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[EVE Evolved: The end of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/01/eve-evolved-the-end-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/01/eve-evolved-the-end-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/01/eve-evolved-the-end-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

¥ title image
By now, you will have heard that Massively is being shut down along with Joystiq and countless other blogs run by AOL. That unfortunately means this will be my final article for Massively and marks an end to the nearly seven-year run of the EVE Evolved column, which now holds over 350 articles on topics ranging from ship fittings and opinion pieces to guides and expansion breakdowns. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your readership and to express just how much playing EVE Online and writing for you really have impacted my life.

I've been asked by so many people over the years for tips on breaking into the games industry as a journalist or MMO blogger, but the truth is that I lucked into this gig. When a post on the EVE Online news page said that some site called Massively was hiring an EVE Online columnist, I almost didn't bother applying. I was a prolific forumgoer back then and had written some guides for EON Magazine and my own blog, but I wanted to get into game development and had very little confidence in my writing ability.

What I didn't know then was that writing for Massively would help improve my writing skills immeasurably and even help give me the confidence to launch my own game development studio. Massively gave me a platform on which to talk about EVE Online and an eager audience to share my game experiences with, but it turned into something much more profound. There have been low points dealing with trolls and organised harassment and tough times with budget cuts, but there have also some incredible experiences like attending the EVE Online Fanfest, investigating monoclegate, watching CCP redeem itself in the eyes of players, and collaborating with some of the best writers in the games industry.

In this final edition of EVE Evolved, I look back at the start of the EVE Evolved column, break down my top ten column articles of all time, and try to put into words how much this column has meant to me over the years.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The end of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The end of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Feb 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-drainccpccp-gamesclosurecolumnconsoledustdust-514endeoneon-magazineeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfly-safefpshistoryjames-eganjoystiqloremassively-metammofpsno-i-have-something-in-my-eyenyphuropinionopinion-pieceplaystationplaystation-3predestinationps3rantrantssandboxsavejoystiqsci-fishawn-schustershootershutdownsoapboxsunsetthe-soapboxtop-tenSun, 01 Feb 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Can MMO stories rise above mediocrity?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/global-chat-can-mmo-stories-rise-above-mediocrity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/global-chat-can-mmo-stories-rise-above-mediocrity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/28/global-chat-can-mmo-stories-rise-above-mediocrity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

tsw
Players have long debated the importance, relevance, and quality of stories in MMOs. Some have called for an abolishment of dev-driven narrative entirely, some enjoy what's there, and some have pressed for better writing and storytelling techniques. This week we'll hear from one blogger who is struggling with "mediocre" stories in MMOs and what might be done with them.

But wait, that's not all! We'll also hear from writers about MMO inventory systems, aging games, and how pretty much nobody in the world was shocked when Elder Scrolls Online ditched its sub.

Continue reading Global Chat: Can MMO stories rise above mediocrity?

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Can MMO stories rise above mediocrity? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allodsallods-onlinearcheageblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumnelder-scrolls-onlineesoglobal-chatguild-wars-2gw2inventorylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospherenarrativeopinionquotablesstoryWed, 28 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Guild Wars 2's economy is broken]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/global-chat-guild-wars-2s-economy-is-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/global-chat-guild-wars-2s-economy-is-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/global-chat-guild-wars-2s-economy-is-broken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

gw2
Guild Wars 2's economy remains a hot-button issue even two-and-a-half years after its release. In this week's exploration of the blogosphere, one writer pulls out all the stops to let you know what's broken about this MMO's economy -- and how it can be fixed.

In addition to this thoughtful read, Global Chat will hear some snark on silly hotbar icons, pontificate about poor MMO names, deliver The Repopulation first impressions, and invite you to participate in a grand MUD experiment. Let's get going!

Continue reading Global Chat: Guild Wars 2's economy is broken

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Guild Wars 2's economy is broken originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ability-buttonsblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumneconomyeliteelite-dangerouseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfirst-impressionsfree-to-playglobal-chatgold-standardguild-wars-2gw2hotbarhumoriconiconsimpressionsmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospheremudopinionproject-gorgonquotablesrealms-of-despairrepopulationsoesonysony-online-entertainmentthe-repopulationTue, 20 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: The 2014 MMO blogosphere in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/global-chat-the-2014-mmo-blogosphere-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/global-chat-the-2014-mmo-blogosphere-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/global-chat-the-2014-mmo-blogosphere-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

wildstar
The end of the year is a traditional time of reflection, especially among writers and gamers who want to put a pretty bow on progress and journeys made before the next chapter is explored. So it is with bloggers, as practically everyone is using the last days of 2014 to look back at the year and its MMOs.

So today we'll be going on a trip to see what the blogging community members thought of this year, what they did in it, and whether their January 2014 predictions came true. My summary of each article will be shorter than usual simply because there are so many of them!

Continue reading Global Chat: The 2014 MMO blogosphere in review

MassivelyGlobal Chat: The 2014 MMO blogosphere in review originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumnglobal-chatmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionquotablesTue, 06 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't want to have to say goodnight.
A year ago, I was excited for WildStar's future. Now I'm sitting here wondering how things went so very, very wrong.

That's not true, though; I know exactly how things went wrong. I don't like thinking about it, but I do know. And so here I am, with a game I was hugely excited to play out and in the wild, and so much has gone wrong. It's easy to think that I've pretty much clocked out altogether.

But that's also not true. I'll be the first to point out that I've said some decidedly unkind things about the state of the game and the choices that have been made thus far in terms of fixing them. The last column I wrote even posited that it might be too late for several of the changes being proposed to make any sort of impact when it comes to the game's image.

This is why I really want the game to prove me wrong.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedgame-mechanicshalf-featurencsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionretrospectivesandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphthe-year-aheadwildstaryear-in-reviewWed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Die, DPS meters, die!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/global-chat-die-dps-meters-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/global-chat-die-dps-meters-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/global-chat-die-dps-meters-die/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

gw2
Hey you! Yes, you! Are you sick of damage meters ruining your life? Do you rebel against the virtual man by questioning such long-established gaming tropes as levels? Then have we got the column for you!

In our last community blog round-up of the year, we've collected some fine pieces of discussion, debate, and introspection -- not to mention a first impression or two to tide you over until 2015. We've also got an essay about the joy of healing, what it's like to play an MMO as a bear, going back to the Isle of Refuge, and more!

Continue reading Global Chat: Die, DPS meters, die!

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Die, DPS meters, die! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beorningblizzardblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogsboerningclasscolumndamage-meterdamage-metersdps-meterdps-meterseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfirst-impressionsfree-to-playglobal-chathands-onhealhealerhealinghexhousingisle-of-refugelevellevel-spamlevelslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionplayer-housingquotablesskyforgesoesonysony-online-entertainmentturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 16 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: Yep, F2P sucks for ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/lost-continent-yep-f2p-sucks-for-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/lost-continent-yep-f2p-sucks-for-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/lost-continent-yep-f2p-sucks-for-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Thus far I've put up with quite a lot of crap in my quest to like ArcheAge. There was the launch debacle in which no one realized that many millions of people will show up and expect a working service if you yell "come play for free!" Then there was the Auroria debacle, in which no one cared about server accessibility during a competitive launch event.

And of course there's ArcheAge's easily exploitable code, the ramifications of which include hacks, cheats, and bot-related problems that continue to be visible to anyone taking Trion's really-guys-it's-only-a-tiny-minority spin with a grain of salt.

Finally, there's the grossly intrusive monetization plan that prevents subscribers from playing certain parts of the game unless they spend additional money in the cash shop. ArcheAge has a comically long list of problems, but it's this last one that's finally wearing me down.

Continue reading Lost Continent: Yep, F2P sucks for ArcheAge

MassivelyLost Continent: Yep, F2P sucks for ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagecolumnf2p-sucks-for-archeagefantasyfeaturedfree-to-play-sucks-for-archeagejake-songkorealost-continentpvpsandboxsandparktriontrion-worldsxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 05 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: Why so impatient with ArcheAge?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/lost-continent-why-so-impatient-with-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/lost-continent-why-so-impatient-with-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/lost-continent-why-so-impatient-with-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's kinda silly, but I feel like giving up on ArcheAge. It's silly because the game launched in mid-September and we're currently in November. The fantasy sandpark does have more than it's share of problems, but logically I know that it's way, way too early to start piling dirt on its imaginary corpse.

That said, there are so many MMOs clamoring for my attention nowadays that the idea of being patient with one of them is almost laughable. I'm not alone here, either, as many gamers I know look for the first available reason to leave an MMO and cross it off their to-do list, simply because they're wired to complete tasks and the ginormous glut of games long ago passed the point of overwhelming.

Continue reading Lost Continent: Why so impatient with ArcheAge?

MassivelyLost Continent: Why so impatient with ArcheAge? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarcheagearcheage-rantclassic-mmocolumnfeaturedgalaxiesgamehoppersimpatientjake-songkids-these-dayskorealost-continentpatiencerantsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotriontrion-worldswhy-so-impatient-with-archeagexlgamesSun, 30 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Gamers Secret Santa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/global-chat-gamers-secret-santa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/global-chat-gamers-secret-santa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/global-chat-gamers-secret-santa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

rift
One of the yearly traditions in the blogosphere that I always look forward to is Stargrace's Annual Gamers Secret Santa. Currently in its sixth year, Gamers Secret Santa accepts any and all who want to sign up to be a part of a gift exchange. You'll end up sending a gift ($20 maximum) to someone and will receive a gift from another person during the month of December. There's even a digital exchange for more remote locations.

It's always a blast to see what gifts I end up getting (and they are always geeky), and I wanted to encourage others to be a part of this. You'll need to sign up by December 1st if you do, however! It's grown every year, but this year I'm giving a bit of Massively publicity, so let's see if we can make this the biggest year ever!

Another blogger-driven Christmas initiative is Syl's Blogosphere Xmas Countdown, during which she's assigning various blogs a day to write about the theme of positive gaming and community. Keep an eye on MMO Gypsy to see this advent countdown progress!

Continue reading Global Chat: Gamers Secret Santa

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Gamers Secret Santa originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventarcheageblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogschristmaschristmas-2014columncommunitydragon-nesteq2everquest-iigift-exchangeglobal-chatholidaysholidays-2014housingmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereneverwinteropinionquotablessecret-santaTue, 25 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

You cannot play potential. You cannot enjoy what could be fun. You can only play the game that there is, and a pile of wasted potential does not make a game worth caring about.
Very few people are going to contest that scaling WildStar's biggest raid down to 20 people is a good move. Some will, yes, but when 400 players are working on content five months after release, that's a good sign that it's not doing the most basic job of getting people to play it. Bringing Datascape's size down is an indisputable good thing.

The question, of course, isn't about that. It's about whether it's too small a change too late in the game.

Make no mistake, this is a change that is significant enough to merit an announcement, but it's one that just missed the big patch we finally received not too long ago. (My initial reaction to that is middling, for the record, neither bad nor really a break from form or something that justifies its long delay.) I would be surprised if we see this change actually live in the game before next year. And it's a change of more conceptual significance than anything else because unless someone very quietly managed to clear Datascape without telling anyone, the end of that raid has gone unseen.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late?

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumndungeondungeonsendgamefeaturedncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionprogressprogressionprogression-modelsraidraid-sizeraidssandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: Lucking into a breezy ArcheAge bungalow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/lost-continent-lucking-into-a-breezy-archeage-bungalow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/lost-continent-lucking-into-a-breezy-archeage-bungalow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/16/lost-continent-lucking-into-a-breezy-archeage-bungalow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

My ArcheAge avatar is pretty fortunate. Last Friday night he became the proud owner of a breezy bungalow, which is that big bamboo marine house that you've probably seen in screenshots, videos, and the like.

The bungalow's blueprint costs a whopping 300 gilda stars -- i.e., no small amount for a guildless guy like me who mostly duos his way through Haranya. I'd managed to save 250 of the character-bound gilda by doing various dailies over the past several weeks, but I had a few days to go before I'd finally be able to afford the plans. How did I come up with the balance ahead of schedule, not to mention the boat load of materials required to actually build the house? That's an interesting story, and it's another example of how ArcheAge's mechanics are a necessary breath of fresh air in a stale genre.

Continue reading Lost Continent: Lucking into a breezy ArcheAge bungalow

MassivelyLost Continent: Lucking into a breezy ArcheAge bungalow originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaquafarmarcheagearcheage-housingbreezy-bungalowcolumnfeaturedhousingjake-songkorealost-continentmarine-houseplayer-economyplayer-housingsandboxtradingtriontrion-worldsxlgamesSun, 16 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Why we blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

tsw
Why an MMO player decides that he or she needs to take up an additional hobby of writing about these games isn't much of a mystery. We may all blog about a huge variety of topics, but the impetus behind it tends to be very common: We have so many thoughts about and so much love for these games that we can't hold it in.

To blog is to open up and share experiences, observations, and hopes. It's to connect with others and to perhaps give another layer of meaning to the time that we spend in-game. We don't blog because we have to; we blog because we simply could not not blog.

So let's see a few examples of what MMO bloggers couldn't keep inside of them! From spooky stories to rapturous tales of exploration, it's a testament to the power of words and goofy rejoinders.

Continue reading Global Chat: Why we blog

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Why we blog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaactivisionarche-agearcheageback-painblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogsbuy-to-playcolumnfactionfantasyfuncomglobal-chathalloweenhalloween-2014holidayhorrormmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospheremythologynightmare-tideopinionpvpquotablesraidingraidsriftsandboxsandparksci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtriontrion-worldstswwarcraftwildstarworld-of-warcraftwowxl-gamesxlgamesTue, 11 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: It's getting harder to like ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/lost-continent-its-getting-harder-to-like-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/lost-continent-its-getting-harder-to-like-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/07/lost-continent-its-getting-harder-to-like-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge fandom is hard. It was initially hard because of the waiting. Consider that we've known of the game's existence since 2010 and that some of us have been playing it in various incarnations since 2011, which is a full three years -- and dozens of gameplay changes -- prior to its official North American launch.

Now that we're past said launch, the difficulty has shifted to watching Trion (or is it XLGAMES?) do its best to destroy a promising title via a series of clownshoes decisions.

Continue reading Lost Continent: It's getting harder to like ArcheAge

MassivelyLost Continent: It's getting harder to like ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheageauroriaauroria-launchclownshoescolumnconnectivityfantasyfeaturedincompetencejake-songkorealost-continentpvprantsandboxsandparktriontrion-clownshoestrion-worldsxl-clownshoesxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 07 Nov 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: This is how you go off the rails in ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/lost-continent-this-is-how-you-go-off-the-rails-in-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/lost-continent-this-is-how-you-go-off-the-rails-in-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/02/lost-continent-this-is-how-you-go-off-the-rails-in-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you an ArcheAge tire-kicker who's wondering how to go "off the rails" and trade the game's questpark level grind for some of that downhome sandbox flavor? I'm here to tell you that it's as easy as deciding that you really want to do it.

There's no magic button or pre-scripted path, though, because the game is sorta sandboxy.

Continue reading Lost Continent: This is how you go off the rails in ArcheAge

MassivelyLost Continent: This is how you go off the rails in ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarcheagearcheage-craftarcheage-guidesarcheage-professionsarcheage-questingarcheage-salvagingarcheage-treasure-huntingcolumnfeaturedguideshow-to-play-a-sandboxhow-to-play-sandboxesjake-songkorealost-continentlost-continent-guidesnon-combat-gameplaynon-linearnon-linear-gameplayoff-the-railssandboxthis-is-how-you-go-off-the-rails-in-archeagetriontrion-worldsxlgamesSun, 02 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: Living a fisherman's life in ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/lost-continent-living-a-fishermans-life-in-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/lost-continent-living-a-fishermans-life-in-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/lost-continent-living-a-fishermans-life-in-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fifteen years ago, I was floundering around southern Florida in a rudderless post-graduation haze. I rented this dinky apartment across US1 from the University of Miami, and my summers were equally divided between a series of forgettable jobs and a series of lengthy fishing excursions around the Keys and out into the Atlantic.

The fishing was basically something to do; I didn't dislike it, but neither did I wake up thinking wow, I can't wait to get that gooey chum all over my shorts and bake in the sun for 10 hours.

Now, in an odd but enjoyable art-imitating-life moment, I'm revisiting the experience in ArcheAge.

Continue reading Lost Continent: Living a fisherman's life in ArcheAge

MassivelyLost Continent: Living a fisherman's life in ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagearcheage-fishingarcheage-fishing-guidearcheage-guidecolumncraftingfantasyfeaturedfishingjake-songkorealost-continentpvpsandboxsandparktradingtriontrion-worldsxl-gamesxlgamesyes-we-know-youd-play-if-it-wasnt-open-pvpFri, 24 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Which Nightmare Tide edition is right for you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-which-nightmare-tide-edition-is-right-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-which-nightmare-tide-edition-is-right-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-which-nightmare-tide-edition-is-right-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

rift
I was fully expecting RIFT: Nightmare Tide to be out by the time I sat down to write this, but then the delay happened and I had a little unasked-for breathing room to figure out what I was going to discuss while we waited for the expansion to come out. The good news is that it should be releasing tomorrow, and we'll all be well on our way to enjoying both new high- and low-level content.

However, there's one big question that each RIFT player needs to answer for her or himself, which is, "Which edition of the expansion is right for me?" Unlike some other MMOs, RIFT is not charging for its expansion at all. Trion Worlds did announce a trio of collector's editions as optional purchases, and since each of these editions has an impact on how we experience the new content, I thought it well worth examining the qualities of each as well as the benefit of not paying for it at all.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Which Nightmare Tide edition is right for you?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Which Nightmare Tide edition is right for you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collectors-editioncolumnexpansionfeaturednightmare-tiderifttriontrion-worldsTue, 21 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's post-fanfest shakedown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-post-fanfest-shakedown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-post-fanfest-shakedown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/20/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xivs-post-fanfest-shakedown/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Honestly, if the existence of the cash shop is the only rude surprise awaiting us, I'll be happy.
So Final Fantasy XIV players like yours truly have a mouthful of fanfest information to chew on. How did it all shake down, in the final assessment?

Well, I'm not going to lie: My aim was mixed at best. A minority of demo stations covering content I hadn't anticipated, patch 2.4 a week after my prediction, and mentions of 2.5 in brief. But we did get gear details and an expansion announcement. I'd call it a mix and a wash, at the end of the day. You tried, gold star, etc.

But enough about what I did and didn't get right; there's plenty more to talk about from the various panels, the Live Letter, and other revelations. So let's start in on it, kicking off with the elephant in the room that I've already been hearing about for the entirety of the past day for obvious reasons. Yes, it's a cash shop.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's post-fanfest shakedown

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's post-fanfest shakedown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscash-shopclassclassescolumncolumnsexpansionexpansionsfanfestfeaturefeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-fanfestffxiv-fanfest-2014ffxiv-patch-2.4final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivjobjobsnaoki-yoshidaopinionpatchpatchespreviewsquaresquare-enixsubscriptionthe-mog-logupdateupdatesMon, 20 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Going negative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/global-chat-going-negative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/global-chat-going-negative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/14/global-chat-going-negative/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

eso
It's hard to be positive as a blogger, I'd say. It's not only really easy to get whipped up into a writing lather when you're upset about something, but negativity sells as well, at least in the short-term. People love a good rant, especially when it mirrors their line of thinking and doesn't bash a game they like. Even I, though I try to stay positive as a rule, have fallen into such patterns.

This week in Global Chat, we're going to see more negativity than normal -- or perhaps, more critical analysis with vivid metaphors. That doesn't mean it's all downers nor mindless emotional wordsplosions. But I thought it was fascinating how these stories caught my eye over the past couple of weeks of MMO blog reading.

Continue reading Global Chat: Going negative

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Going negative originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumndeath-of-mmoseverquestglobal-chatlevelsminecraftmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionprogressprogressionquotablesraidswildstarworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Oct 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Predictions for Final Fantasy XIV's fanfest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/the-mog-log-predictions-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/the-mog-log-predictions-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fanfest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/13/the-mog-log-predictions-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fanfest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Someone said to me at one point that they were sorry I had to go on an anniversary trip with my wife instead of going to fanfest. I can't begin to explain the degree of wrong involved in that statement.
There's less than a week to go now. Final Fantasy XIV players nationwide will congregate in Las Vegas for the fanfest starting on October 17th, and I... will be nowhere near there. I'll be on a trip with my wife celebrating a year since our wedding. But it's not as if I could talk about the revelations from the festival now anyway, since it's not for another several days. I'm going into this just as blind as you are.

But we can still speculate, can't we? Of course we can. In fact, there's some stuff that's almost a certainty going into the fanfest and some stuff that remains a bit more speculative. So I'm going to make some guesses about what we'll see at the festival and shortly thereafter, and next week we can all either laugh at my guesses or not. I won't be watching all of it in purely real-time, but I'm pretty sure we'll see the following.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Predictions for Final Fantasy XIV's fanfest

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Predictions for Final Fantasy XIV's fanfest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclassescolumncolumnscommunityendgamefanfestfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-fanfestffxiv-patch-2.4ffxiv-patch-2.5final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgearninjaopinionreal-world-eventsrogueshivasquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logMon, 13 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Continent: Carebearing your way through ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/lost-continent-carebearing-your-way-through-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/lost-continent-carebearing-your-way-through-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/lost-continent-carebearing-your-way-through-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge is, in part, an open PvP MMORPG. "In part" is the key phrase there, and I've had a few people ask me if it's possible to play XL's sprawling sandpark opus without getting ganked or otherwise forced into an ill-fitting playstyle.

Not only is it possible, but PvE has made up the overwhelming majority of my gameplay for the past month.

Continue reading Lost Continent: Carebearing your way through ArcheAge

MassivelyLost Continent: Carebearing your way through ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Answers so mysterious they've decided not to share any of them.
How many people are currently playing WildStar?

I don't know. You don't know, either, beyond vague guesses based on things like Raptr numbers, which say more about what Raptr users like to play than about actual game popularity. But it seems like the sort of answer that could be used to at least deflect a great deal of criticism, doesn't it? If Carbine Studios is sitting on two million players at a reasonable level of activity, that wouldn't shut down all discussion of the game's myriad problems, but it sure as heck would demand some rethinking.

That's precisely what I asked when I, at Carbine's behest, sent the team questions about the health of the game over a week ago. The bad news is that Carbine still hasn't answered my questions, nine days later. But the good news is that in the interim, Carbine was willing to tell another site that WildStar does not have a "player interest" problem, which seems like the sort of waffley question you'd answer if you really didn't want to be specific.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph Extra: WildStar's deafening silence

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph Extra: WildStar's deafening silence originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedimageimage-managementinterviewinterviewsmmo-industryncsoftnewsnews-itemsnexusnexus-telegraphopinionpr-scriptsandparksci-fantasysci-fiscriptshadythe-nexus-telegraphwildstarThu, 09 Oct 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Dribs and drabs of WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/the-nexus-telegraph-dribs-and-drabs-of-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/the-nexus-telegraph-dribs-and-drabs-of-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/06/the-nexus-telegraph-dribs-and-drabs-of-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Admittedly, talking about it seems a little silly.
The past few weeks have not been a fun time to be a fan of WildStar, and we still have heard distressingly little about what's coming in the next patch. Heck, the most I can think of hearing about in recent memory is the announcement that the game will not feature any sort of holiday content this year, and as those of you who know me will probably guess I kind of wanted a Halloween event. (I like October.)

But let's talk about what we do know and where we are right now, since barring any further developments, there's not much more to be said about what isn't working. Either things get addressed or they don't. So let's talk about the next drop, what we will and won't be getting from it with any measure of luck, and about the complete lack of holiday content and why anyone should care. Yes, even if you normally don't care about holiday content!

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Dribs and drabs of WildStar

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Dribs and drabs of WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tsw
No matter who you are, and even if you are independently rich and can game all day, it's impossible to get around to playing all of the MMOs out there -- even all of the major ones. This is why I love MMO blogs, since they allow me to vicariously visit many of the games that I lack time to play. Even if they're silly observations or dutiful reporting on last night's activities, these posts are my window into a universe of virtual worlds.

In today's edition of Global Chat, we'll hear from a gamer visiting an older MMO for the first time, a rant about Guild Wars 2's new player experience, a tribute to the late Rusty Hearts, and why "entitlement" is overused as an attack in our community.

Continue reading Global Chat: Through a monitor, darkly

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Through a monitor, darkly originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageblizzardblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumnentitlementglobal-chatguild-wars-2gw2heroes-of-the-stormmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospherenew-player-experienceopinionquotablesrusty-heartssunsetthe-secret-worldtswTue, 30 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: How to fix WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/the-nexus-telegraph-how-to-fix-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/the-nexus-telegraph-how-to-fix-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/22/the-nexus-telegraph-how-to-fix-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I've been thinking about fixing my brain, but... actually, don't think about it. Just do it.
It's been a quiet couple of weeks for WildStar, which could be taken as indicating the team is making major changes, or it could just be pre-patch preparations that are taking half of forever. It'd look the same either way. We know the next patch is coming, and we have some idea of what it's going to contain, but we still haven't gotten anything resembling a release date. Still, leaving aside the obvious shift in patch schedules, I'd like to think this is the start of a paradigm shift for the game's development as a whole.

This ties into the last column's topic quite well. The game has issues at the moment; it's not hitting the notes or player numbers it wants. What can actually be done to address this? How can the game draw players back and keep them engaged, especially when it's in need of some pretty serious server consolidation so early in its life?

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: How to fix WildStar

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: How to fix WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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blaugust
Last month, Tales of the Aggronaut issued a community-wide challenge for MMO bloggers to commit to posting (at least) once a day for all 31 days. This challenge was called Blaugust, and it caused a tidal wave of additional posts, top 10 lists, and random cat pictures as writers struggled to keep up with the rate of output.

While not everyone who signed up succeeded in sticking out the entire month, it certainly injected some life into summer doldrums and got people talking. The 2014 Blaugust Wrap-up does a great job giving an overview of the challenge and a list of all of the blogs involved. If you're looking for outspoken opinions put forth at a prodigious rate, I'd suggest checking these out.

Speaking of outspoken opinions, we've also got plenty of them in the form of the most interesting posts from the past two weeks! Global Chat... away!

Continue reading Global Chat: Blaugust triumphant

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Blaugust triumphant originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumneliteelite-dangerousglobal-chathypelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionproject-gorgonquotableswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 16 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar ain't doing so good]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstar-aint-doing-so-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstar-aint-doing-so-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/08/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstar-aint-doing-so-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We were thinking about something else.
If you somehow missed it, last week the WildStar team announced that the game will be squishing into megaservers to help bolster populations. What the hell happened?

Contrary to what the developers would like you to believe, this is not good news. It's especially bad news if you're part of the roleplaying community, as you're about to get shoved into a server configuration that's almost specifically designed to prevent you from roleplaying outside of a handful of shared plots, but it's bad news for everyone. And it's bad news for the game when server merges are a reasonable reaction after less than three full months of operation.

We all know that the game launched to good reviews, and it's far too early to say, "Well, it failed." At the same time, this is not a sign of a robust and vibrant future. This is the first stage of an organized retreat, and it doesn't inspire confidence. So what, exactly, took place that brought the game from the high of its launch to server mergers today?

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar ain't doing so good

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar ain't doing so good originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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frozen
Now that I've cursed your day by triggering that earworm song from Frozen, you're probably going to be in a grumpy mood. Don't fret; snow empowerment isn't the only way to set you free. Sometimes it's the well-penned prose of MMO bloggers who put to the page what only previously existed in your thoughts.

On today's edition of Global Chat, one blogger and developer has a gaming heresy to share, another has a few harsh words to say about crowdfunding, and a third thinks that the future of the genre is all in getting smaller, not bigger. Check out these great posts from the past couple of weeks!

Continue reading Global Chat: Let it go

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Let it go originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archageblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumncrowdfundingeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifrozenglobal-chatlet-it-goluclinlum-the-madmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospheremoonopinionquotablesscott-jenningsstar-citizentreasure-huntingworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 02 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: Five reasons to return to Elder Scrolls Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/29/tamriel-infinium-five-reasons-to-return-to-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/29/tamriel-infinium-five-reasons-to-return-to-elder-scrolls-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/29/tamriel-infinium-five-reasons-to-return-to-elder-scrolls-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today seems as good a time as any to mention returning to Elder Scrolls Online. I'm not talking personally, mind you, as I've been playing pretty consistently since early access. The winds of MMO change are doing their thing, though, and I'm seeing a bunch of thinking-about-returning-but-have-some-questions threads at my usual ESO forum hangouts.

Maybe this is due to all the fail trolls glomping onto WildStar while eyeing the fast-approaching North American version of ArcheAge. Or maybe it's because ZeniMax has added quite a bit of post-launch tastiness to its ESO recipe.

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Five reasons to return to Elder Scrolls Online

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Five reasons to return to Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's time for another round of Good Idea, Bad Idea.
Last time around in this column, I talked about the stuff that WildStar desperately needs to get out of its system, and quickly. I'm pleased with it. With the scaling-back of the update pace and some changes that I expect to be coming, I'm hopeful on that front. (Incidentally, if someone has a link to an actual promise of monthly updates from Carbine Studios, pass that along, since I don't think anyone ever actually promised it so much as just wound up doing it.)

So why am I still playing the game? Because it's got a lot to recommend it despite those failings. These are not bad habits that the game needs to kick but things that the development team should arguably double down on. They're arguably the best parts about the game and certain what makes it stand out the most. So in direct counterpoint to last week's article, here are the things that WildStar should keep doing.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Habits that WildStar should keep

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Habits that WildStar should keep originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildbuildscarbinecarbine-studioscolumncontentcontent-volumedesign-goalsfeaturedgameplay-optionsgoalsncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionoptionsplaystyleplaystylessandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 25 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: A dozen MMO podcasts you should check out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/global-chat-a-dozen-mmo-podcasts-you-should-check-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/global-chat-a-dozen-mmo-podcasts-you-should-check-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/global-chat-a-dozen-mmo-podcasts-you-should-check-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,

global chat
Quite a few MMO bloggers that I know wear more than one hat. Some are book reviewers, some do livestreams, some have regular YouTube shows, one deluded guy has a Pinterest board, and several host podcasts. In fact, I've seen several bloggers develop friendships by deciding to do a show together.

In this week's edition of Global Chat, I thought we'd take a break from sharing interesting MMO blog posts to pointing you toward a dozen excellent MMO podcasts that I heartily endorse. Most of them fall in the category of "general MMO" discussion, although a few hew to a specific title. It's often a hoot when you get two or more opinionated and informative podcasters together, so if you're looking to fill up your MP3 player (in addition to the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Massively Speaking show, of course), I've got just the 12 things for you!

Continue reading Global Chat: A dozen MMO podcasts you should check out

MassivelyGlobal Chat: A dozen MMO podcasts you should check out originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumnglobal-chatmmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionpodcastpodcasterspodcastsquotablesTue, 19 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Addictions that WildStar must kick]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/the-nexus-telegraph-addictions-that-wildstar-must-kick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/the-nexus-telegraph-addictions-that-wildstar-must-kick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/11/the-nexus-telegraph-addictions-that-wildstar-must-kick/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I look forward to people telling me how I'm wrong because the game is meant to be a raiding game as if that wasn't an inherently ridiculous statement. Commence to jigglin', folks.
Matt Daniel is a friend of mine. (Yes, despite my claims at the end of some poorly considered features we did together.) He's also a spectacularly bright guy with a clear picture of what games do well and what they do poorly. So when he and I wind up chatting about WildStar and noting the exact same problems, I take this stuff to heart. And there are a couple of underlying issues that the game would do well to address sooner rather than later.

I've talked about issues that the game has before, but a lot of those issues are really symptoms, not the core issues. I enjoy the game a lot, and I think it has a lot to recommend it, but there are some nagging fundamental issues, just certain ways of viewing the game and the community. As we approach the all-important three-month mark, it's time to start thinking about those issues, about what they represent, and perhaps most importantly about how those issues can be addressed.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Addictions that WildStar must kick

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Addictions that WildStar must kick originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As many of you know, Massively doesn't really believe in reviews of MMOs, as they are ever-changing and shifting targets. Instead, we've provided impressions and continuing coverage of these games during their lifespans (and even after), which is something that many bloggers also favor.

In this edition of Global Chat, we have several hands-on impressions of MMOs both new and old from the blogosphere. What is it like to head back to Asheron's Call after a long time away? Is Guild Wars 2's and Lord of the Rings Online's new content hitting the mark? And what will we miss most of all now that Vanguard has departed? It's all there and more, right after the break!

Continue reading Global Chat: A blast from the past

MassivelyGlobal Chat: A blast from the past originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaacarcheageasherons-callblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogscolumnglobal-chatguild-wars-2gw2lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-blogmmo-bloggingmmosphereopinionquotablestransmogvanguardworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 05 Aug 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: My love/hate relationship with Elder Scrolls Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/tamriel-infinium-my-love-hate-relationship-with-elder-scrolls-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/tamriel-infinium-my-love-hate-relationship-with-elder-scrolls-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/01/tamriel-infinium-my-love-hate-relationship-with-elder-scrolls-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Quakecon was certainly interesting, wasn't it? Whether you're looking forward to new zones, the veteran system's extreme makeover, active world PvP via the thieving system, or combat upgrades, Elder Scrolls Online acquitted itself pretty well at this year's ZeniMax Media shindig.

The reveals even led to positive ESO comment vibes here on Massively, which added some much-needed love to the love/hate relationship that everyone seems to have with this particular MMO. I've got my own twisted take on said dynamic, so join me after the cut to celebrate the good and ask for more of it.

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: My love/hate relationship with Elder Scrolls Online

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: My love/hate relationship with Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-world-pvpbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftboatscolumncraftingdisguiseselder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofeaturedhatei-hate-elder-scrolls-onlinei-love-elder-scrolls-onlinelove-hate-relationshipsstuff-eso-needstamrieltamriel-infiniumtamriel-infinium-jef-reahardtesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlineyour-hate-has-made-you-powerfulzenimaxzenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 01 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Another WildStar patch approaches!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/the-nexus-telegraph-another-wildstar-patch-approaches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/the-nexus-telegraph-another-wildstar-patch-approaches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/28/the-nexus-telegraph-another-wildstar-patch-approaches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's where I have my fun, It's where I point my gun.
I honestly expected the second patch for WildStar to take much longer to show up on test servers, but here it is. In some ways, I'm not surprised, since we're in the just-after-launch pattern of finishing and polishing stuff that wasn't quite ready for launch with the rest of the game, but still. It's a small one, but you know, I can live with frequent small patches just as well as I can live with more spaced-out large patches.

As it stands right now, we've had about a month to get used to the Strain drop, and I imagine we'll be seeing Daggerstone pass on live sooner rather than later. (With my luck, tomorrow.) So let's talk a little about the last patch, the upcoming patch, and what we can see about how Carbine Studios handles its patches overall.

Oh, and dropping bombs on your teammates. I'm sure that'll factor into this discussion at some point.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Another WildStar patch approaches!

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Another WildStar patch approaches! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedncsoftnewsnews-itemsnextelnexusnexus-telegraphopinionpatchpatch-schedulepatchespvpsandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphupdateupdate-featuresupdateswildstarwsMon, 28 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Doom and WAAAGH!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/global-chat-doom-and-waaagh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/global-chat-doom-and-waaagh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/22/global-chat-doom-and-waaagh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

war
It's time for our second edition of Global Chat, the column that scours the blogosphere (or blogorama if you prefer) for engaging insights, intelligent essays, and whoopie cushion goofiness. We had a good response to our first column, so I'm glad you all want to hear more about what bloggers are saying regarding MMOs!

In this week's edition, we'll look at Warhammer Online's fatal flaw, adventure through Neverwinter's foundry missions, and speculate on the status of a certain Norrathian sandpark. Remember that it's not all doom and WAAAGH! in this community; it's excitement and cherished outings as well!

Continue reading Global Chat: Doom and WAAAGH!

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Doom and WAAAGH! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Useful data!
It's been nearly two weeks since Final Fantasy XIV's patch went live, and I'm at once surprised and not surprised that we haven't seen anything really addressing the problem with Hunts. I'm not surprised because Square has a bad history of reacting to broken elements about as quickly as a narcoleptic sloth with poor motivation, and I'm surprised because players have been screaming about it for... about two weeks now? Yes, that sounds right.

And not just screaming in the usual disorganized fashion. This is pretty targeted and logical screaming, helped substantially by the fact that Hunts are currently very, very broken and need fixing. So let's explain the mess that the game has made for itself and the numerous simple solutions that can be implemented really any time now. Not that I'm saying they're all easy, just simple. Straightforward. And no, increasing mark HP is not one of those solutions.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's Hunts are broken

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's Hunts are broken originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-designbad-mechanicsbroken-designbroken-featurescolumncolumnsconsoleconsolesfeaturefeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-2.3final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicshunthuntsmog-logopinionpatchpatch-featurespatch-mechanicspatchesrewardssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdateupdatesMon, 21 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls' ginormous post-50 update plan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-ginormous-post-50-update-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-ginormous-post-50-update-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/18/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-ginormous-post-50-update-plan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tamriel Infinium - Elder Scrolls art header
Earlier this week, Elder Scrolls Online creative director Paul Sage dropped by the Elder Scrolls OTR podcast and proceeded to drop a ton of update info on fans of ZeniMax's fantasy themepark MMO. We put out a corresponding news post, of course, but there was so much meat on those bones that I couldn't let an issue of Tamriel Infinium go by without adding my two cents.

Plus, hey, it was only two weeks ago that I was advocating for an adjustment to the game's post-50 approach. Ask and ye shall receive, right?

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls' ginormous post-50 update plan

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls' ginormous post-50 update plan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaalternate-advancementbethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftchampion-pointschampion-systemcolumndaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-champion-systemelder-scrolls-onlineesofactionsfeaturedgrindmorrowindoblivionpaul-sagepvprvrskill-basedskyrimtamrieltamriel-infiniumtamriel-infinium-jef-reahardtestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvpveteran-ranksvrzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 18 Jul 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/the-nexus-telegraph-the-basics-of-crafting-a-wildstar-build/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/the-nexus-telegraph-the-basics-of-crafting-a-wildstar-build/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/14/the-nexus-telegraph-the-basics-of-crafting-a-wildstar-build/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Have I used this before? I think I've used this before. Please, let me know if I've used this before.
There are few things I love so much as writing a column for June 30th only to find out on the 30th that the patch I'm discussing is going live on July 1st. You know, when it's too late to change anything. I really would have been happy to have found that out before the day.

But, hey, WildStar's first patch came out, and now I've had a couple of weeks to explore it a bit. Am I happy with it? Sufficiently, yes, although I haven't yet digested it in full. For one month out from launch, I can't complain much.

Of course, that's not the first thing that I want to talk about today. I want to talk about builds. Rather than giving you the absolute best-of-the-best builds for tanking and DPS and so forth, which I can't quite do, I want to help you figure out how to make a build that works. It's a satisfyingly interactive, and there are lots of very functional options however you choose to build your character.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebuildbuildscarbinecarbine-studioscharacter-abilitiescharacter-buildsclassclassescolumncolumnscustomizationfeaturedguidesncsoftopinionperformanceskillsthe-nexus-telegraphtrickswildstarwsMon, 14 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: Immersion matters in Elder Scrolls Online and every other MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/11/tamriel-infinium-immersion-matters-in-elder-scrolls-online-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/11/tamriel-infinium-immersion-matters-in-elder-scrolls-online-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/11/tamriel-infinium-immersion-matters-in-elder-scrolls-online-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Grahtwood art
I'm fully on board with all of the changes ZeniMax listed in its latest state-of-the-game update. My only concern has more to do with personal OCD issues than it does with any long-term effects on Elder Scrolls Online. See, as I mentioned in a previous piece, I love the fact that ZOS allows me to play all of the game's quest content, which is spread across three different factions, on a single character of a single faction. I hate alts, or more accurately, I hate the need for them because they pull me right out of the game world.

Oh yes, I'm going to talk about immersion, even at the risk of inviting a bunch of anti-immersion comments. I'll even define the dreaded "I" word, though of course it's pretty subjective.

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Immersion matters in Elder Scrolls Online and every other MMO

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Immersion matters in Elder Scrolls Online and every other MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftcolumnelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineescapismesofeaturedimmersionimmersion-is-importantimmersion-mattersimmersion-rantrantroleplayingtamrieltamriel-infiniumtamriel-infinium-jef-reahardtesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinezenimaxzenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 11 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Think Tank: Finding the magic in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/10/the-think-tank-finding-the-magic-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/10/the-think-tank-finding-the-magic-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/10/the-think-tank-finding-the-magic-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

About a month ago, a Massively reader wrote to our team to ask for help on an issue many of us -- and probably many of you -- struggle with: a genre with lots of games and not enough stickiness (and patience!).
I've been around the MMO block (since EverQuest); I even dabbled in Meridian 59. And I keep seeing game articles that make me want to try or retry lots of MMOs, but between my schedule and investment in other titles already, I cannot bring myself to jump into old or new games for more than a few play sessions. There's so many to play that I just can't bring myself to settle down for a little bit to really get enough of the experience to enjoy it.

For example, I recently played Asheron's Call for a total of three hours after subbing and reading articles that compelled me to try it. But it felt foreign and clunky. I couldn't stick around to really appreciate it. I fear the same results in other games I'd like to try. Can you give me advice on shedding the urge to judge and dismiss a game if it doesn't click with me immediately? Is there a way to not be jaded or lazy with being a newbie (yet again) in older titles? Help me play more MMOs for the sake of experience and new loves!

- MMO junkie seeking help "finding the magic"
I polled the team for advice in this week's Think Tank!

Continue reading The Think Tank: Finding the magic in MMOs

MassivelyThe Think Tank: Finding the magic in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebrianna-royce-tttcolumnfeaturedmagicmassively-metametaopinionreader-mailroundupthe-think-tankthink-tankThu, 10 Jul 2014 18:00:00 EST