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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Repopulation drops its first patch for the new build]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/the-repopulation-drops-its-first-patch-for-the-new-build/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/the-repopulation-drops-its-first-patch-for-the-new-build/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/the-repopulation-drops-its-first-patch-for-the-new-build/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Your hula hoop competition is going very poorly.
It's more possible to play The Repopulation now than it has ever been, and that means the design team is shaking up how it handles updates. Instead of the monthly recaps of the past, the team is putting forth notes for each individual patch, such as the first major one to hit the current testing build. It's focused on improving several areas of the game, starting with a polishing of textures and performance in Plymouth City and a few other smaller points.

Several combat improvements have also been rolled out, although the next patch will hit most of the major combat issues players have brought up. Skill gain rates have also been adjusted, as have the Auction and Work Order systems in hopes of keeping the economy lively. If a few lingering issues had kept you from fully enjoying The Repopulation or you just want a picture of all the changes that have come down the pipe, check out the full walkthrough of the latest patch.

MassivelyThe Repopulation drops its first patch for the new build originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesadjustmentsbalancebalancinggame-mechanicsgraphicgraphicsimprovementsnewsnews-itemspatchpatchesrepopulationsandboxsci-fithe-repopulationupdateupdatesTue, 03 Feb 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New ArcheAge producer promises communication, game improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/new-archeage-producer-promises-communication-and-game-improvemen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/new-archeage-producer-promises-communication-and-game-improvemen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/new-archeage-producer-promises-communication-and-game-improvemen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

No word yet on whether or not there will be a chicken in every pot, although it seems likely.
There's someone new at the head of ArcheAge, producer Marv Lee Kwai. Kwai posted a lengthy letter to the players on the forums recently outlining the major standing issues that the team still sees in the game along with several of the changes and additions set for the game over the next year. He stresses that the developers are well aware of unusual market fluctuations, sieges being too costly and difficult, and the balance of top-end rewards; moving forward, the team means to see them all tweaked and improved.

The letter goes on to mention that the team is planning to add a global trade channel to reduce faction chat spam. Also en route is The Diamond Shores, a new area in southern Auroria that accompanies a bump in the level cap to level 55. It's a little past the start of the new year, but Kwai's tone is hopeful that the game can rise above its somewhat buggy and controversial launch.

MassivelyNew ArcheAge producer promises communication, game improvements originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaadjustmentsarche-agearcheagebalancebalancingfantasyimprovementsmarv-lee-kwainewsnews-itemspatchpatchespvpsandboxsandparktriontrion-worldsupcoming-patchesxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 23 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 to nerf might, buff confusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/guild-wars-2-to-nerf-might-buff-confusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

gw2
There will be a few small but significant balance changes coming to Guild Wars 2 with its January 27th patch as outlined in a new dev diary today.

The devs declared that the might boon is "exceptionally strong" and will see a nerf with the patch, bringing down the amount of power and condition damage that might stacks emitted. On the flip side, confusion will hit for 33% more, but in PvE combat only.

Other patch balance changes include nerfing a few items and tweaking professions due to the might nerf. "The profession-specific updates this time around will be a bit more focused on the general usability of certain skills, with targeted reductions on outlier skills," the team said.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 to nerf might, buff confusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnerfpatchpatch-previewpreviewFri, 16 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic will address balance and ranked PvP for update 3.1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-will-address-balance-and-ranked-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-will-address-balance-and-ranked-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/star-wars-the-old-republic-will-address-balance-and-ranked-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Locked in mortal staffblade combat, as always.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is launching update 3.1 in about a month, and the developers are using this patch to address some standing issues. The patch also kicks off the game's fourth ranked play season, which is scheduled to last about three months. This season will be used as the basis for some new ranked play adjustments, such as implementing a "floor" rating for picking up the lowest-tier season rewards in Season 5. The season's titles will also be class-specific based on forum feedback.

Designers are also looking into balancing classes, starting with the Darkness Assassin and the Kinetic Combat Shadow, addressing issues with survivability and damage in the class. If you've been feeling squishier or less resilient or noticed oddities with abilities, you can take part in the thread yourself. Early versions of these changes have already been rolled out to the test servers for the coming update.

[Thanks to Mikey Moo for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic will address balance and ranked PvP for update 3.1 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebiowareclassclassescompetitioneaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playgame-balancegame-mechanicslucasartsmechanicsnewsnews-itemspatchpatchesranked-playranked-pvpranked-seasonssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdateupdatesFri, 16 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Destiny development blog discusses updates and guns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/destiny-development-blog-discusses-updates-and-guns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/destiny-development-blog-discusses-updates-and-guns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/09/destiny-development-blog-discusses-updates-and-guns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

And the winner for this year's weapon of choice is... GUN! Thanks for playing.
The holiday break is over now, and the team behind Destiny is slowly returning from the collective bacchanalia and getting back to what really matters: giving players guns so that they can shoot aliens in the face and then get better guns to shoot bigger aliens. If you've already gone through Crota's End and are waiting for the hard mode, for example, you should know that it's almost done and should be going on to the live servers soon, although there's not a concrete date yet. It's all in the game's most recent developer blog.

Players can look forward to loot updates in Vault of Glass and system changes in Crota's End as soon as January 13th, which should help soften the delay. The blog also contains information on guns, specifically on the most popular sorts of weapons that players are toting around to use during their alien-shooting sorties. Check out the full update for more details on the patch adjustments and future PvP rotations.

MassivelyDestiny development blog discusses updates and guns originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebungieconsoledestinyendgamegame-mechanicsnewsnews-itemspatchpatch-previewpatchesraidraidssci-fishooterupdateupdate-previewupdatesFri, 09 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part three]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/the-soapbox-better-models-for-mmo-endgame-progression-part-thr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/the-soapbox-better-models-for-mmo-endgame-progression-part-thr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/the-soapbox-better-models-for-mmo-endgame-progression-part-thr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's a climb we can make, if we try.
Today marks the last entry in my better models for MMO endgame progression series, the follow-up to my series on why MMO studios should abandon raiding. And that means providing two more possible models along with something of a thesis statement. But it also means that at this point I'm far more willing to wander off into the woods with these ideas. The first part had slight twists on standard formulas, the second had ideas that was a bit further afield, and this one features two ideas that are still almost entirely unrefined.

More specifically, today's concepts are more about tackling the very principle that progress has to be tied past a certain point to things that you get. You earn a thing and then you're better. But there's no reason that progress can't be oriented the other way, with the gear (etc.) just being a gating mechanism for your actual forward motion.

The funny part is that a lot of these systems aren't really at odds with one another; they can coexist without too much trouble. But then, that's the nature of the beast.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part three

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part three originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebetter-models-for-endgame-progressioncraftcraftingcraftseditorialendgameendgame-contentendgame-modelendgame-progressionendgamesfeaturedgame-balancegame-mechanicshigh-level-contentlevellevelsop-edopinionprogressprogressionprogression-modelrantrantssoapboxspeculationthe-soapboxWed, 24 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Why Star Trek Online is kind of a mess right now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/captains-log-why-star-trek-online-is-kind-of-a-mess-right-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/captains-log-why-star-trek-online-is-kind-of-a-mess-right-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/captains-log-why-star-trek-online-is-kind-of-a-mess-right-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A little messy and incoherent despite... hmm. Commentary.
I haven't had nearly as much time to play Star Trek Online lately as I would have liked; I've had other projects to work on, other games to play, and a lot of holiday stuff going on. So my main captain, who's been trekkin' around since launch, is still woefully underleveled. I accept entirely that this is my own fault, but I haven't been stressing out over it; I have no need to rush up to the cap.

That attitude is helped substantially by the fact that the people who are rushing up to the cap or already did rush up are awash with complaints. The speed of leveling. The speed of upgrade mechanics. How the Tier 5 and Tier 6 ships interact. The price of items. The amount of mission content. Gaining new specialization points at the cap. Sure, some of it is pretty normal complaining, but there's a general sense of discontent with the game at the moment. And I'm honestly not surprised because this problem was always going to crop up, and it could have been managed so much better.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Why Star Trek Online is kind of a mess right now

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Why Star Trek Online is kind of a mess right now originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancecaptains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdelta-risingexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playissueslevellevel-caplevelsopinionpatchpatchesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-delta-risingSun, 30 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Economy exploits plague ArcheAge [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/archeage-exploits-hit-again-rollbacks-are-possible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/archeage-exploits-hit-again-rollbacks-are-possible/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/archeage-exploits-hit-again-rollbacks-are-possible/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How invigorating for the genre to have a game with so many exploits it's hard to keep track of them.
If you were hoping that this would be the week in which there were no stories of ArcheAge bugs or exploits hitting the news, we're sorry to say that reality has dashed your hopes. Players are reporting numerous exploits hitting the game, some of which have been publicly detailed on the game's subreddit, such as a method to force the game to offer specific loot when random boxes are opened. The exploits are being investigated and will be rolled back illegal character gains will be reversed if discovered, according to Trion Worlds.

Further posts clarify that players who were unknowingly involved in these exploits (through the Marketplace or simple dumb luck) will not be targeted, although players are advised to use caution in their dealings and avoid obviously suspicious deals.

[Thanks to squidgod2000 and Thunder for the tips! Our original story conflated the words rollback and reversal. Trion Worlds has told us that server rollbacks are not on the table. The studio says it will reverse characters found to have knowingly benefited from the exploit. The marketplace has been taken offline while the exploit investigation continues.]

MassivelyEconomy exploits plague ArcheAge [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagebalancebugbugseconomyexploitexploitsfantasyin-game-economynewsnews-itemspvprollbackrollbackssandboxsandparktriontrion-worldsxl-gamesxlgamesMon, 17 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheAge's Auroria launches today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/archeage-posts-patch-notes-for-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/archeage-posts-patch-notes-for-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/archeage-posts-patch-notes-for-todays-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Novelty?
ArcheAge is scheduled to launch a big new update today on its North American servers. How big? Well, you can get a pretty solid idea just from the patch notes. The game is adding four new zones to be conquered and claimed by players, complete with space to build castles and houses once the claims have been made. There's also a new dungeon being added to the game, giving players uninterested in the land rush something to do with their time.

New recipes have also been added for high-end weapons requiring Gilda Dust to craft. Vehicle stats have seen a rebalancing in an effort to make sure that no single vehicle is the unquestioned best in every field at all times; the vehicles retain unique abilities, but their performance is identical. Check out the full patch notes on the official site and start downloading as soon as you can since this patch is a big one.

[Thanks to Robert for the tip!]

MassivelyArcheAge's Auroria launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheageareaareasbalancefantasygame-mechanicshousehouseshousingnewsnews-itemspatchpatchesplayer-housingpvpsandboxsandparktriontrion-worldsupdateupdatesvehiclesxl-gamesxlgameszonezonesTue, 04 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warplanes rolls out MiGs in update 1.6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/world-of-warplanes-rolls-out-migs-in-update-1-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/world-of-warplanes-rolls-out-migs-in-update-1-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/world-of-warplanes-rolls-out-migs-in-update-1-6/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

They then proceeded to slowly taxi down the runway with the pilot duckfacing and slapping the back of his seat.
Ready to fly some of the most iconic Soviet airplanes in history? World of Warplanes update 1.6 introduces the Soviety MiG line at Tier V and above, allowing players to take the controls of these historic crafts and use them in mid-air dogfights with other planes. There are also five new premium aircraft available in the game, offering another way to take to the skies with this patch.

Aside from new vehicles, the patch also adds in a new multirole classification, placing some planes between fighters and heavy fighters. The net effect is creating planes that can use a more varied loadout and switch roles in battle more effectively. Map boundaries for the El Halluf location have also been extended, giving the update plenty of features for players to enjoy.

MassivelyWorld of Warplanes rolls out MiGs in update 1.6 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No comment.
Two weeks ago, Carbine Studios offered us the opportunity to interview product director Mike Donatelli and creative director Chad Moore regarding the state of WildStar and what future updates would bring to the game. We have their thorough answers in their entirety for you today; Carbine assures us that there was no animosity or conspiracy in the delay, and we thank the studio for that. So let's get to it: Read on as the duo discuss WildStar's current population, business model, development strategy, and plans for the near future.

Continue reading Carbine's Donatelli and Moore on WildStar's population and philosophy

MassivelyCarbine's Donatelli and Moore on WildStar's population and philosophy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalance-adjustmentscarbinecarbine-studioschad-moorecontentdifficultyendgamefeaturedgame-balancegame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewsjeremy-gaffneymechanicsmike-donatellinewsnews-itemspatchpatchesraidraidssolostephan-frostupdateupdateswildstarwsTue, 14 Oct 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Features coming in Oceanus and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/28/eve-evolved-features-coming-in-oceanus-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/28/eve-evolved-features-coming-in-oceanus-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/28/eve-evolved-features-coming-in-oceanus-and-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
It's been almost four months since EVE Online switched from publishing two major expansions per year to releasing ten smaller updates, and so far it looks like the new schedule has been a huge success. Rather than forcing the industry overhaul out the door in Kronos before it was ready, CCP was able to push it forward to the Crius release window seven weeks later and the extra development time meant the feature launched in a very polished state. It may be too early to tell if the new schedule's success can be seen in the concurrent player graph for Tranquility, but the numbers have remained steady for the past few months in what is typically the annual low-point for player activity.

The Oceanus update is scheduled to go live in just two day's time, adding several graphical upgrades, more difficult burner missions, an experimental new notification feature, and other small improvements. The scale of the update seems to be on par with the recent Hyperion release, consisting of mostly small features and minor iterations on gameplay. While we're told that CCP is still working on large projects behind the scenes, the new release schedule means they won't be rushed out the door and so we may not see them for some time.

In this edition of EVE Evolved, I summarise everything we know about Tuesday's Oceanus update, and take a look at what's to come in further releases.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Features coming in Oceanus and beyond

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Features coming in Oceanus and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Sep 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eve
One thing that we're becoming increasingly convinced about the purpose of EVE Online's dev diaries is that they are secret recruiting and training grounds for future CCP employees a la The Last Starfighter. If you're willing to chew through thousands of words and a dozen or so charts on something called "Module Tiericide," then you should be awarded with a salary plus benefits.

That theory aside, today's new Oceanus dev diary explains (at great length) how the team is retuning its approach to module balance in order to give all ships significant strengths and weaknesses and purposes. One such change is that named modules are on their way out: "Our solution to this problem is to replace the meta-based named module system with a new role-based system."

CCP promises that this is but part of the overall and continuing effort to balance ships and prepare for new additions to the game.

MassivelyEVE Online nukes named modules originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceccpccp-gamesdev-diaryeveeve-onlineinternet-spaceshipsmodulesnamed-modulesoceanuspreviewsandboxsci-fiship-balancespreadsheets-onlineThu, 25 Sep 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III patch improves pets, Greater Rifts, and Witch Doctors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/24/diablo-iii-patch-improves-pets-greater-rifts-and-witch-doctors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/24/diablo-iii-patch-improves-pets-greater-rifts-and-witch-doctors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/24/diablo-iii-patch-improves-pets-greater-rifts-and-witch-doctors/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Making your game experience marginally better, one loot drop at a time.
The latest patch for Diablo III is out now for players in North America, and it's a big one for pets. Area damage now hits pets for less damage than before, some pets have had their health increased, and in general there's a play philosophy focus that pets should be roughly as durable as the class that summoned them in the first place. It's good news if you tend to take part in the game with a companion creature or two.

The update also makes a variety of adjustments to Greater Rifts, altering the behavior of enemies found within the rifts and removing certain maps form the rotation. Witch Doctors have also received a variety of buffs, with several fetishes getting substantially more life and improved functionality. Take a gander at the full patch notes to see how much has changed.

MassivelyDiablo III patch improves pets, Greater Rifts, and Witch Doctors originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Sep 2014 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbalancebalance-changesbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygame-mechanicsgothic-fantasymultiplayernewsnews-itemsonline-multiplayerpatchpatchespetpetsroguelikerpgupdateupdatesWed, 24 Sep 2014 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How your Guild Wars 2 class will change in September]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/guild-wars-2-tells-you-how-its-going-to-change-your-class-in-se/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/guild-wars-2-tells-you-how-its-going-to-change-your-class-in-se/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/guild-wars-2-tells-you-how-its-going-to-change-your-class-in-se/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

gw2
When Guild Wars 2's second feature pack crashes down on our heads next month, there will be none of us unscathed from its impact. A new dev diary posted today reveals that the feature pack will contain balance changes for all of the game's classes.

Among the changes are a rework of Elementalist and Thief grandmaster traits, love for Engineer kits and elixirs, an improved Spirit Bow ability for the Guardian, a revamp of the mimic skill for the Mesmer, improved survivability for the Necromancer, more flexible pet choices for the Ranger, and tweaks to the Warrior's adrenaline resource. Overall, it all sounds pretty positive, although there could be a nerf or two lurking in the mix.

MassivelyHow your Guild Wars 2 class will change in September originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebalance-changesbalance-tweaksbuy-to-playclassclass-changesclass-tweaksclassesfantasyfeature-packfeature-pack-2guild-wars-2gw2ncsoftMon, 18 Aug 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Expectations for Final Fantasy XIV 2.35]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-mog-log-expectations-for-final-fantasy-xiv-2-35/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-mog-log-expectations-for-final-fantasy-xiv-2-35/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/the-mog-log-expectations-for-final-fantasy-xiv-2-35/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Playable Tengu! I mean Ixali. (This is for you, Anatoli.)
I realize it's kind of silly, but I'm still annoyed at Final Fantasy XIV's methods for numbering interquel patches. I get the schema, I really do, but "2.35" to me says a patch that's preceded by 34 others. "2.3.5." would indicate a patch partway through the 2.3 patch cycle. Could we get another dot in there? Please?

No, evidently not. And yes, I know we'll probably have an expansion long before we'd be that far through 2.x, it's the principle of the thing.

As I write this, we still don't have a preliminary set of patch notes or anything on 2.35, but while it's a "minor" patch it's still adding a fair amount of stuff into the game. This is one of the great parts about playing the game, that however bad some parts of it might be when it comes to balance, it pumps out content as minor patches that makes other studios look painfully lazy. Specifics are left to the audience for speculation. So what am I expecting from this week's little patch, the known and the unknown?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Expectations for Final Fantasy XIV 2.35

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Expectations for Final Fantasy XIV 2.35 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceconsoleconsoleselephantsequipmentfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-2.35final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgearloremog-logoliphantsopinionpatchpatchespvppvp-mechanicsquestquestssquaresquare-enixsquenixstatsthe-mog-logupdateupdatesMon, 18 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT addresses player auction house concerns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/rift-addresses-player-auction-house-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/rift-addresses-player-auction-house-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/rift-addresses-player-auction-house-concerns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Look, I appreciate your irritation at the rates, but I am relatively certain we have bigger concerns right at the moment.
RIFT brought some major changes to its live servers yesterday, but one change wasn't mentioned in the patch notes and produced more than a little player irritation. Along with all of the other auction house changes, helpfully compiled by RIFTJunkies, the transaction cost was changed from a flat fee to a 5% scaling tax. That's kind of a big change if you're used to only having a minor hit whether the auction sells or not.

According to the development team, this change will not be reversed, but modifications will be made to help make the shift feel less punishing to players. The goal is to both recover some money from the economy and cut down on unnecessary auctions for trivial sums. Players can expect to see a hotfix next week to make the taxes both lower and dependent upon the length of the auction; read the full auction house breakdown for more details as well as an in-depth look at the other changes.

MassivelyRIFT addresses player auction house concerns originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housebalanceeconomic-balancingeconomyf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-economynewsnews-itemspatchpatchespricepricingpvpriftrift-literift-patch-2.8rift-planes-of-telararvrthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsupdateupdatesThu, 07 Aug 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall rolls back Stamina changes after player protests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/05/darkfall-rolls-back-stamina-changes-after-player-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/05/darkfall-rolls-back-stamina-changes-after-player-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/05/darkfall-rolls-back-stamina-changes-after-player-protests/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It seemed like a good idea at the time.
The development team behind Darkfall had a couple of issues. The first issue was that no one was using Primalist armor. The second was that stamina regeneration was disabled during sprinting. So it seemed like an obvious combination. Give Primalist robes the ability to boost stamina regeneration, let other armor types see stamina drop a bit faster, and everyone would have a bit more motivation to use robes. Elegant, no?

As it turned out, the resultant regeneration and overall issues led to an immediate rollback and a 40% decrease in stamina consumption across the board, meaning that these issues are all back to the drawing board. An apology was issued for the unintended consequences of the patch, with the team promising to examine the issue in more depth whilst looking for a solution that doesn't lead to this level of fan outcry.

[Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

MassivelyDarkfall rolls back Stamina changes after player protests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurinebalancedarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasygame-balancegame-mechanicsnewsnews-itemsopen-pvppatchpatchespvprollbackrollbackssandboxstaminastamina-issueunholy-warsupdateupdatesTue, 05 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall Unholy Wars custom roles raise balance concerns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/darkfall-unholy-wars-custom-roles-raise-balance-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/darkfall-unholy-wars-custom-roles-raise-balance-concerns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/darkfall-unholy-wars-custom-roles-raise-balance-concerns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

And yet somehow bears are left off the list of concerning power levels.
After relaunching with set roles, Darkfall Unholy Wars recently introduced custom roles to the game, allowing players to take on any combination of abilities to build a truly unique character. If you guessed from that sentence that there are probably certain balance issues to be worked out, you'd be correct. The community team recently posted on Facebook to address concerns from players regarding balance, noting that it was inevitable that such a major patch would have some issues to be worked out.

Rather than patching immediately, the team intends to wait for a few more days to see how matters develop before addressing balance issues. The posting also states that the game is based around large-scale combat, so duel performance is not necessarily indicative of the game's overall state of balance. A full update regarding balance adjustments and bug fixes should be available next week.

[Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

MassivelyDarkfall Unholy Wars custom roles raise balance concerns originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurinebalancebalance-issuescustom-rolesdarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasygame-balancenewsnews-itemsopen-pvppatchpatchespvpsandboxunholy-warsWed, 18 Jun 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall Unholy Wars answers questions on custom roles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-answers-questions-on-custom-roles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-answers-questions-on-custom-roles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-answers-questions-on-custom-roles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Spinning round and round.
In the original version of Darkfall, skill selection was a wide-open field. When the game relaunched as Darkfall Unholy Wars, the role system was introduced, narrowing the field of options significantly. Now custom roles are incoming, and that means that players have questions about how the new mechanics will work. Those questions are being answered in a three-part series of community Q&A sessions, with the first two parts available now.

Some mechanics are being removed -- Wobble, for instance, was introduced solely to balance roles, but with the new system the developers no longer need balancing specifically between roles. There have been significant adjustments made to some skills, in part to avoid the situation wherein everyone has a ranged kill skill and super-powerful healing. Despite this, the answers also point out that most characters will actually see a net increase in power overall. If you want to know more, feel free to glance at the full rundown of answers for more details.

MassivelyDarkfall Unholy Wars answers questions on custom roles originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesagonaventurinebalancebalance-concernsbalance-issuesclassescommunity-q-and-adarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasygame-mechanicsnew-mechanicsnewsnews-itemsopen-pvppvprolessandboxskillsunholy-warsSun, 08 Jun 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online: Kronos brings the fight to uppity pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/30/eve-online-kronos-brings-the-fight-to-uppity-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/30/eve-online-kronos-brings-the-fight-to-uppity-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/30/eve-online-kronos-brings-the-fight-to-uppity-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE
EVE Online: Kronos is on deck for next Tuesday's release, which means that CCP Games is going into overdrive to inform the community as to what to expect with the newest expansion. As such, today we have a pair of lengthy posts talking about new exploration sites and ship/module balancing.

In the expansion, players will be tasked with hunting down a particular sect of pirates, the Guristas, by hunting through a null-sec system for the prized data. CCP will be dangling eight new ship skins as potential rewards for a successful search.

Kronos will also include a rebalance of 38 ships, a "heap" of modules, and a total overhaul of the drone weapon system. CCP stated that the two themes of the expansion's balancing are the ascendancy of pirates and mercenaries and advancements in industrial technology.

CCP also just posted the patch notes from Kronos, so give them a look!

MassivelyEVE Online: Kronos brings the fight to uppity pirates originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalancingccpccp-gamesdev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineexpansioninternet-spaceshipskronosrebalancingsandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlineFri, 30 May 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you resent PvP balance tweaks for impacting PvE?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-resent-pvp-balance-tweaks-for-impacting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-resent-pvp-balance-tweaks-for-impacting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-resent-pvp-balance-tweaks-for-impacting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Black Desert
For a good long while I was downright antagonistic to all things PvP, whereas today I do my best to peacefully ignore the fact that PvP happens in MMOs. A big reason for my former hostility wasn't because PvP is a different style of gameplay that I didn't enjoy, but because I'd often see my PvE skills nerfed or negatively tweaked because they were considered overpowered and unfair in PvP. My teeth grated at the injustice of my PvE experience being dinged because of what happened over there in PvP-land.

Not all MMOs handle balance issues between the two worlds this way, as some create different skill sets for each, but that's unfortunately not always the case. It's also possible that devs have gotten a lot better at melding the two worlds when it comes to skills and talents that are carried between them. I'm still wary, however.

So do you see this happening, and if or when it does, do you resent PvP balance tweaks for impacting PvE?

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 Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you resent PvP balance tweaks for impacting PvE? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancedaily-grindnerfopinionpvptdgthe-daily-grindtweakWed, 21 May 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hearthstone promises fewer card changes in open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/hearthstone-promises-fewer-card-changes-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/hearthstone-promises-fewer-card-changes-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/16/hearthstone-promises-fewer-card-changes-in-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hearthstone
All CCG and TCG players fear "the big nerf" that will change a beloved card, and in turn, an entire deck. However, such changes and tweaks are part of any card game, and in a blog post today, Lead Designer Eric Dodds explained the team's philosophy behind keeping Hearthstone balanced.

Dodds said that such changes need to be made when cards cause non-interactive games, are frustrating to play against, are causing confusion, aren't intuitive enough, are too strong compared to other cards with a similar cost, or are too weak. "Hearthstone is at its most fun when you're solving an interesting puzzle each turn," he wrote. "Your opponent's minions, your minions, and the cards in your hand are all pieces to this puzzle, and when your opponent removes parts of the puzzle, it can be less fun to play."

Even with these reasons, Dodds promised that the team plans to make "very few card changes" when Hearthstone goes into open beta. "Giving you confidence in your cards and the play environment is very important to us, and each card change we make potentially undermines that confidence," he said.

MassivelyHearthstone promises fewer card changes in open beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalance-philosophybetablizzardcard-changesccgccgmmochangesclosed-betaDesign-Philosophydev-blogdev-diaryeric-doddshearthstoneopen-betatcgtcgmmotrading-card-gameThu, 16 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Mechanics: MOBAs vs. MMO battlegrounds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/mmo-mechanics-mobas-versus-mmo-battlegrounds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/mmo-mechanics-mobas-versus-mmo-battlegrounds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/mmo-mechanics-mobas-versus-mmo-battlegrounds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Game title image
It may feel as if MMOs have always existed as a core part of our gaming repertoire, but the genre made its indelible mark on the industry just over a decade ago. MMO titans like World of Warcraft, EVE Online, and City of Heroes shaped the mechanics we now use as markers and basic standards for the quickly growing genre, and those mechanics have been reiterated and reforged by the countless additions to the MMO clan that we know and love today.

This new MMO Mechanics column aims to navigate the mechanical minefield that is the modern MMO through in-depth opinion pieces, comparative analysis, and a little bit of Irish wit, starting with a peek at what distinguishes MMO PvP battlegrounds from Massively Online Battle Arenas.

If women are from Venus and men are from Mars, MMOs and MOBAs must be from different galaxies altogether. Despite the similarities between MMO PvP arenas and MOBA matches, the two take very different approaches to progression, persistence, and matchmaking. This leads to two very separate yet equally engaging ways to test the mettle of your character against the might of a human opponent.

Continue reading MMO Mechanics: MOBAs vs. MMO battlegrounds

MassivelyMMO Mechanics: MOBAs vs. MMO battlegrounds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbalancebattle-for-graxiabattlegroundbattlegroundsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxcrossoverdotae-sporte-sportsesportseveeve-onlinef2pfairnessfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-designGame-Mechanicsgodgodsgraxiaguild-wars-2gw2hi-rez-studiosleague-of-legendslolmechanicsmmo-mechanicsmobamoba mechnicsmobamechnicsMOBAsncsoftparagonparagon-studiospetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroisandboxsci-fismitesuperherosuperheroesthird-persontina-laurowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 Dec 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game content do you wish were easier?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/27/the-daily-grind-what-game-content-do-you-wish-was-easier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/27/the-daily-grind-what-game-content-do-you-wish-was-easier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/27/the-daily-grind-what-game-content-do-you-wish-was-easier/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TSW
This past Monday, I aired out my grievance that The Secret World's Issue 8 is far too tough for solo characters. Some of that game's playerbase seems to relish the title's tougher-than-standard challenge, while others do wish that the devs would lighten up a bit from time to time.

For the most part, I think developers do a terrific job maintaining the Goldilocks balance between "too easy" and "too hard" for the wide spectrum of players that come through MMOs. But sometimes content is tuned such that it just punches you in the face and doesn't relent. Sometimes the challenge becomes a frustrating wall that you can't overcome. Sometimes... you just wish it were a little easier.

So at the risk of putting yourself out there for the hardcore elite to mock, tell us -- what game content do you wish were easier?

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 Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What game content do you wish were easier? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancedaily-grindgame-balanceissue-8opiniontdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswWed, 27 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The super news of October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-super-news-of-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-super-news-of-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-super-news-of-october/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Not pictured: Spookies
October was a pretty big month. I don't mean that just because it was a month filled with all of the classic horror you could ever hope for, although that was certainly welcome. But October also saw two big superhero games ramping up and doing things in a big way, one for a console launch and one for a big fan-pleasing rally... which was pretty cool to see, all around.

That's not to say that the other superhero games available sat around and did nothing during October, but you couldn't match the energy surrounding City of Titans and DC Universe Online. Let's look back at the past month of capes and cowls.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The super news of October

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The super news of October originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbalancechampionschampions-onlinecity-of-titanscocolumncolumnscotcross-platformcrowdfundingcrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universe-onlinedcuofeaturedfundingkickstartermissing-worlds-mediamonth-in-reviewmwmpcperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation-4ps3ps4pweroundupsoesony-online-entertainmentsuper-herotweaksWed, 06 Nov 2013 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Path of Exile patches in guilds, classes, and balance changes for launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/22/path-of-exile-patches-in-guilds-classes-and-balance-changes-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/22/path-of-exile-patches-in-guilds-classes-and-balance-changes-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/22/path-of-exile-patches-in-guilds-classes-and-balance-changes-be/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dancing a merry jig for patch day, tra-la-la.
It's not fair to call Path of Exile's pre-launch patch a kitchen sink patch; this is big enough to include the sink, dishwasher, fridge, and probably a good chunk of the dining room besides. It's a big patch, and when it goes fully live tomorrow, you'll have a chance to play around with the enormous list of features, starting with the addition of an entire system for guilds that didn't exist before.

Yes, the patch includes a guild system. And that's not even the biggest part of the patch. It includes a new character class for players who have cleared the game on Normal difficulty, six new world areas, achievements, new skills, new items, and an assortment of balance tweaks and improvements. That's not even touching upon new challenge leagues and the like. The point is that even if you know the game inside and out, you might want to hop in tomorrow and try out the huge array of new options available to you because... really. There's lots of stuff here.

MassivelyPath of Exile patches in guilds, classes, and balance changes for launch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsaction-mmobalancechallengescharacter-skillsclassclassesdiablof2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesguildguildslaunch-day-patchlaunch-patchnew-areasnew-classespatchpath-of-exilepoepre-launch-patchroguelikeskillsTue, 22 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 launches its Blood and Madness update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/15/guild-wars-2-launches-its-blood-and-madness-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/15/guild-wars-2-launches-its-blood-and-madness-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/15/guild-wars-2-launches-its-blood-and-madness-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Measuring the added amount of chaos seems like the wrong way to go about this.
It's that time again in Guild Wars 2. The crisp scents of fall and candy corn are in the air, and everyone's getting ready for another appearance by Mad King Thorn. But the newest patch, Blood and Madness, is turning things on its ear by introducing Thorn's son, Bloody Prince Edrick, which will throw the already chaotic festival into... further chaos? Chaos is generally pretty boolean; things are chaotic or they aren't.

As expected, there's a guide available for those who want to get the most out of this latest update. Even if you're not interested in the dose of story that goes along with the update, you can enjoy the holiday event, and you can also enjoy the other features added with the patch. World vs. World is getting its first competitive season along with a slew of reward improvements, and combat balance has been adjusted to make all classes a bit more fun to play. Check out the full patch notes for more details, and go get yourself some candy corn.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 launches its Blood and Madness update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalanceblood-and-madnessbuy-to-playclass-balancefantasygame-balanceguild-wars-2gw2halloweenhalloween-2013ncsoftnewspatchpatch-notespatchespvpupdateupdateswvwTue, 15 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall Unholy Wars updates the balance of power]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-updates-the-balance-of-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-updates-the-balance-of-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/08/darkfall-unholy-wars-updates-the-balance-of-power/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Are you happy about this? It's kind of hard to tell.
It was a couple of weeks ago that the development team behind Darkfall Unholy Wars first discussed the issue. Warriors in the game were just too good, meaning that the class meant as the easiest to first pick up was also the easiest to absolutely crush your enemies with. So the team stepped back, examined the problem, and put together a comprehensive set of changes meant to make all of the game's roles more appealing.

The three major changes put into effect were an increase to damage mitigation for non-Warrior armors, more normalized stats for every role, and a slight reduction in Warrior armor against the relevant damage from specialized damage types. The net effect should be that weaker classes now stay up longer and can deal more damage to Warriors, allowing more skilled players to pull ahead in battle. For more details including revamps to the wobble mechanics and individual ability tweaks, take a look at the full list of balance changes.

[Thanks to Jane for the tip!]

MassivelyDarkfall Unholy Wars updates the balance of power originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Oct 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurinebalanceclassclass-balanceclassesdarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasygame-mechanicsmechanics-updatesopen-pvppatchpatchespvppvp-balancesandboxsystem-updatesunholy-warsupdatesTue, 08 Oct 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Everything we know about Rubicon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/29/eve-evolved-everything-we-know-about-rubicon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/29/eve-evolved-everything-we-know-about-rubicon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/29/eve-evolved-everything-we-know-about-rubicon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved: Everything we know about Rubicon
Back in April, EVE Online Senior Producer Andie Nordgren delivered an incredible long-term vision for the game's future that included deep space colonisation, player-built stargates, and players controlling practically everything that's currently run by NPC empires. This vision sets the tone and direction for development over the next ten expansions, each of which will introduce a small component of the overall goal. In a live interview session earlier this week, CCP revealed the first steps it will take toward space colonisation in its upcoming winter expansion.

Named Rubicon, the expansion will be in players' hands on November 19th and promises to give individuals and small groups unprecedented control over the sandbox. It will let players fight over planetary customs offices in high security space, significantly buff the ability of small ships to participate in hit-and-run style warfare, and even introduce a new set of personal deployable structures that can be hidden anywhere in space. All this comes alongside two new Sisters of EVE ships, twitch livestream integration, and significant balance changes to Marauders, Interceptors, Interdictors, and Electronic Attack Frigates.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I run down all of the new features and changes announced so far for EVE Online's Rubicon expansion.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Everything we know about Rubicon

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Everything we know about Rubicon originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerationamarrauto-lootauto-lootingbalancebugfixcapital-shipcapital-shipsccpccp-gamescertificatecertificatescynosural-fielddeployabledepotdrone-baydrone-shipdroneseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexpansion-revealfeaturedgallenteguerilla-warfarehit-and-runhotdropinterbusinterceptorsinterdictorinterdictorslivestreammissionmission-runnermission-runnersmission-runningMissionspatchpiracypirateplayer-owned-housingplayer-owned-starbaseplayer-owned-stationplayer-owned-structurespreviewpvprebalancingrevealrubiconsandboxsci-fisiphonSiphon-unitsisters-of-eveskillskill-trainingskillssmallholdingssoespeed-balancingstar-trekstarbasestarbasesstealingstructuretacticsthefttractor-beamsvulcanvulcan-shipwarp-accelerationwarp-speedSun, 29 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: Hybrid penalty, Elder Scrolls Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/27/tamriel-infinium-hybrid-penalty-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/27/tamriel-infinium-hybrid-penalty-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/27/tamriel-infinium-hybrid-penalty-elder-scrolls-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tamriel Infinium Hybrid penalty, Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online intends to do some shaking up of the traditional MMO combat system. Other MMOs have done this same thing in the past with varying degrees of success. Class balance, however, seems to be the ever-present issue with any game that has to deal with cooperative or conflictive multiplayer gameplay, even more so if the game attempts to do both like most MMORPGs.

With the fast-action, limited ability, skill-based combat system ESO intends to produce, how do the developers at ZeniMax best prevent one of the most dreaded by-products: the hybrid penalty?

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Hybrid penalty, Elder Scrolls Online?

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Hybrid penalty, Elder Scrolls Online? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftclassescolumnelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofeaturedhybridhybrid-penaltymechanicsnightbladePvEpve-vs-pvpPvProlestamrieltamriel-infiniumtesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinezenimaxzenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 27 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet offers sneak peek at future Guild Wars 2 balance changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/14/arenanet-offers-sneak-peek-at-future-guild-wars-2-balance-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/14/arenanet-offers-sneak-peek-at-future-guild-wars-2-balance-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/14/arenanet-offers-sneak-peek-at-future-guild-wars-2-balance-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArenaNet offers sneak peek at future Guild Wars 2 balance changes
Game design lead Jonathan Sharp took to the Guild Wars 2 official forums yesterday to offer players a "high level" look at ArenaNet's plans for profession balance and improvements. Although the changes won't be going into effect until the October 15th release -- and Sharp cautions that some of them might not make it in that early -- ArenaNet wants to provide fans with a chance to see where each profession is headed and to offer feedback. Several nifty quality of life improvements are also in the works, such as updated trait tooltips and more options for fast cast ground targeting.

In another forum post, lead content designer Mike Zadorojny gave fans an update on GW2's highly anticipated looking-for-group tool. To ensure quality and stability, a beta version of the tool will be released with next week's Tequatl Rising content patch and will initially be available to a limited number of players. As the week goes on, greater numbers of players will have access to the tool.

[Thank you to Siphaed for the tip!]

MassivelyArenaNet offers sneak peek at future Guild Wars 2 balance changes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebuy-to-playcontent-updatefantasyforum-postguild-wars-2gw2jonathan-sharpMike-Zadorojnyncsoftofficial-forumspreviewtequatl-risingSat, 14 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Odyssey 1.1 and PvP balance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/01/eve-evolved-odyssey-1-1-and-pvp-balance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/01/eve-evolved-odyssey-1-1-and-pvp-balance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/01/eve-evolved-odyssey-1-1-and-pvp-balance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved Odyssey 11 and PvP balance
It's been just under three months since EVE Online's exploration-focused Odyssey expansion went live, bringing in a new hacking minigame and significantly buffing the underused tier 1 and tier 2 battleships. With a complete rebalancing all of the tech 1 sub-capital ships now complete, CCP has turned its attention to some of the oldest tech 2 ships in the game: Heavy Assault Ships and Command Ships. Developers have been testing out changes to these ships on the test server and hitting up players for feedback since Odyssey went live, and the results are finally ready to deploy.

Odyssey 1.1 will go live in two days time on September 3rd and contains some pretty big changes that are sure to shake up the PvP landscape. Medium-sized long-range weapons have been buffed beyond all recognition, and a buff to active tanking may soon make it viable in PvP. Heavy Assault Ships and Command Ships have been beefed up, the Dominix is getting a small nerf following its absolute dominance in the Alliance Tournament, and the Nosferatu energy vampire module may be about to make a return to PvP setups.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I analyse the upcoming Odyssey 1.1 patch and what the new ship balance changes mean for the average player.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Odyssey 1.1 and PvP balance

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Odyssey 1.1 and PvP balance originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.1active-tankactive-tankingarmor-tankarmor-tankingarmour-tankarmour-tankingartillerybalancebalance-patchbeam-laserbuffcap-warfarecapacitor-warfareccpccp-gamescerberuscommand-shipcommand-shipsdominixenergy-neutralisereveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfleetfleet-pvpgame-developmentgang-linkhacheavy-assault-cruiserheavy-assault-cruisersheavy-assault-shipnerfnosferatuodysseyodyssey-1.1opinionpassive-tankpassive-tankingpatchpatchespoint-releasepvepvprailgunsacrilegesandboxsci-fishield-tankshield-tankingtankingvideowarfare-linksSun, 01 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Details on the class changes for World of Warcraft's 5.4 patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/12/details-on-the-class-changes-for-world-of-warcrafts-5-4-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/12/details-on-the-class-changes-for-world-of-warcrafts-5-4-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/12/details-on-the-class-changes-for-world-of-warcrafts-5-4-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's a patch! Hide your class abilities quickly!
It's one of the last patches of World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria expansion, and that means one more set of adjustments to the game's classes. You could, naturally, assume that all of the changes are being made because Blizzard hates your favorite class and loves your least favorite class. Or you could take a look at the most recent development post detailing why class abilities are being changed for better or worse.

While the changes for each class are different, all of the classes have had several unappealing talents improved and a few overpowered talents toned down a bit. There are also several changes based on situational power -- Holy Paladins, for example, had too much mana when able to get into melee and too little mana when forced to stay at range. If you want to see how your class fared in this round of rebalancing, take a look at the full rundown before posting your rant about being horribly nerfed.

MassivelyDetails on the class changes for World of Warcraft's 5.4 patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbalancebalnce-issuesblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassclass-balanceclassesdesignfantasymists-of-pandariapatchpatcheswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-patch-5.4Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Star Citizen's hangar module, Elite's black markets, and the Dota 2 world championship]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/05/not-so-massively-star-citizens-hangar-module-elites-black-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/05/not-so-massively-star-citizens-hangar-module-elites-black-ma/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/05/not-so-massively-star-citizens-hangar-module-elites-black-ma/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Game title image
Star Citizen fired a shot across the bow of game publishers this week as it hit $15 million US in crowdfunding. The game's hangar module has now entered code lockdown and will soon be available to owners of every ship type except the cutlass. Elite: Dangerous teased players with details of trading and black markets in a massive new development newsletter, and revealed two new luxury passenger liner style ships.

Dota 2 kicked off its third annual world championship tournament, The International, with a record-breaking prize pool of $2.8 million and growing! League of Legends' smaller but still incredibly popular $100,000 EU LCS Summer Split tournament also got underway this week ahead of the colossal upcoming patch 3.10. The patch will include nerfs to champions Elise and Twisted Fate, and the removal of the popular Runic Bulwark item.

Diablo III's gold economy showed further signs of runaway inflation as developers increased the size of gold stacks on the real money auction house from 10 million for $0.25 to 50 million for the same price. Blizzard also asked players for feedback on the idea of adding a Diablo II style ladder system, and announced that it has big news about the game to be revealed in Gamescom later this month. And Path of Exile showed off its new Reave skill for Shadow characters ahead of upcoming patch 0.11.4.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Star Citizen's hangar module, Elite's black markets, and the Dota 2 world championship

MassivelyNot So Massively: Star Citizen's hangar module, Elite's black markets, and the Dota 2 world championship originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbalancebattlenetblack-marketblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrabencloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingcrowdfundingd3david-brabendexteritydiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseconomyEliseeliteesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrontierfrontier-developmentsgoldgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesintelligenceleague-of-legendslolmillion-dollarsmobamultiplayernerfnewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpatchpath-of-exilepirate-basepirate-basesplanetplanet-generationplanetspoepvpreal-money-auction-housereal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsreaveriotriot-gamesrmahrmtround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamessandboxsci-fishadowskillspacespace-simspace-simluatorstar-citizenthe-internationalthe-international-2013tournamenttradingtwisted-fatevalvevideowingmans-hangarMon, 05 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: First impressions of DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/14/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/14/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/14/eve-evolved-first-impressions-of-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Game title image
Every time I'm in a conversation about DUST 514, I find myself excusing its gameplay problems on the basis that it's treading new ground and has years of development ahead of it. But even though CCP has revealed an aggressive new schedule of big monthly updates, console gamers aren't willing to give it a free pass today based on future potential. I finally convinced my console gamer friends to pick the game up this week and gave it a fair go myself.

I absolutely love the idea of DUST 514 and want to see the game succeed, but console gamers just don't seem impressed. When the game officially launched on May 14th, it was largely regarded as just another mediocre and buggy first-person shooter with a perishable gear system. The MMO components such as territorial control aren't very visible or accessible to new players, the gameplay balance and graphics need serious work, and the link with EVE Online feels practically non-existent. It pains me to say it, but DUST is neither a great FPS nor a great MMO.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I delve into DUST 514 and give my first impressions of it as an EVE player.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: First impressions of DUST 514

MassivelyEVE Evolved: First impressions of DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Jul 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3daurumbalanceccpccp-gamesconsolecustomisationdropsuitdustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfirst-impressionsflaylockfpsfree-to-playgraphicshands-oniskmicrotransactionsmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3ps3sandboxsci-fishootersnipertankweaponsSun, 14 Jul 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 brings out big changes with the Sky Pirates of Tyria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/20/guild-wars-2-brings-out-big-changes-with-the-sky-pirates-of-tyri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/20/guild-wars-2-brings-out-big-changes-with-the-sky-pirates-of-tyri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/20/guild-wars-2-brings-out-big-changes-with-the-sky-pirates-of-tyri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Run to the pirates! And... and then fly, because again, sky pirates.
It's all fun and games at Guild Wars 2's dragon bash until someone turns up murdered in Lion's Arch. That's what sets the stage for the newest game update, Sky Pirates of Tyria. Launching on June 25th, the update will see players thrown into a murder investigation headed by Inspector Ellen Kiel, forcing everyone to take part in several events to track down the perpetrator. If you're thinking it's going to have something to do with the eponymous pirates, well, that's a reasonable guess.

This update sees the addition of a new dungeon, the Aetherblade Retreat, which pits players against pirates of a decidedly aerial nature. It also features a wide-scale revamp of traits and skills for every profession to promote a wider range of playable builds, a variety of new rewards including miniatures and monocles, and an all-new event tying into the upcoming novel Sea of Sorrows. Custom Arenas and Spectator Mode for PvP are also leaving beta, giving players more ways to enjoy a spirited battle with friends and enemies. Our own Richie Procopio will be taking part in a press preview this weekend, so tune in before launch for a closer look at the details.

[Source: ArenaNet press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 brings out big changes with the Sky Pirates of Tyria originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebalance-patchbuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2gw2living-storyliving-worldncsoftnewspatchpatchespvprebalanceskill-adjustmentspectator-modetrait-adjustmentupdateThu, 20 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/massively-exclusive-neverwinter-pre-launch-interview-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive Neverwinter prelaunch interview, part two
We're back with Cryptic Lead Producer Andy Velasquez to continue our discussion of Neverwinter's beta lessons, launch preparations, and post-launch plans. We also touch on some of the comments and concerns that players had for the title and how Cryptic is addressing them.

If you missed the first part of this interview, make sure you check it out before continuing!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part two originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive Neverwinter prelaunch interview
Andy Velasquez has seen his fair share of MMO launches, but that doesn't make a new one any less exhilarating or terrifying. As lead producer, he's the captain of the Neverwinter ship and must make sure it's seaworthy before slipping out of drydock and heading into the unknown waters of release. Metaphor or no, it's a daunting job with little downtime, especially in this final week leading up to the soft launch of open beta.

Velasquez took a half-hour out of his busy schedule to sit with us and talk about the preparations being made for Neverwinter's big moment. Read on for his candid insights into beta stories, launch day, and making tough calls when tough calls had to be made.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part one

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Neverwinter pre-launch interview, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 devs talk balance with the GW2Guru community
The folks at Guild Wars 2 Guru collected some questions from their community for the Guild Wars 2 team last month and the results are back. Jonathan Sharp and Jon Peters of ArenaNet stepped in to answer the barrage of questions.

The interview is meaty, but as the GW2G admin says in the comments, not all original questions were answered. But we do get some info on weapon skills staying the same for now, a focus on trait revisions, and the inevitable pigeon-holing of classes, despite ArenaNet's attempts at squashing the "holy trinity" of class distribution.

If you're interested in learning more about how the company looks to keep the game balanced and still growing in the future, check out the full interview.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 devs talk balance with the GW2Guru community originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancebuy-to-playfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-gurugw2gw2ginterviewjon-petersjonathan-sharpncsoftq-and-aMon, 15 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST