-user-dungeon</category><category>rise-and-shiny</category><category>stream</category><category>threshold-rpg</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Beau Hindman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Massively Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/livestream/" rel="tag">Livestream</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previously-on-mv-tv/" rel="tag">Previously on MV TV</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/"><img alt="Previously On banner" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/fullscreen-capture-2102012-84938-pm-001-1337441433.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px; width: 530px; height: 208px; " /></a></div>
What a week of livestreaming! We've got quite the variety and tons of hours of video to watch. What's that? You had to work and missed half of the cool streams we showed? Don't worry! I gather all of the best streams from the week's collection and list them for you right here. Still, you need <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mv-guide/">to bookmark our livestream page</a> so you can see which videos are going to be shown during the week, but if you miss any, you can check out the recap here. That's why we do it.<br />
<br />
This week we had a lot to offer. First we had good old Mike jumping into <a href="http://www.eveonline.com/"><em>EVE Online</em></a> for some space action, then into <a href="http://tera.enmasse.com/"><em>TERA</em></a> for some scantily clad combat! He then explores some of the great browser-based game <a href="http://www.drakensang.com/"><em>Drakensang Online</em></a>. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/mj-guthrie">MJ</a> brought a ton of goodies to the streaming table, goodies like a run-through in <a href="http://www.everquest2.com/"><em>EverQuest II</em></a>, some base-jumping in <a href="http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/"><em>City of Heroes</em></a>, a bit of hardcore survival in <em><a href="http://www.xsyon.com/">Xsyon</a>,</em> and a flight around the beautiful lands of <a href="http://truly-free.aiononline.com/"><em>Aion</em></a>. I rounded out the end by streaming some <a href="http://www.bat.org/"><em>BatMUD</em></a>, a cool MUD that has been around since many of you have been in diapers!<br />
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Click past the cut and grab some popcorn. Keep the butter light but add some salt. Thanks.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/">Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241152/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>aion</category><category>ascension</category><category>BatMUD</category><category>Bigpoint</category><category>bluehole</category><category>bluehole-studios</category><category>browser-based</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>coh</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>drakensang</category><category>drakensang-online</category><category>en-masse</category><category>en-masse-entertainment</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>EQ2</category><category>eqii</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>EverQuest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freedom</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>livestreaming</category><category>massively-streamteam</category><category>massively-tv</category><category>mud</category><category>mv-tv</category><category>mvtv</category><category>nc-soft</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>notorious</category><category>notorious-games</category><category>paragon</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>post-apoc</category><category>post-apocalyptic</category><category>pvp</category><category>round-up</category><category>roundup</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>SOE</category><category>sony</category><category>Sony-Online-Entertainment</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>stream</category><category>streamers</category><category>streaming</category><category>streamteam</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>tera</category><category>truly-free</category><category>twitch</category><category>twitch-tv</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><category>xsyon</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Beau Hindman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/"><img alt="Of course, the fifth time you see the sea serpent it doesn't really shock you." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/ffxiv-surprise-epl-514.jpg" /></a></div>
For some players, MMOs are all about discovery. The game is at its most fun when you're just exploring the world, figuring out what you need to do as best you can. But to other players, wandering around without a clue isn't as fun as knowing what to do and enjoying that actual accomplishment.<br />
<br />
Of course, surprises come in both big and small varieties. No matter how well you might know <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic/">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em>'s quests, for example, you might avoid looking up all of the datacrons and thus get a pleasant surprise when you find one. Or maybe you don't like knowing about the bosses you'll fight in a dungeon until you get into the fight.<br />
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We all like discovering things, but what we like to discover varies. So what about you? How important is having surprises in a game for you? Do you like to walk in with as little foreknowledge as possible, or do you like to have a pretty good map in your head before you start playing?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/">The Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20237997/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>culture</category><category>daily-grind</category><category>discovery</category><category>exploration</category><category>explorers</category><category>opinion</category><category>surprise</category><category>surprises</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mobile/" rel="tag">Mobile</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/community-qanda/" rel="tag">Community Q&amp;A</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/"><img alt="Order and Chaos" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/orderandchaoes.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 280px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	In honor of the game's paper anniversary, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/order-and-chaos-online"><em>Order &amp; Chaos: Online</em></a> producer Arnaud Bonnard took the time to do some Q&amp;A with user-submitted questions about what is one of the biggest mobile MMOs available.<br />
	<br />
	Arnaud shared some of the toughest parts of development, which were the pressure of creating a world vast enough to entertain players for months (and now years) and ensuring that everything was as stable and functional as possible from a technical point. He followed up by reliving the joy of a successful launch and the success that the game met with over time. He talked a bit about updates and DLC, which come out every one or two months and are generally still drawn from the original design document for <em>Order &amp; Chaos: Online, </em>given that the world design was much bigger than could possibly fit into the game originally.<br />
	<br />
	Bonnard also addressed the server separation between Android, iOS, and Mac devices: Not only would it be time-consuming to link all the operating systems, but such a system would mean that patches could only be deployed once every device was supported, which would be tricky and cause too many extra delays. As far as <em>Order and Chaos' </em>future is concerned, he's optimistic. There are new graphic features coming down the pipe as well as "lots of ideas for the game" as the company looks forward to another fantastic year thanks to fan support.<br />
	<br />
	<a href="http://blog.gameloft.com/index.php/2012/05/18/order-chaos-interview/">Catch all the intricacies of Bonnard's answers</a> for yourself over at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gameloft">Gameloft</a>.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/">Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241076/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://blog.gameloft.com/index.php/2012/05/18/order-chaos-interview/">Order and Chaos Developer Interview</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>arnaud-bonnard</category><category>Gameloft</category><category>mac-mmo</category><category>mobile-mmo</category><category>order-and-chaos</category><category>order-and-chaos-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-mog-log/" rel="tag">The Mog Log</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anniversary/" rel="tag">Anniversary</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/"><img alt="The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/ffxi-moglog-1337271330.jpg" /></a></div>
Generally speaking, when I celebrate anniversaries, I celebrate the point when the game actually came out in a language that I could play it. This is relevant in the case of <a href="http://www.playonline.com"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a>, since the game took a year and a half to reach the shores of America (also known as "the place I live"). I learned my lesson about trying to learn a language just to muddle through a game back with <em>Final Fantasy III</em>.<br />
<br />
However, when one of our eagle-eyed readers pointed out to me the milestone that the game had hit, that made an impact because even if I couldn't understand any of the game's text back when it launched, a decade is a long time for continuous operation of <em>anything</em>. So rather than talking about the Legacy campaign as I'd planned, I think I'd rather talk about the legacy of <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XI/">Final Fantasy XI</a></em> this week, including where the game has gone from its state at launch. You know, when a Black Mage could make the entire world bow and you still got attacked when riding a chocobo.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/">The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240128/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>anniversary</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>decade</category><category>design</category><category>development</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>ff</category><category>ff11</category><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-11</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>launch-anniversary</category><category>mog-log</category><category>opinion</category><category>retrospective</category><category>square</category><category>square-enix</category><category>squenix</category><category>the-mog-log</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/" rel="tag">The Tattered Notebook</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/"><img alt="EQII flying" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/eqii-flying.jpg" /></a></div>
I was watching Shrek with my kids the other day, and one of my favorite scenes is Shrek's stroll with Donkey when they first meet. Shrek tries to explain how Ogres are like onions and how both have layers. When you think about it, <a href="http://everquest2.com"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> is also like an onion because it has layer after layer of content and features that have stacked up over the years. In fact, some players have argued that there's almost too much to do, particularly at the lower levels.<br />
<br />
I have always loved the fact that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> has been willing to try out new ideas over the years, and some of them have been remarkably successful. But there are a few that have gotten lost in the shuffle, while others have ended up directly conflicting with later additions of content. In this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/">Tattered Notebook</a>, we'll peel back the onion and look at the lost and conflicting layers of <em>EQII</em>.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/">The Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240815/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>battlegrounds</category><category>eq</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>EQII-arenas</category><category>EQII-creatures</category><category>EQII-dungeon-finder</category><category>EQII-lfg</category><category>EQII-mentoring</category><category>everquest</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>karen-bryan</category><category>level-agnostic</category><category>opinion</category><category>scrying</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>tattered-notebook</category><category>the-tattered-notebook</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-road-to-mordor/" rel="tag">The Road to Mordor</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/"><img alt="LotRO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/r1.jpg" /></a></div>
You would think that growth and expansion is nothing but a good thing for MMOs -- after all, those are the hallmarks of the genre. But as these games get bigger, issues emerge as the developers add new zones, features, and systems. In short, maturing MMOs gravitate toward complexity, and this can have an adverse effect on the game as a whole.<br />
<br />
The problem is that there is eventually too much a brand-new player has to absorb and master, not to mention the hassle of rolling alts and having to navigate all of that content once more. If developers don't stay on top of the situation, then the game starts to lose overall cohesion and becomes a befuddling mess.<br />
<br />
With three expansions and numerous updates under its belt, <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> is venturing deep into this territory. I have friends who are leveling up for the first time and finding themselves overwhelmed with everything that needs doing as well as all the systems that are not clearly explained. So today I want to play backseat developer and talk about five ways that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>LotRO</em></a> should be streamlined for the good of all players, old and new.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/">The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20239933/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>activision</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>deed-logs</category><category>deeds</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>evendim</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>legendary-items</category><category>legendary-trait</category><category>legendary-traits</category><category>li</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lorebook</category><category>lotro</category><category>moria</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>opinion</category><category>revamp</category><category>rework</category><category>road-to-mordor</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>stats</category><category>streamline</category><category>the-road-to-mordor</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>virtue-system</category><category>virtues</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wiki</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Guy steals friend's goods in APB, GM offers vigilante justice in return]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/all-points-bulletin/" rel="tag">All Points Bulletin</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crime/" rel="tag">Crime</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/"><img alt="APB" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/apb.jpg" /></a></div>
Account theft and compromise are tragic facts of life in all MMOs, as player BlackJackieChan discovered the other day when he logged into <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/all-points-bulletin"><em>APB: Reloaded</em></a> and realized that <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/05/18/apb-reloaded-hacked-account/#.T7biyQsLrFw.twitter">he was wiped out</a>.<br />
<br />
After posting a tirade on the forums, BlackJackieChan got the attention of a GM, who subsequently investigated the crime. His findings were stunning: BlackJackieChan's in-game friend beef43302 was the culprit. Beef43302 had crept into his friend's account, swiped a number of goods, and then deleted the temporary characters used for the theft. Beef43302 then tried to cover up his wrongdoing by consoling BlackJackieChan with a new car and encouraging him to stick with the game.<br />
<br />
Even though BlackJackieChan was accused of not protecting his account (apparently he had shown his password to his friend), <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/GamersFirst/">GamersFirst</a> restored the stolen items and then offered BlackJackieChan the chance to decide his friend's punishment. "Seeing as this is a relatively unique case," <a href="http://forums.gamersfirst.com/topic/279695-hacked/page_st_40">the GM wrote</a>, "we shall let you decide the fate of beef43302."<br />
<br />
BlackJackieChan has yet to respond on the thread, but the GM did tell the offender that the company suspended his account "unless BlackJackieChan says otherwise."<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/">Guy steals friend's goods in APB, GM offers vigilante justice in return</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241174/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/guy-steals-friends-goods-in-apb-gm-offers-vigilante-justice-in/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://forums.gamersfirst.com/topic/279695-hacked/page_st_40">APB forums</a><!--//-->, <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2012/05/18/apb-reloaded-hacked-account/#.T7biyQsLrFw.twitter">VentureBeat</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>account-theft</category><category>all-points-bulletin</category><category>all-points-bulletin-reloaded</category><category>apb</category><category>apb-reloaded</category><category>apbr</category><category>blackjackiechan</category><category>compromised-account</category><category>crime</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>g1</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>hack</category><category>hacking</category><category>humor</category><category>password</category><category>password-theft</category><category>pvp</category><category>theft</category><category>vigilante-justice</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[TERA goes on special sale on Amazon, comes with shiny mask]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tera/" rel="tag">TERA</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/"><img alt="So I just learned what TERA actually stands for. I'd always assumed it was 'tiny elim, RAHHHH ACTION'" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/bmask.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 82px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	We've told you previously about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/amazon-to-offer-special-limited-time-deals-on-tera-rift-others/">Amazon's special limited-time MAYhem</a> sales, but the news just keeps getting better. Today <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tera/"><em>TERA</em></a> is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_363140742_2?ie=UTF8&amp;docId=1000800391&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&amp;pf_rd_r=1728E0TR2XRV1C9JW5JJ&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_p=1369332722&amp;pf_rd_i=B007RZT7NC">on sale at 50% off</a> (and it will be again on May 26th), bringing it down to a delectable $24.99 for the standard edition and $29.99 for the collector's. What's more, folks who purchase between now and May 28th will get treated to an "Olive Bandit Mask," an exclusive new facial customization feature.
	<blockquote class="bq-standard">
		The olive bandit mask is a subtle bit of headwear for essential outlaw occasions. This mask disguises your identity while enhancing your reputation as a figure of mystery. Don't get caught without your exclusive olive bandit mask while out adventuring in the world of <i>TERA</i>. Better yet, don't get caught at all.</blockquote>
	If you're kicking yourself for missing out on a free goodie because you purchased the game already, fear not! Any Amazon customers who've previously bought the Digital Download of <em>TERA </em>will have the item code automagically placed into their Games and Software Library. Amazon's aiming to reward its loyal users by making sure that all such unique content is offered to all customers. That means that anyone who purchases now will also be eligible to receive any future unique promotional items.<br />
	<br />
	If you've been waiting for a price-drop to take a running jump into the world of <em>TERA</em>, it just may be that now's your time, <em>especially </em>since there's nothing cuter than a Popori in a bandit mask.<br />
	<br />
	[Source: Amazon press release]</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/">TERA goes on special sale on Amazon, comes with shiny mask</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241023/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/tera-goes-on-special-sale-on-amazon-comes-with-shiny-mask/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>amazon</category><category>bluehole</category><category>bluehole-studios</category><category>digital-download</category><category>en-masse</category><category>en-masse-entertainment</category><category>fantasy</category><category>geddit</category><category>MAYhem</category><category>olive-bandit-mask</category><category>sale</category><category>tera</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[WRUP: How is this not fully funded edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/"><img alt="I need this game to exist.  My past self would never forgive me otherwise." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/wrup-epl-518.jpg" /></a></div>
For various terrible reasons, I only just found out about <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Panzer-Pets/">Panzer Pets</a></em> (and yes, we did cover the announcement on Massively, but I still occasionally miss news we cover). Like many ambitious projects, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gamundo/panzer-pets-customizable-robots-mmo">it's on Kickstarter</a>, but as of right now it's not even 10% funded, which raises the question of <em>why</em> we live in a world where a game that offers to let you build your own little robots and send them into battle was not funded about eight minutes after the page went live.<br />
<br />
I think this should be rectified. My only regret is not having the full sum to just fill up the funding by my lonesome.<br />
<br />
What's that? Oh, right, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/WRUP/">WRUP</a>, in which the Massively staff members discuss what they'll be playing over the next two days. We also discuss our thoughts on open vs. instanced housing. Jump on past the break to see our weekend plans, and let us know what you're going to be doing in the comments!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>WRUP: How is this not fully funded edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/">WRUP: How is this not fully funded edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240976/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>massively-meta</category><category>weekend</category><category>weekend-gaming</category><category>what-are-you-playing</category><category>wrup</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/"><img alt="Spirit Tales" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/customizationjpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://st.koramgame.com/images/CustomizationJPG.jpg">Forty million</a>. That's how many fashion combinations <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Spirit-Tales/">Spirit Tales</a></em> is boasting. Forget, for a moment, whether you are a fan of Anime-inspired MMOs and cutesy fare and consider that staggering number on its merits.<br />
<br />
I don't think players are really confused by a mind-numbing array of options. Heck, some of us <em>live</em> for cosmetic gear and could never get enough. But each one of these character tidbits was designed and modeled and textured and coded in by someone, and while we know that game development resources aren't wholly fungible, it's still true that money spent on pigtails and lollipop weapons and hats that look like snakes is money <em>not</em> spent on other features like housing and combat -- features more likely to be used by far more players than bunny ears.<br />
<br />
How much character customization is too much?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/">The Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20222334/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>character-customization</category><category>cosmetic-gear</category><category>customization</category><category>daily-grind</category><category>fungibility</category><category>opinion</category><category>resource-allocation</category><category>snakes-on-a-hat</category><category>spirit-tales</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betawatch/" rel="tag">Betawatch</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/"><img alt="Betawatch - D3" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/d3-joking-epl-224.jpg" /></a></div>
This week on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Betawatch/">Betawatch</a>, we say farewell to <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/diablo-iii-launch-day-roundup/">Diablo III</a></em>, which (at least nominally) moved on from beta to official launch on Tuesday. Bizarrely enchanting new MOBA <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/new-moba-smashmuck-champions-fights-its-way-into-closed-beta-thi/"><em>SmashMuck Champions</em></a> takes its place, joining our list with a closed beta planned within the month. We've also added <a href="http://mwomercs.com/forums/topic/6998-friends-and-family-beta-is-a-go/"><em>MechWarrior Online</em></a> to the alpha list, as reader mblakeman2001 rightly pointed out the game is in a friends-and-family beta!<br />
<br />
CCP has begun sending out <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/dust-514-handing-out-first-beta-keys-tomorrow/"><em>DUST 514</em></a> beta keys and <a href="https://secure.dust514.com/">opened registration</a>, and we've also learned that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/blade-and-soul-on-track-to-launch-in-korea-this-july/"><em>Blade &amp; Soul</em></a> will leave beta and launch in July... but only in Korea. Sadface.<br />
<br />
Finally, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/next-beta-weekend-for-the-secret-world-announced/"><em>The Secret World's</em></a> second beta weekend kicked off earlier today, but if you're not in it, you can content yourself with our hands-on with the game's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/hands-on-with-the-secret-worlds-combat-system/">combat</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/hands-on-with-the-secret-worlds-mission-system/">mission system</a>.<br />
<br />
Enjoy the entirety of our Betawatch roundup post-cut!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/">Betawatch: May 12 - 18, 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20238646/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/betawatch-may-12-18-2012/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>alpha</category><category>alphas</category><category>beta</category><category>beta-test</category><category>beta-testing</category><category>betas</category><category>betawatch</category><category>closed-beta</category><category>featured</category><category>game-testing</category><category>launch</category><category>launches</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>open-beta</category><category>roundup</category><category>testing</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mobile/" rel="tag">Mobile</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/casual/" rel="tag">Casual</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmobility/" rel="tag">MMObility</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-the-runespan-an-exclusive-and-fps-boosts-with-runesc/"><img alt="RuneScape screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/fullscreen-capture-5162012-23931-pm.bmp.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; " /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.jagex.com/">Jagex</a>, developer of the ever-popular browser-based game <a href="http://www.runescape.com/"><em>RuneScape</em></a>, is known for its rapid development schedule. Heck, I fully expect that this article will be outdated by the time I finish its rough draft. Players of the Jagex flagship MMO can log in to find new items, places to explore, and quests to do almost weekly. I tend to poke my nose into the game several times a week, so I know that a more casual player has endless amounts of content to run through. I might level up my construction skill and then switch to something completely different. I just recently spent an afternoon playing with just the <a href="http://services.runescape.com/m=news/bonfires">new bonfire skill</a>.<br />
<br />
Of course, those pesky developers are at it again: giving me <em>more</em> content to go through even though my highest skills hover around only the level 40 mark. This time it's the <a href="http://services.runescape.com/m=news/the-runespan">Runespan</a>, a brand-new area that helps players level runecrafting by offering them a one-stop shop that is more casual and non-competitive than the normal runecraft experience.<br />
<br />
I got the chance to call up some of the lead developers on the phone and ask not only about the Runespan but about the new FPS improvements, so be sure to check that out!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/">MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20239451/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>beau-hindman</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>classic-mmo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>jagex</category><category>jagex-games-studio</category><category>mmobility</category><category>mobile</category><category>mobile-gaming</category><category>mobile-mmo</category><category>opinion</category><category>phone</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>rs</category><category>runescape</category><category>sandbox</category><category>smartphone</category><category>the-runespan</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Beau Hindman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/"><img alt="The Elder Scrolls Online: the Ebonheart Pact" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/tes02.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 298px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	The flashlight of knowledge has already been directed at two of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/"><em>The Elder Scroll Online</em></a>'s three main political factions, and now the third is getting a little time in the light. We've already told you about the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-elder-scrolls-online-factions-profiled/">Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion</a>, and today <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/game-informer">Game Informer</a> is closing out <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/03/june-cover-revealed-the-elder-scrolls-online.aspx">ouroboros</a> with the third faction, the <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/18/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-ebonheart-pact.aspx">Ebonheart Pact</a>.<br />
	<br />
	The alliance that makes up the Ebonheart Pact was first forged after an Akaviri invasion, when the Nords and Dunmer banded together and then cut the Argonians in on the friendliness in order to find safety in numbers. While the Aldmeri Dominion is bent on conquering and ruling, the Ebonheart Pact is really just an attempt to stay alive in a world of invasions and power struggles.<br />
	<br />
	The Dunmer, also called Dark Elves, call the familiar lands of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/morrowind">Morrowind</a> home. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/skyrim">Skyrim</a>, which a few folks may have heard of thanks to a rather underground game that came out last year, is home to the militant and cold-resistant Nords. The reptilian Argonians, or Saxhleel as they like to call themselves, come from the Black Marsh, also known (by way of total coincidence, I'm sure) as Argonia. They share the area with the Hist, a race of sentient trees, and all matter of poisonous and malicious critters and plants.<br />
	<br />
	If you need help keeping all the names straight (the Nords are also referred to as children of the sky, by the way, although apparently that's an <em>informal </em>title), be sure to read the <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/18/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-ebonheart-pact.aspx">full profile</a>.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/">The Elder Scrolls Online Ebonheart Pact faction profiled</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240993/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-online-ebonheart-pact-faction-profiled/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_elder_scrolls_online/b/pc/archive/2012/05/18/elder-scrolls-online-faction-profile-ebonheart-pact.aspx">Ebonheart Pact profile</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>argonian</category><category>bethesda</category><category>bethesda-softworks</category><category>bethsoft</category><category>children-of-the-sky</category><category>daggerfall</category><category>dark-elves</category><category>dunmer</category><category>ebonheart-pact</category><category>elder-scrolls</category><category>elder-scrolls-online</category><category>faction</category><category>morrowind</category><category>nord</category><category>oblivion</category><category>please-dont-suck</category><category>pvp</category><category>sandbox</category><category>saxhleel</category><category>skyrim</category><category>tamriel</category><category>tes</category><category>teso</category><category>the-elder-scrolls</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>three-faction-pvp</category><category>zenimax</category><category>zenimax-media</category><category>zenimax-online</category><category>zenimax-online-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/historical/" rel="tag">Historical</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmorts/" rel="tag">MMORTS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-empires-online/" rel="tag">Age of Empires Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/"><img alt="Age of Empires Online" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/aoeo.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 291px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gas-powered-games">Gas Powered Games</a> is aiming to take <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-empires-online"><em>Age of Empires Online</em></a> out of DLC-supported free-to-play and into a truly free model. That means moving away from what Systems Design Lead Eric Williamson described as "more of a free to try" model and implementing a system through which players can earn points to unlock anything that could be more quickly bought with money. In anticipation of this change, PC Gamer sat down with Williamson and Design Lead Steve Bauman for a chat about some of the <a href="http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-online-interview-becoming-really-free-to-play-instead-of-free-to-try/">philosophy behind the change</a>.<br />
	<br />
	Williams said that their hope is that people who were previously turned off by the imperative that they spend money for full in-game advantage will be willing to give it another go. Players will now be able to earn enough points to unlock a premium civilization in "as short as two or three weeks of daily play," so those who spend the most time in-game will reap the greatest reward. Empire points, the purchase resource that will be gained by either money or in-game achievement, will be earned by players as they complete specific campaign quests, level up, and participate in Alliance Contests.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/">Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240930/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-developers-talk-about-free-to-try-and-free-to-pla/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/18/age-of-empires-online-interview-becoming-really-free-to-play-instead-of-free-to-try/">Complete interview</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>Age-of-Empires</category><category>Apple</category><category>eric-williamson</category><category>f1p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>ftt</category><category>gas-powered-games</category><category>microsoft</category><category>microsoft-game-studios</category><category>robot-entertainment</category><category>steve-bauman</category><category>truly-free</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New flythrough video previews Project Copernicus]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/"><img alt="A pair of scales might be more apropos.  Or dice." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/copernicus-flythrough-epl-517.jpg" /></a></div>
In the wake of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/">the Rhode Island governor's release announcement</a>, all eyes are on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/38-Studios/">38 Studios</a> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Project-Copernicus/">Project Copernicus</a></em>. Up until now the title has been talked about only in hushed tones, but today we've gotten a little something more: a flythrough of some areas of the game, showing off what we can expect from the environments. And suddenly that announced release date seems just a touch more plausible because the environments certainly look gorgeous.<br />
<br />
Players of <em>Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</em> will no doubt recognize some of the environmental looks if not the exact locations, but everyone can appreciate the design that's gone into each region. Of course, it's a long road between showing a pretty place and making a playable game, and 38 Studios is still struggling to keep its head above water. But the MMO the studio has promised seems a bit more plausible now, and hopefully there's a light at the end of this particular tunnel.<br />
<br />
[Thanks to all the tipsters who sent this in!]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New flythrough video previews Project Copernicus</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/">New flythrough video previews Project Copernicus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240983/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-flythrough-video-previews-project-copernicus/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=m9nvnrP0j8U">Official YouTube</a><!--//--></li><li>Via: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com">Joystiq</a><!--//--></via></ul></p>]]></description><category>38-studios</category><category>breaking</category><category>copernicus</category><category>early-preview</category><category>flythrough</category><category>previews</category><category>project-copernicus</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><category>zone-preview</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 17:45:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Insider gets into the nitty gritty of the new ally system]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/"><img alt="Evil Pair of Ducks v. Pair of Ducks: FIGHT" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/eveonline.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 270px;" /></a></div>
<div>
	In a never-ending effort to facilitate the spread of war and destruction, the good folks at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ccp/">CCP</a> have cooked up an <a href="http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&amp;nbid=28542">Ally System</a> for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE Online</em></a>'s upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/inferno"><em>Inferno</em></a> expansion -- a system that will enable players to put their services on hire or find a buddy to join them in a war. In a dev diary update today, the system was brought out into the light and displayed in detail.<br />
	<br />
	Wars you're engaged in will show up in the Our Wars tab (under the Wars tab, under the Corporation tab in your <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/neocom">Neocom</a>), as will any wars that you're an ally in. If you're a CEO or Director, you can list yourself as Open For Allies and decide whether or not to accept offers for help -- which you should expect, naturally, to come at a price. Negotiation of prices can be carried out through normal communication channels, as the current UI allows you only to accept or decline the offer.<br />
	<br />
	If trouble hasn't found you and you want to spice things up, the All Wars tab is the place for you: It's a list of, well, all active wars, with information like who's asking for an ally and wars with one or more allies. By default, the list shows the 50 most recent wars, but it's also searchable by corporation/alliance. There's an "Assitance requests only" box that you can check to speed up the sword-selling process. Once you've made an offer, possibly done some negotiating, and been accepted, you'll be counted as an ally, although you'll have to wait 24 hours to start fighting.<br />
	<br />
	The purpose of this system is to give more options to defenders, introduce some risk for attackers, and provide ways for mercenaries to support themselves. <a href="http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&amp;nbid=72742">There's a whole list of extra rules and explanation over on the blog proper</a>, so be sure to check it out.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/">EVE Insider gets into the nitty gritty of the new ally system</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240948/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/eve-insider-gets-into-the-nitty-gritty-of-the-new-ally-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://community.eveonline.com/devblog.asp?a=blog&amp;nbid=72742">EVE Insider</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>ally</category><category>ally-system</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>ceos-and-directors-have-all-the-fun</category><category>defenders</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>internet-spaceships</category><category>mercenary</category><category>our-wars</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>sophisticated-war-systems</category><category>spreadsheets-online</category><category>war</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine is recruiting next week in (where else?) Rhode Island]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/"><img alt="Turbine logo" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/turbine.jpg" /></a></div>
If you're going to be anywhere near New England next week, and you're interested in breaking into the games business, you might want to stop by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine's</a> latest recruiting event. The developer of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> is hosting a meet-and-greet in Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, May 22nd.<br />
<br />
The shindig runs from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Hotel Providence, and Turbine is looking to fill 50 job openings at its Needham studio location (and hey, they're probably even <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/">paid positions</a>!). Check out a listing of <a href="https://careers.timewarner.com/1033/asp/tg/cim_searchresults.asp?partnerid=391&amp;siteID=36&amp;Function=runquery&amp;AgentID=9113504">current opportunities</a> at the official Time Warner career website.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/">Turbine is recruiting next week in (where else?) Rhode Island</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240910/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>business</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>mmo-industry</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-hiring</category><category>turbine-job-fair</category><category>turbine-jobs</category><category>turbine-recruiting</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matt Firor on The Elder Scrolls Online's '100% solo' personal story]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online/" rel="tag">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/"><img alt="Screenshot -- The Elder Scrolls Online" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/teso-1337366054.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	Games in the Elder Scrolls series have always been about giving players the opportunity to become the game's hero, and it looks like <em><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-elder-scrolls-online">The Elder Scrolls Online</a></em> will be no different. The title's game director, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/matt-firor">Matt Firor</a>, has announced that each character's main storyline in the game will be "100% solo."<br />
	<br />
	Firor points back to the previous entries in the series, stating that "in <em>The Elder Scrolls</em> games, you're always the hero... The last thing you want to do is have the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon as he's stomping across the Imperial City, and you see like 15 guys behind you waiting to kill him." While it's a good point, we can't help but wonder what kind of an impact this design will have on the social aspect of the MMO, but at this point all we can do is wait and see. Firor's full interview over on Game Informer has plenty of extra information as well, so if you're jonesing for more details, just head on over and check it out for yourself.</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/">Matt Firor on The Elder Scrolls Online's '100% solo' personal story</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240841/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-matt-firor-talks-100-solo-personal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/05/17/what-makes-the-elder-scrolls-online-a-modern-mmo.aspx">Game Informer</a><!--//--></li><li>Via: <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-18-the-elder-scrolls-onlines-main-story-is-100-per-cent-solo">Eurogamer</a><!--//--></via></ul></p>]]></description><category>bethesda</category><category>bethesda-softworks</category><category>bethsoft</category><category>daggerfall</category><category>elder-scrolls</category><category>elder-scrolls-online</category><category>matt-firor</category><category>morrowind</category><category>oblivion</category><category>personal-story</category><category>personal-storyline</category><category>please-dont-suck</category><category>pvp</category><category>sandbox</category><category>skyrim</category><category>solo</category><category>story</category><category>storyline</category><category>tamriel</category><category>tes</category><category>teso</category><category>the-elder-scrolls</category><category>the-elder-scrolls-online</category><category>three-faction-pvp</category><category>zenimax</category><category>zenimax-media</category><category>zenimax-online</category><category>zenimax-online-studios</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[38 Studios' Project Copernicus to release in June 2013, says RI governor]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/legal/" rel="tag">Legal</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/"><img alt="38 Studios' Curt Schilling" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/curt.jpg" /></a></div>
It is not every day that a U.S. governor is the one to announce the launch window for an MMO, so savor the weirdness while you can: Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/rhode-island-governor-gives-38-studios-copernicus-mmo-a-june-20/">announced at a press conference</a> that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/38-studios/">38 Studios</a> will be releasing code-name <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/project-copernicus/">Project Copernicus</a> next summer. "What I understand is Copernicus is June of '13," Chafee said. He also stated that he thought the financial deal was a "risky enterprise" from the start.<br />
<br />
38 Studios Founder and Chairman Curt Schilling <a href="http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/18/facebook-curt-schilling-denies-paid-himself-back-with-money-thanks-supporters-ailing-studios-video-game-company/EnqdY2flmq0Bf55m4YvdRM/story.html">said on Facebook</a> that rumors of his using the state funds to repay his personal investment in the company was "not true." In a separate post, Schilling attempted to set an optimistic tone: "We will find a way, and the strength, to endure."<br />
<br />
We have been following <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-38-studios-may-be-having-financial-trouble/">the financial turmoil</a> that 38 Studios is in following <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/if-38-studios-goes-under-rhode-island-taxpayers-will-be-footing/">its default on paying back Rhode Island</a> for its $75 million loan. The studio and state <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/no-relief-in-sight-for-38-studios-after-emergency-meeting/">are looking for options</a>, but in the meanwhile, 38 Studios has been struggling to make payments <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/">by holding back employee paychecks</a> and seeking additional capital from private investors.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/">38 Studios' Project Copernicus to release in June 2013, says RI governor</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240865/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul><li>Source: <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/rhode-island-governor-gives-38-studios-copernicus-mmo-a-june-20/">Joystiq</a><!--//-->, <a href="http://bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/18/facebook-curt-schilling-denies-paid-himself-back-with-money-thanks-supporters-ailing-studios-video-game-company/EnqdY2flmq0Bf55m4YvdRM/story.html">Boston Globe</a><!--//-->, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/curt.schilling.56">Curt Schilling's Facebook page</a><!--//--></li></ul></p>]]></description><category>38-studios</category><category>business</category><category>curt-schilling</category><category>facebook</category><category>finance</category><category>industry</category><category>kingdoms-of-amalur</category><category>kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning</category><category>launch</category><category>launch-window</category><category>legal</category><category>Lincoln-Chafee</category><category>loan</category><category>mmo-industry</category><category>press-conference</category><category>project-copernicus</category><category>release</category><category>release-window</category><category>repayment</category><category>rhode-island</category><category>rumor</category><category>rumors</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/storyboard/" rel="tag">Storyboard</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/"><img alt="Yes, I plan to have something bizarre for this every anniversary." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/storyboard-104-epl-516.jpg" /></a></div>
Last year, I had planned to change up the focus of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Storyboard/">Storyboard</a> a little. The "high and wide" format had been working, but I was worried that the column just wouldn't have legs if I didn't start going for more focused and narrow applications. So I spent several months working on just the right way to do more game-specific columns in here.<br />
<br />
You don't remember them, of course, because none of them was ever posted. Those several months of work did not produce a single viable column.<br />
<br />
At the capstone of the second year of Storyboard, I'm forced to basically eat crow about one of my major plans for the last year because it turns out that not only did it not work but it didn't need to work in the first place. I managed to fill up another year of columns just fine without going into great detail about one game over another, and as it turns out, I'm a lot happier with this year as a whole anyway.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/">Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20239518/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>anniversary</category><category>column</category><category>columns</category><category>featured</category><category>looking-back</category><category>opinion</category><category>retrospective</category><category>roleplay</category><category>roleplayers</category><category>roleplaying</category><category>rp</category><category>story</category><category>storyboard</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/historical/" rel="tag">Historical</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/war/" rel="tag">War</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warplanes/" rel="tag">World of Warplanes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-firing-line/" rel="tag">The Firing Line</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/"><img alt="The Firing Line - World of Warplanes producer interview" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/wowpinterview.jpg" /></a></div>
Last week I talked a bit about a couple of flight sim shooters coming soon to a PC near you. One of them is <a href="http://www.worldofwarplanes.com"><em>World of Warplanes</em></a>, the followup title to <a href="http://www.wargaming.net">Wargaming.net's</a> ubiquitous <a href="http://www.worldoftanks.com"><em>World of Tanks</em></a> hit.<br />
<br />
The World War II action MMO masters are slipping the surly bonds of earth with a new lobby-based battler that's currently flying through the early phases of its global alpha test. I had a few burning questions for the devs, including specifics on the matchmaking system, progression, and the possibility of historical scenarios. Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/anton-sitnikau">Anton Sitnikau</a> was gracious enough to answer those and more, so head past the break to see what he had to say.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/">The Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20236661/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><p><ul></ul></p>]]></description><category>anton-sitnikau</category><category>exclusive</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>fps</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>historical</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>massively-exclusive</category><category>matchmaking</category><category>mmofps</category><category>opinion</category><category>plane</category><category>planes</category><category>pvp</category><category>tfl</category><category>the-firing-line</category><category>third-person-shooter</category><category>tps</category><category>war</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>wargaming.net-matchmaking</category><category>warplane</category><category>warplanes</category><category>world-of-warplanes</category><category>world-of-warplanes-interview</category><category>world-of-warplanes-matchmaking</category><category>world-of-warplanes-producer-interview</category><category>wowp</category><category>wowp-interview</category><category>wowp-matchmaking</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
