Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Star Trek Online's Daniel Stahl at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/captains-log-star-trek-onlines-daniel-stahl-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/captains-log-star-trek-onlines-daniel-stahl-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/17/captains-log-star-trek-onlines-daniel-stahl-at-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

STO Odyssey Header
Last week the unstoppable Jasmine Hruschak was one member of Massively's crack team who braved the traffic of Los Angeles to take in the sights, sounds, hawking, yelling, and craziness that was the Electronic Entertainment Expo. While she was there, she interviewed Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl, and put forth a few questions from the Massively team.

Stahl was able to drop a few hints about the future of Star Trek Online in his responses, so join me past the jump as I deliver the highlights from their conversation!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Star Trek Online's Daniel Stahl at E3

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Star Trek Online's Daniel Stahl at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logconconventionconvention-coveragecrypticcryptic-enginecryptic-northcryptic-studiosdan-stahldaniel-stahldoffduty-officer-systeme3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpof2pfeaturedflying-labfree-to-playGatewaygateway-portalinterviewinterviewsjasmine-hruschakmassively-event-coverageneverwinteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapwesci-fiseattlestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoMon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: World of Tanks is blasting its way to the 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/e3-2013-world-of-tanks-is-blasting-its-way-to-the-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/e3-2013-world-of-tanks-is-blasting-its-way-to-the-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/e3-2013-world-of-tanks-is-blasting-its-way-to-the-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

E3 2013 World of Tanks blasting its way to 360
Good news, tank fans! World of Tanks is heading to the Xbox 360 soon. Wargaming.net's partnership with Microsoft has been a huge milestone for both companies, as there hasn't been a large library of F2P games to grace the console's life. Although it's particularly late in the game's life to see World of Tanks hit the console market, transition to a controller-based system has actually been a good thing for the game.

At this year's E3, Massively talked with Wargaming's Jeremy Monroe a bit about the company's growth, World of Tanks on the 360, and future plans for game releases.

Continue reading E3 2013: World of Tanks is blasting its way to the 360

MassivelyE3 2013: World of Tanks is blasting its way to the 360 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE
To an outsider, CCP Games' focus on EVE Online's player panel, comics, incoming television series about player adventures, and museum induction show just how much the company works to earn its players' respect, which might sound weird for studio running a cutthroat PvP sandbox. But I've always felt as if I made stronger personal attachments through high-stakes PvP than through most other gaming activities. I don't play EVE or its console cousin DUST 514, but after stopping by the CCP booth for my interview and hands-on at E3 yesterday, I feel as if I should be doing more than reading and writing about it.

Continue reading E3 2013: DUST 514 and EVE's virtual reality demo

MassivelyE3 2013: DUST 514 and EVE's virtual reality demo originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesconconsoleconventionconvention-coveragedustdust-514e3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoeveeve-onlineeve-virtual-realityevent-coverageEVRexpofeaturedfpshands-oninternet-spaceshipsmassively-event-coveragemmofpsplaystationplaystation-3previewpreviewsps3sandboxsci-fishooterspreadsheets-onlineFri, 14 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Taking another look at HEX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-taking-another-look-at-hex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-taking-another-look-at-hex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-taking-another-look-at-hex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 2013 Hex, an MMOwith trading cards!
HEX. It's a difficult concept to grasp: a massively multiplayer online trading card game, combining elements of roleplaying goodness and the thrill of building a deck of powerful cards to combat the next evil underlord monster.

At this year's E3, Massively sat down with Cory Jones, president of Cryptozoic Studios, to get the skinny on what HEX is all about.

Continue reading E3 2013: Taking another look at HEX

MassivelyE3 2013: Taking another look at HEX originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionconvention-coveragecory-jonescryptozoiccryptozoic-studiose3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofeaturedhexhex-shards-of-fateinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemmotcgpreviewpreviewstcgtrading-card-gameFri, 14 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: The Division, Ubisoft's MMO shooter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-the-division-ubisofts-mmo-shooter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-the-division-ubisofts-mmo-shooter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-the-division-ubisofts-mmo-shooter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 Tom Clancy's The Division
Ubisoft's claim that its new MMO shooter The Division will have a "persistent world" piqued Massively's collective interest. At E3, we chatted briefly with Game Director Ryan Bernard, who has previously worked on EverQuest, EverQuest 2, and Warhammer Online. I asked what about the game and its persistent nature would appeal to MMO players and was told that actually, the team doesn't plan to make it "too persistent" at all. Each player will have his own little chunk of the world. Everything in that part of the world is persistent for him, and his friends can come over and help him out, kind of like Animal Crossing without the talking tanuki. The developers believe this will allow for a strong single-player experience while still having a visible impact on the player's slice of the world. There are places in the world that are persistent for everyone: the PvP areas. You won't want to travel around them without friends, but unfortunately, Bernard couldn't reveal more.

The game is being released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but Ubisoft hasn't ruled out other platforms or cross-platform play just yet.

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 10-13, bringing you all the best news from E3 2013. We're covering everything from WildStar and Elder Scrolls Online and ArcheAge to FFXIV's inbound revamp and TERA's latest update, so stay tuned!

MassivelyE3 2013: The Division, Ubisoft's MMO shooter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconsoleconsolesconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageeverquestEverQuest-2expointerviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragepreviewpreviewsryan-bernardthe-divisiontom-clancyUbisoftWarhammer-OnlineFri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Chatting with Team WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-chatting-with-team-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-chatting-with-team-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/e3-2013-chatting-with-team-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WildStar
Massively returned to the WildStar demos at E3 on Thursday to chat one last time with the team from Carbine. As we noted in yesterday's Q&A article, Carbine had already declared it wasn't making any big announcements at E3. It always intended a low-key presence, sharing a booth hosted by Alienware and offering the same demo gamers are at PAX East, just brought to the west coast.

Why Alienware? WildStar runs really great on a laptop.

Good news, though: Carbine plans to have a big WildStar presence at Gamescom and PAX, and the team is working on demos that will show new content, new races, and new classes.

Continue reading E3 2013: Chatting with Team WildStar

MassivelyE3 2013: Chatting with Team WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2013 Openworld racing with The Crew
Don't worry, you're not on the wrong website. This is still Massively and this is a hands on and interview about a racing game. Specifically, according to lead designer Serkan Hassan, this is a racing MMO. The Crew used the word "persistent world" so yours truly had to hunt down a very helpful Ubisoft representative for a last-minute look at the game. I will admit that while I had my doubts, the feature list does make it legit, and despite the fact that I'm awful at realistic racing games, I did have some fun.

Continue reading E3 2013: Open-world racing with The Crew

MassivelyE3 2013: Open-world racing with The Crew originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2013 Warhammer 40K Eternal Crusade is all about war
Announced at E3 this year is the long-awaited MMO rendition of the Warhammer 40K IP named Eternal Crusade. There's been an overwhelming desire from the community to see a new Warhammer project come to fruition in the wake of Dark Millennium Online's demotion and ultimate demise; this version of the tabletop-game-turned-MMO is combining the races of Warhammer in an absolute no-holds-barred warfest where the tired-but-true motto is "there is only war."

Miguel Caron of Behaviour Interactive sat down with Massively at E3 to discuss his grand plans for the IP and how exactly the title will be an MMORPG.

Continue reading E3 2013: Warhammer 40K Eternal Crusade is all about war

MassivelyE3 2013: Warhammer 40K Eternal Crusade is all about war originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmorpgbehaviourbehaviour-interactiveconconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoeternal-crusadeevent-coverageexpofeaturedinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemiguel-caronpreviewpreviewswarhamer-40kwarhammerwarhammer-40k-eternal-crusadewarhammer-eternal-crusadeThu, 13 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: TERA approaches two million players, welcomes pirates [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-tera-approaches-two-million-players-welcomes-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-tera-approaches-two-million-players-welcomes-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-tera-approaches-two-million-players-welcomes-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 2013 TERA's pirates want you for an adventure
With almost two million active registered players (and counting!) in North America, TERA does not seem to be in danger of fading into the background just yet. En Masse used E3 as a platform to trumpet the title's success following its free-to-play conversion as well as TERA's upcoming summer content.

"We're nearing two million people playing the game, which is exciting since we're North America only," an En Masse rep said. This count is certainly higher than the 1.4 million count back in March. The reps said that the game's playerbase is even larger if you factor in the entire world, where TERA has gone free in pretty much every territory it's entered.

With the game's first anniversary in the rear-view mirror, En Masse has turned its attention to bringing out a couple of meaty updates the hot summer months. Avast, ye game lubbers, there be pirates ahead!

Continue reading E3 2013: TERA approaches two million players, welcomes pirates [Updated]

MassivelyE3 2013: TERA approaches two million players, welcomes pirates [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliance-systembig-numbersblueholebluehole-studiosconconventionconvention-coveragecorsairs-strongholde3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoen-masseen-masse-entertainmentevent-coverageexpof2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playmassively-event-coverageteraThu, 13 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Infinite Crisis super-punches MOBA flaws]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-infinite-crisis-super-punches-moba-flaws/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-infinite-crisis-super-punches-moba-flaws/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-infinite-crisis-super-punches-moba-flaws/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

E3 2013 Infinite Crisis' coast is toast
Are you Marvel or DC? Turbine's hoping that you are partial to the latter, especially considering that the studio wants to rope you in with its DC superhero-themed game, Infinite Crisis. Over a hearty lunch of Kryptonite stew and Flash fries at E3, Massively's Jasmine Hruschak spoke with Creative Director Cardell Kerr, Director of Digital Communications Adam Mersky, and Executive Producer Jeffrey Steefel about the title's development and the IP's fit as a MOBA.

Infinite Crisis draws upon DC's entire multiverse for its inspiration. For non-comic book geeks, the multiverse consists of several often-interacting universes that feature different versions of the same places, superheroes, and events. Ergo, the Batman you know from our world also might have a steampunk alter-ego in the multiverse, or the virtuous Green Lantern of earth might have a post-apocalyptic counterpart as the Atomic Green Lantern. Infinite Crisis takes these heroes from all over the multiverse and tosses them together to see what happens. Hint: It ain't puppy dogs and sunshine parades.

Continue reading E3 2013: Infinite Crisis super-punches MOBA flaws

MassivelyE3 2013: Infinite Crisis super-punches MOBA flaws originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityadam-merskyCardell-Kerrcoast-cityconconventionconvention-coveragedcdc-universee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofeaturedgreen-lanterninfinite-crisisjeffrey-steefelmassively-event-coveragemobasuperherosuperheroesturbineturbine-entertainmentwarner-broswarner-bros-interactiveWarner-Bros-Interactive-EntertainmentwbThu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Dragon's Prophet's PvP, raids, and housing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-dragons-prophets-pvp-raids-and-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-dragons-prophets-pvp-raids-and-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/e3-2013-dragons-prophets-pvp-raids-and-housing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

E3 2013 Dragon's Prophet interview details PvP, raids, and housing
Los Angeles is certainly swarming with a variety of citizenry this week, from zombies to superheroes to martial artists. Even dragons have been spotted! Yes, Dragon's Prophet landed in in the City of Angels for E3 2013, and Massively's Jasmine Hruschak captured Senior Producer Todd Carson to learn more about the the dragon-centric title from Runewaker. (Don't worry folks, we practice catch and release here at Massively.)

In open beta for less than a month, Dragon's Prophet still has many systems and areas to roll out during testing, and Carson expounded on some of those. He introduced the new zone of Wintertide as well as offered details about raiding. And we certainly couldn't let him go without more information about the frontier system, which encompasses both housing and PvP.

Continue reading E3 2013: Dragon's Prophet's PvP, raids, and housing

MassivelyE3 2013: Dragon's Prophet's PvP, raids, and housing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WildStar
When I was told I'd get to attend a media briefing with Jeremy Gaffney, I ran to my closet and busted out my old "STFU University" shirt! Good old South Tenkarrdum Foundry University! For those who don't know (or have forgotten), Gaffney was a founder of Turbine and worked on both Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2, my first two MMOs. Oh, and there's that WildStar game he was talking about. That sounds pretty cool too.

Sadly, about a week before E3, I was told that Carbine wouldn't be making any big announcement at the con. This would be a catch-up conference, and from what I saw, it was mainly aimed at Korean gamers who might not already be familar in the game. I love E3 because of its international setting, and truthfully, even from "old" news you can usually find some new information if you're careful... or a selfish reporter can snag the question-asking mic two times in one briefing. Don't worry; the second time was in a big batch of "raise your hand if you have a question" end-of-the-Q&A type deals. I'm not that selfish.

Continue reading E3 2013: WildStar press briefing and Q&A with Jeremy Gaffney

MassivelyE3 2013: WildStar press briefing and Q&A with Jeremy Gaffney originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 Solstice Arena EMBARGO
I wasn't sure what to expect from Solstice Arena when I walked into Zynga/A Bit Lucky's meeting room. I'd heard about the whole "speed MOBA" thing, but I love playing as Nasus in League of Legends, so having no mobs was a bit conflicting. The game's also only being released on the iPhone and iPad, and I use an Android smartphone and a tablet running on Windows 8. But I wasn't worried. Fredrick Descamps and Jordan Maynard, co-founders (and former Trion members) of A Bit Lucky , were on hand to share their vision, but truthfully, the hands-on time won me over.

Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA

MassivelyE3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Gold
Snail Games showcased two new MMOs today at E3: Black Gold and Age of Wushu. The two games have more than their parent in common; Black Gold utilizes the Age of Wushu engine. Set in a fantastical steampunk world, Black Gold is a mish-mash of colorful fantasy elements and grunge-ridden steampunk inventions, as we found in our hands-on with the game earlier today.

Each faction within Black Gold (fantasy or steam faction) has three races of its own. The steam faction holds humans, dwarves, and vampires (what steampunk MMO would be without vampires?), and on the fantasy side you'll find more humans, a cat-like race, and a shape-shifting barbarian race. It might be a little limited in race selection, but maybe character creation will be just as interesting for the players as it is in Age of Wushu.

Continue reading E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu

MassivelyE3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuasiablack-goldblack-gold-onlinechinachinesechinese-mmoconconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofantasyfeaturedgpotatogvginterviewinterviewskidnappingmartial-artsmassively-event-coverageming-dynastypreviewpreviewspvpsandboxsnailsnail-gamessnail-games-usasteampunkwushuwuxiaWed, 12 Jun 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-the-secrets-of-tugs-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-the-secrets-of-tugs-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-the-secrets-of-tugs-universe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TUG
Over a heaping smorgasboard of food yesterday, I was given a healthy dose of the logical functions of the universe. The universe of TUG, that is, and the professor of the hour was Peter Salinas, Nerd Kingdom founder and expert in just about everything science. At this year's E3, Massively got to test a functional tech demo that showed some progress over earlier video capture and artwork, and Salinas told me about TUG's mechanics and how the systems of the game work together to create a unique experience.

"A lot of the tacky-looking games on the internet are impressive by design, but they just don't have a lot of visuals to support what that design is," he explained cryptically. "Every once in a while, a game comes out and its systems are amazing, so a publisher will snatch it up, put [those systems] into a game, and then realize they don't want to use it. [So the developer] gets shelved. That's why we want to stay independent." The indie market proves innovation is still in demand, and the design of TUG is a lot more complex when one starts to peel back the layers like an onion (but not an ogre).

Continue reading E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe

MassivelyE3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofeaturedinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragepeter-salinassciencethe-untitled-gametugWed, 12 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-bethesda-talks-next-gen-consoles-endgame-and-characte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-bethesda-talks-next-gen-consoles-endgame-and-characte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-bethesda-talks-next-gen-consoles-endgame-and-characte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Elder Scrolls Online Interview
E3 is the time and place for game creators to show their work, and Bethesda is no exception. The company offered a quick presentation of The Elder Scrolls Online, which consisted of a short introduction video followed by a brief play session. In the video, Bethesda confirmed what we already knew: that The Elder Scrolls Online will launch on PS4 and Xbox One, along with PC and OS X. The targeted release window is currently spring 2014, a delay from fall 2013 for the PC version. The video also showed off some of the content that wasn't on display for testers, including high-level PvP battles featuring 200 on-screen players, group combat, first-person mode, and familiar locations like Windhelm and Morrowind.

Our own Jasmine Hruschak attended the TESO live demo event and managed to snag a Bethesda employee for an impromptu interview. Check out the full text after the break, and don't forget to read Andrew's hands-on as well!

Continue reading E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online

MassivelyE3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftconconventionconvention-coveragedaggerfalle3e3-2013elder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineelectronic-entertainment-expoesoevent-coverageexpofactionsfeaturedinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemorrowindoblivionpvprvrsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-previewing-defiances-new-dlc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-previewing-defiances-new-dlc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-previewing-defiances-new-dlc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Defiance broke my heart around this time last year. E3 2012 was the first and last time we saw players from Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC all playing the same game together. I personally haven't played the game since then, but I've kept up with the game news, except for the show. No spoilers in the comments, people! Now that I've gotten my hands on the new DLC that's incoming for the game, I know I'll be catching up with the series. During my Defiance appointment at E3, I had a nice little chat, saw some cute features, tested a new weapon and new vehicle, and killed some new enemies... you know, the usual ark hunter stuff.

But before covering the DLC, I had to ask what exactly happened last year with Microsoft and why PlayStation players can't play with their PC mates. I mean, just because one person wanted to duck out shouldn't mean everyone is punished, right? Well, apparently, Trion doesn't agree. Even though PC players can use a controller to play the game, having PS3 and PC on the same world might bring up the dreaded "keyboard vs. controller" argument. I know some of us still want to be friends with consolers, but I guess having one server for Microsoft and one server for everyone else does sound a bit odd.

Continue reading E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC

MassivelyE3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkark-hunterarkfallconconventionconvention-coveragedefianceDLCe3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofeaturedhands-oninterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemmo-shooterpreviewpreviewspvpsci-fishootersyfythird-person-shootertpstransmedia-synergytriontrion-worldstvxboxWed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-trions-role-in-bringing-archeage-to-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-trions-role-in-bringing-archeage-to-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/e3-2013-trions-role-in-bringing-archeage-to-the-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge
ArcheAge has finally officially arrived at E3. I've personally been following this game for about two years. I've written about it on multiple websites and had a chance to play a closed beta for the Korean version. However, I'm also critical about the game (or just a pessimist), so hopefully I can balance my enthusiasm for the game with some critical commentary, but to be honest, my interviews today with both Trion and XLGAMES' producer Kyoung Tae Kim has reminded me why I've been following this game for so long.

Continue reading E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West

MassivelyE3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheageconconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofantasyfeaturedinterviewinterviewskyoung-tae-kimmassively-event-coveragepreviewpreviewspvpsandboxsandparkxl-gamesxlgamesWed, 12 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/e3-2013-final-fantasy-xivs-a-realm-reborn-returns-the-game-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/e3-2013-final-fantasy-xivs-a-realm-reborn-returns-the-game-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/e3-2013-final-fantasy-xivs-a-realm-reborn-returns-the-game-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 2013 Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn stays true to its name and its lineage: What was originally a failed title, at least according to some players, will soon be revamped into an MMO that harkens back to its hardcore Final Fantasy roots. At this year's E3, Massively nabbed a hands-on experience of the game's reboot in the Square-Enix booth, and as the owner of those very hands, I can say it was a thrilling experience.

My demo allowed me to choose between DPS, tank, and healer units. I myself am a lumbering tank in real life, so it felt natural to refill my virtual shoes in an epic battle against Ifrit. Action was quick, incredibly responsive, and a treat. Unfortunately, Ifrit rose into the sky and torched us all, but that's not the end of the story.

Continue reading E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots

MassivelyE3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornarrconconsoleconsolesconventionconvention-coveragee3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpofantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-a-realm-rebornfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragepreviewpreviewssquaresquare-enixTue, 11 Jun 2013 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/aion-qanda-discusses-changes-in-crafting-a-new-rift-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/aion-qanda-discusses-changes-in-crafting-a-new-rift-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/aion-qanda-discusses-changes-in-crafting-a-new-rift-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

AIon Q&A discussed changed in crafting, a new rift, and more
With Aion: Dark Betrayal just a short two weeks away, many eyes are turning (and returning) to the world of Atreia. The Gunslinger and Songeweaver have certainly sparked interest in new and veteran players alike. But 4.0 is more than just the new classes; it also includes an updated crafting system (to create items comparable to those in dungeons and the Abyss) and changes to neutral zone mechanics (to prevent invulnerable healers).

To answer some player questions about 4.0 and beyond, developer Seunguk Baek discussed these topics with Massively, touching on lower-level PvP, racial abilities, and even a new type of rift for higher-level Daevas that opens to another dimension entirely. See what he has to say after the break.

Continue reading Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more

MassivelyAion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensioncraftingcrafting-changesf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewinterviewsncsoftneutral-zonenew-riftPvPSeunguk-Baektruly-freeTue, 11 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/free-for-all-interviewing-achaeas-matt-mihaly-for-mud-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Achaea artwork
MUD May has been a very enjoyable experience, but the main thing I learned is that a month is not long enough to cover all of MUDdom. Not by a long shot. The fact is that MUDs have a much longer history than graphical, 3-D MMOs, and here we are on an entire site dedicated mainly to those! We owe a lot to MUDs, but I always try to point out to current or former players that we should not refer to these games only in the past-tense. They are still alive, filled with players and ongoing. That means they are just as viable and worthy of mention as World of Warcraft. How many of our favorite 3-D MMOs will be around for two or more decades?

These wonderful games do need to improve in many areas, though. Some MUD developers are attempting to bring these text-based MMOs into the future, none better than Iron Realms Entertainment's Achaea. I sat down with Matt Mihaly, the CEO and Founder of Iron Realms since 1995, for an interview to talk about Achaea and the future of MUDs.

Continue reading Free for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May

MassivelyFree for All: Interviewing Achaea's Matt Mihaly for MUD May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanearth-eternalf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumiron-realmsiron-realms-entertainmentmatt-mihalymudMUD-MayMUDsopinionvelvet-ropeWed, 29 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online: Odyssey promises huge changes, dual character training]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/eve-online-odyssey-promises-huge-changes-dual-character-traini/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/eve-online-odyssey-promises-huge-changes-dual-character-traini/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/eve-online-odyssey-promises-huge-changes-dual-character-traini/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Online: Odyssey
It's time again for another enormous EVE Online expansion. This latest chunk of tweaks, changes, and updates, titled Odyssey and due for launch June 4, marks the 19th free content addition in the space-based MMO's 10-year history. And like the expansions that came before it, Odyssey promises to make a host of changes to the EVE universe -- some big, some small, and some even game-changing.

We sat down with CCP to get a look at Odyssey and some of its more major components, including a huge exploration overhaul, more user-friendly controls, and a dramatic change to the way in which resources are distributed across its vast, starry expanses.

Here's what we've learned.

Continue reading EVE Online: Odyssey promises huge changes, dual character training

MassivelyEVE Online: Odyssey promises huge changes, dual character training originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveEve-Expansioneve-onlineeve-online-odysseyexpansionfeaturedinternet-spaceshipsinterviewinterviewskristoffer-touborgodysseypreviewpreviewssandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlineTue, 28 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[HEX: The MMO is in the cards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/hex-the-mmo-is-in-the-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/hex-the-mmo-is-in-the-cards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/hex-the-mmo-is-in-the-cards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

HEX The MMOTCG is in the cards
Massively was recently invited to meet with Cory Jones, president and chief creative officer of Cryptozoic, to get some greater insight into HEX, the studio's upcoming MMOTCG -- that is, massively multiplayer trading card game.

At first, I had a difficult time associating a "massively multiplayer" aspect with a trading card game. My two-decade-old memories of very briefly playing Magic: The Gathering simply wouldn't let me get past my initial assumption about the head-to-head nature of these types of games. Even the online version of Magic used essentially the same structure as the offline version, with digital representations of Magic cards and an online challenge ladder.

So imagine my surprise when a well-established box-and-trading-card-game company like Cryptozoic announced it was producing HEX, an MMOTCG using Kickstarter as a funding vehicle.

Continue reading HEX: The MMO is in the cards

MassivelyHEX: The MMO is in the cards originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaccgCollectible-Card-Gamecory-jonescryptozoiccryptozoic-entertainmentf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhexinterviewinterviewsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmotcgonline-tcgpremiumpreviewpreviewstcgtrading-card-gameTue, 28 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's pre-E3 Elder Scrolls Online preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/massivelys-pre-e3-elder-scrolls-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/massivelys-pre-e3-elder-scrolls-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/massivelys-pre-e3-elder-scrolls-online-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elder Scrolls Online
If you're the type to commit your early-morning hours to gaming as I am, you're probably waiting for E3 to open its floodgates. This year's Expo might be a few weeks away, but the gaming community is getting its fair share of glimpses and leaks thanks to publisher previews, and last week, Bethesda and ZeniMax joined forces for a press event in LA to preview The Elder Scrolls Online.

Mystery and suspicion has surrounded the game so far; it's the MMO entry in a long series of single-player installments for a beloved IP, so players are anxious to see how the transition from single-player adventuring to massively online gaming will play out. Unfortunately, the build I saw used only a third-person perspective and excluded PvP, but I still got a solid look at the game.

Continue reading Massively's pre-E3 Elder Scrolls Online preview

MassivelyMassively's pre-E3 Elder Scrolls Online preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofactionsfeaturedhands-oninterviewinterviewsmatt-firormorrowindoblivionpreviewpreviewspvprvrsandboxskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 28 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hall conquers Everest, talks DayZ's ownership and loss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/hall-conquers-everest-talks-dayzs-ownership-and-loss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dean Hall on top of Mt. Everest
Dean Hall has officially made it to the top of the world. The DayZ creator watched the sun rise from the summit of Mt. Everest on May 21st, according to a tweet released earlier today.

Gamasutra recently asked Hall about his Arma zombie mod's phenomenal success, and he pointed to the design's ability to trigger psychological responses to both ownership and loss. "I think the big thing was that it was this finely-crafted mix of permadeath -- which gave you a sense of value, because you could lose something -- and ownership," Hall explained. "Because it's persistent, it means that it's going to be there tomorrow. I think those two things mixed together meant that you had these really valuable stories that came from it."

MassivelyHall conquers Everest, talks DayZ's ownership and loss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdean-halldean-hall-everestdean-hall-interviewhorrorinterviewrocketsandboxFri, 24 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green
Much ado has certainly been made lately about doing something "new and different" in games. Just take a look at all the options coming through Kickstarter lately; even more contenders have thrown their hats into the ring since our roundup last February. But in a large number of these cases, the new ideas are coming from developers within the gaming industry. So what would happen if a game were developed from outside the industry?

Enter TUG. Formally known as The Untitled Game, the game is the brainchild of Nerd Kingdom, a group hailing from the world of academia that happens to have intersected with gaming. Self-described as "a collaboration of video game developers, academic scientists, modders, and gamers," this group wants to move beyond just improving the way games are made "to show[ing] that such games can make us better as individuals and as a society."

I was able to catch up with one of the founders of Nerd Kingdom, Scientist and Researcher of Stuffs Peter Salinas, to talk about the game. We touched on everything from player design input to features (like player books and companions) to making an engine available for others to use. Oh, and of course, Soylent Green.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green

MassivelySome Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfeaturesgame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewsKickstartermassively-exclusivemassively-exclusive-interviewNerd-KingdomopinionPeter-Salinaspgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredSoylent-GreenThe-Untitled-GameTUGFri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/free-for-all-an-interview-with-thresholdrpgs-michael-hartman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

ThresholdRPG screenshot
The last time I explored ThresholdRPG, I had a blast. It was one of a batch of MUDs that I used to re-introduce myself to the ancient gaming genre, and I enjoyed its simplicity and friendly community. MUDs can seem to be very similar to each other, so in order to enjoy them, you must be able to pick out the finer details that separate them. In ThresholdRPG, I particularly enjoyed fishing, roleplay, customization, and a free-to-play model that was years ahead of its time when first released 17 years ago.

The game can be a bit odd, like any MUD. During MUD May I've discovered just how confusing many of these titles can be, but I have also grown to enjoy solving the "mystery" of each game's particular set of code-words that unlock actions. ThresholdRPG is like other MUDs and introduces players to basic commands, but once out in the world a player is on her own. The good news is that an out-of-character help chat is always available and sits right on top of the standard roleplay-enforced chat. That juxtaposition of both channels actually helps immerse me in the game, allowing me to see literally where and when I can use out-of-character speech.

I asked Michael Hartman, president and CEO of Frogdice, to talk about MUD development and branching out into other styles of gaming.

Continue reading Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman

MassivelyFree for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiuminterviewmichael-hartmanmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionthresholdthreshold-rpgthresholdrpgvelvet-ropeWed, 22 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/hartsman-the-traditional-aaa-style-of-development-and-distribu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/hartsman-the-traditional-aaa-style-of-development-and-distribu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/hartsman-the-traditional-aaa-style-of-development-and-distribu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hartsman 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken
A few days ago we reported on RIFT's impending free-to-play conversion, followed by the news that Trion was undergoing a second set of apparently unrelated layoffs. Former Trion studio GM and CCO Scott Hartsman responded to the layoffs on Twitter, intimating that aspects of the gaming industry are "fundamentally broken."

After we invited your thoughts on that same subject in a Daily Grind earlier this week, we contacted Hartsman in the hopes of getting him to elaborate. Join us after the cut for the resulting interview.

Continue reading Hartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken

MassivelyHartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaabrokenbusiness-modelsfeaturedgaming-industry-brokenhartsman-interviewindustryinterviewinterviewsriftscott-hartsmanscott-hartsman-interviewtriontrion-worldsWed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/captains-log-supplemental-an-exclusive-qanda-with-stos-daniel-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

STO LoR Logo Header
After months of waiting, we can finally say that Star Trek Online's Legacy of Romulus expansion is upon us! After yesterday's launch, it's now possible to play as a member of the new Romulan Republic faction. It's now possible to begin a Klingon faction character from level 1! There's a new adventure zone and a completely overhauled user interface.

We recently had the opportunity to ask Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl, some questions regarding the update. We were also given a lot of screenshots of the new material, and all are included in the new gallery below. There was a lot to cover, so let's get to it!

Gallery: Star Trek Online Legacy of Romulus

Continue reading Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl

MassivelyCaptain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldaniel-stahlf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewinterviewskdfklingonklingonsneverwinteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweQ Aromulanromulanssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoWed, 22 May 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively surveys WildStar's Scientist and Settler paths, the Esper class, and the crazy things Jeremy Gaffney says]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/massively-surveys-wildstars-scientist-and-settler-paths-the-es/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/massively-surveys-wildstars-scientist-and-settler-paths-the-es/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/massively-surveys-wildstars-scientist-and-settler-paths-the-es/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WildStar -- hells yeah
So who wants to hear some cool stuff about WildStar? Thought so!

Massively's Gavin Townsley recently attended a WildStar media event in San Francisco, at which he was treated to a hands-on look at the upcoming sci-fantasy MMORPG's Scientist path and Esper class. He also chatted with Carbine Studios executive producer Jeremy Gaffney, who pulls a Gaffney (I'm coining that) and can't resist leaking a bit of new info about tradeskills while filling Gavin in on how endgame will work, why we should play the Settler path, and whether talent trees are passé. If you think making 10 pairs of cotton space pants sounds boring, then yeah -- you're going to like what he's got to say.

Enjoy all three articles plus the brand-new path videos we've embedded past the cut!
Hands-on with WildStar's Scientist path and Esper class
There is something exciting about taking your first steps into the mysteries of a new planet. I was anxious to mingle with the locals, analyze artifacts, and even pick a few plants -- that is, until I saw a flower burst from the ground as a giant vine-like beast.
WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on the Settler path
WildStar's Settlers don't just build bonfires for sappy Explorers to sing around; these titans of construction will save you time in dungeons, establish bigger outposts, and open up new realms of quests for everyone.
WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on progression, tradeskills, and endgame
Jeremy Gaffney divulges the beautiful details on essential parts of the game: character progression, tradeskills that don't suck, and life in the elder game.

Continue reading Massively surveys WildStar's Scientist and Settler paths, the Esper class, and the crazy things Jeremy Gaffney says

MassivelyMassively surveys WildStar's Scientist and Settler paths, the Esper class, and the crazy things Jeremy Gaffney says originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview Wildstar's Jeremy Gaffney on Progression, Tradeskills, and Endgame
In the first part of our interview with Carbine Studios executive producer Jeremy Gaffney, we discussed everything we could about the Settler path. In this followup interview, he divulges the beautiful details on essential parts of the game: progression, tradeskills, and the elder game.

WildStar has been setting a fun tone with each new video that's released. As it turns out, that same philosophy extends to nearly every corner of the game.

Continue reading WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on progression, tradeskills, and endgame

MassivelyWildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on progression, tradeskills, and endgame originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wildstar's Settler Class An interview with Jeremy Gaffney
In a world full of potential and chaos, WildStar's factions will succeed on the planet Nexus on the backs of the Settlers. The Settlers don't just build bonfires for sappy Explorers to sing around; these titans of construction will save you time in dungeons, establish bigger outposts, and open up new realms of quests for everyone.

At a recent media event, Carbine Studios executive producer Jeremy Gaffney was only too happy to explain how the Settler path opens up the world, intersects with housing, and even plays a part in PvP.

Continue reading WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on the Settler path

MassivelyWildStar's Jeremy Gaffney on the Settler path originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2
"This is going to be the best game most of us have built in our lives," Carbine Studios Executive Producer Jeremy Gaffney said bluntly.

The game in question, of course, is WildStar, and it represents Gaffney's 10th or so trip through the beta development chute on the way to release. There's an undeniable note of pride and calm confidence in his voice as he talks about the baby that's growing inside Carbine's womb right now, and he was definitely not shy in opening up about all of the decisions and work the team's made as WildStar heads into its second trimester... er, closed beta test.

Before that, however, Gaffney provided a recap of the first closed beta test. He said that it was pretty limited, with only 2,000 players testing out the lowbie Exile zones. The team moved some of the elder game content down in level so that people could test it out, and developers spent some time doing impromptu Q&A sessions with players in the field. As a result, Carbine is ready to shift over to the Dominion side and greatly expand the beta in size and content. Read on for the full scoop on what the next step will entail.

Continue reading Unicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons: WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2

MassivelyUnicorn poop, beer cans, and housing dungeons: WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney preps us for closed beta 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT announces freetoplay,
Trion Worlds has just announced that fantasy MMO RIFT will be headed free-to-play on June 12th. Though former studio reps were once adamant that the game would remain a subscription MMO, the team has apparently decided it can better compete in a F2P world by being F2P. The hybrid model will include an optional sub with fully free content like dungeons and questing; consumables, cosmetics, and even gear will make up the cash shop.

We asked Creative Director Bill Fisher to explain the whys and wherefores of this decision. Check out our interview after the jump!

[Updated: The official site has also posted a handy chart to show you what you're getting at different tiers.]

Continue reading RIFT goes free-to-play, promises 'no tricks, no traps'

MassivelyRIFT goes free-to-play, promises 'no tricks, no traps' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-fisherconquestempyreal-assaultf2pfantasyfree-to-playhybridinterviewinterviewspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsTue, 14 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor A Wildermore dev chat
Snow-covered zones aren't exactly new to Lord of the Rings Online, but the upcoming region of Wildermore is a little bit different than the normal Misty Mountain ski resorts. How so? Well, for one thing, it's not supposed to be snowy at all. So what's up with the premature winter in this area of Rohan -- and what are you, the player, going to do about it?

That's the basic setup for Update 11: Treachery of the White Hand. The update, which should be going live next week, is what I call the intermission zone: It's the region that Turbine adds between expansions to keep veteran players from bouncing off the walls due to boredom. Lothlorien, Enedwaith, and the Great River are past intermission zones, but Wildermore might be the most fascinating one yet.

Thanks to technical issues, I wasn't able to get a first-hand tour of the new region. Instead, I nabbed a heart-to-heart chat with the devs about the intricacies of Wildermore, the next step of the epic story, and plenty of assorted goodies coming with the update!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I fly through the air with the greatest of ease, then land with a cracking sound from both my knees.
Movement does not normally seem like a complicated topic in MMOs. You press forward; your character goes forward. Backward? Same deal. You can turn, and you can strafe, and you can turn and strafe and run forward if you're some kind of rebel or you want to give yourself motion sickness. But WildStar makes movement a bigger deal than normal because with a greater emphasis on action comes a greater emphasis on moving out of the path of danger.

The latest official video covers all the basics of movement, from dashing to sprinting to pining for the presumably nonexistent quadruple jump. But we had a chance to sit down with lead combat systems designer Chris Lynch and lead class designer Hugh Shelton to talk about more of the specifics, starting with the obvious question: What beast must we slay to unlock the all-powerful quadruple jump?

Wait, that wasn't it. It was about chaining movement tricks together in an endless cycle of airborne dashes.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: How WildStar has the power to move you

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: How WildStar has the power to move you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Draken are just suited to PvP. And any sort of combat, really.
Wildstar features a huge world, a variety of wildlife, an in-depth housing system, a variety of questing mechanics... but for some players that's just not the interesting part. No, the interesting thing is finding out how you can take up arms against a fellow player. A new interview with lead PvP designer Jen Gordy sheds some light on the game's PvP mechanics and how the designers are using this side of the game to continue encouraging players to play the game how they want.

There will be two PvP-centric stats on the game, one to improve damage to other players and one to decrease it. The development team is also including features like the ability to minimize the duration of a stun once you've been hit to avoid having PvP matches boil down to a race to incapacitate the other side. But both PvP and PvE are meant to still work toward the same whole -- things that you get on one side will be useful on the other, freeing you to explore the game aspects you find the most rewarding. Read the full interview for more details on how you can cut down your fellow players for glory and (presumably) profit.

MassivelyWildStar's lead PvP designer on differentiation and dynamics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosinterviewinterviewsjen-gordyncsoftplayer-vs-playerprogressionpvppvp-statssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsWed, 24 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Roberts on business models, the PS4, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/star-citizens-roberts-on-business-models-the-ps4-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/star-citizens-roberts-on-business-models-the-ps4-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/star-citizens-roberts-on-business-models-the-ps4-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen - Landing pad concept art
Game Industry interviewed Star Citizen mogul Chris Roberts at last month's GDC 2013, and the resulting read features plenty of interesting nuggets for space sim fans and the Roberts faithful.

He confirms a few things we already knew about SC's playable hangar demo scheduled for August, as well as the dogfighting alpha in December. He also shares how his team's shortened development schedule and modular process is adding up to a tighter, better game than could be made at a AAA studio.

And if Star Citizen's ever-increasing crowdfunding totals are any indication, Roberts' audience is more than OK with the process. "We generated $800,000 in February alone, which is crazy," he said. "We don't even have a campaign going, we're not even selling new ships or anything, and we don't have a game." He goes on to guesstimate that his 150,000-odd early adopters are only five to 10 percent of Star Citizen's post-launch audience. "Ultimately that means I can make the same game for a fifth of the revenue, a fifth of the sales, and I can be more profitable, and I can exist on lower unit sales. I think that's good for gamers, because crowdfunding and digital distribution are enabling more nichey stuff to be viable."

Roberts also hints at the future of SC's business model, likening it to that of World of Tanks. Finally, he has a few kind words for Sony's forthcoming PlayStation 4, and even says he'd consider putting SC on a console under the right circumstances. "The good news is that [the PS4] is essentially a PC, so that means PC owners will get much better ports of console games. I'm not a PC elitist by any means," Roberts explains. "If I could be on the PS4, and they were open, and I could do the updating and all the sort of stuff we're trying to do on Star Citizen, then I would definitely consider putting it on PS4 because it's essentially a PC with a friendlier operating system."

MassivelyStar Citizen's Roberts on business models, the PS4, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pathfinder producer talks player-generated content, archetypes, and more
Goblinworks' CEO Ryan Dancy recently guested on the DM Fiat podcast. The Pathfinder Online producer had plenty to say about the tabletop RPG that's invading the MMO space, including nuggets about Pathfinder's extensive guild/settlement system, the River Kingdoms and expanding beyond them, and player-generated content.

Dancey says that Goblinworks would like for players to create their own PvE content modules and sell them to others, likely via some sort of app store format. He also mentions Pathfinder's archetype system and its numerous advantages over traditional class mechanics. Head to DM Fiat to listen to the podcast.

[Thanks Mark!]

MassivelyPathfinder producer talks player-generated content, archetypes, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasygoblinworkspathfinderpathfinder-archetypespathfinder-classespathfinder-onlineplayer-generated-contentpnpryan-danceysandboxsandparkuser-generated-contentTue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Building the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/building-the-perfect-fortress-in-camelot-unchained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/building-the-perfect-fortress-in-camelot-unchained/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/building-the-perfect-fortress-in-camelot-unchained/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Camelot Unchained's housing, building, and mining revealed
The Camelot Unchained team has just released a new video dev blog for Kickstarter backers outlining some fairly ambitious plans for mining and construction in the upcoming PvE-free sandbox. The system will involve combinations of custom and prefab cells in which players so inclined can build up the empires and trading posts and fortifications of their dreams. And in a nod to games like Minecraft, the construction mechanics are built on a foundation of supplies procured through co-op mining gameplay.

Ahead of the reveal, we asked City State Entertainment's Mark Jacobs a few questions about the systems he's proposing, from the influence of Mojang's popular sandbox to whether mining will become my new part-time job. Read on for the complete interview!

[Update: As of Monday, CSE has also released the document form of the housing plans.]

Continue reading Building the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained [Updated]

MassivelyBuilding the perfect fortress in Camelot Unchained [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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