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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Warhammer Online encourages murder most foul]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/warhammer-online-encourages-murder-most-foul/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Warhammer Online
In the happy, carebear world of Warhammer Online, we've reached the time of year when the clouds break to let in a ray of sunshine that warms the souls of all it touches and sprinkles hearts with... oh, forget it. It's Murder-o-Rama, aka the Night of Murder.

Mythic's annual WAR bloodfest centers around players attempting to appease a gruesome Elf god by taking out contracts on each other's lives. From February 9th through the 22nd, players will try to complete Tome of Knowledge tasks by completing "Marked for Death" quests and killing those with a dripping red skull-and-crossbones over their heads.

The rewards are worth the effort, though, with items like Lobbin' Noggins, Khaine's Caress, and a fun pike sporting your opponent's head that you can slam down next to a defeated foe. It's the yearly holiday your mother always warned you about, but you never listened then and you're probably not going to start now.

MassivelyWarhammer Online encourages murder most foul originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carebearea-mythiceventin-game-eventmurdermurder-markmythicMythic-Entertainmentnight-of-murderwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/warhammer-online-releases-patch-1-4-5-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Inevitable City at peak hours.
Despite Mythic Entertainment's recent winnowing of the Warhammer Online servers -- bringing them down from four servers to a measly pair -- the company is still hard at work developing patches for the RvR-based title. Patch 1.4.5 will be hitting the live servers tomorrow, January 31st, and it brings a number of interesting changes and also ushers in the return of fortresses, which should be good news for open RvR fans.

With the recent Skaven invasion, a number of relics have been found in myriad underground tunnels dug below the game's fortresses. Players will be charged with guarding their faction's relics while attempting to purloin those of the enemy. The Grovod Cavern scenario is also making a return, allowing two teams of 12 players to duke it out in the crumbling cave. But this time, there's a twist: Players will be taking control of two teams of Skaven; hilarity will ensue. To top it all off, 1.4.5 is bringing fortresses back into play (after they were removed some time ago), which should hopefully encourage players to head back into the open RvR lakes for fun and profit. For the full details, just head on over to the Warhammer Online official site.

MassivelyWarhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.5eaea-mythicelectronic-artsf2pfortressfortressesfree-to-playgrovod-cavernmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-realm-vs-realmopen-rvrorvrpatchpatch-1.4.5patchesplayer-vs-playerpvpscenarioscenariosskavenupdateupdateswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewhoMon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot storms the castle with Patch 1.111]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DAoC
People of Midgard, Albion, and Hibernia -- fight for glory! The call to battle is strong and never-ending, and Mythic is looking to your continued diligence and thirst for blood to keep Dark Age of Camelot's PvP raging. For its part, Mythic has delivered the latest tantalizing update to the game today, Patch 1.111.

To keep the battlefield skirmishes hot, the studio has added new RvR missions to the Frontiers. This should hopefully cause a greater amount of conflict as players strive to accomplish their tasks.

Patch 1.111 also includes a host of class tweaks (including a huge buff to Thanes), additional controllable pets for Animists, and new Atlantis quests. These quests start at level 30 and will help players garner more Atlantean Glass for their artifacts, which should help ease the pain of grinding out Master Levels.

The patch is currently live on all servers.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot storms the castle with Patch 1.111 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.111animistsartifactsatlantean-questsatlantisdaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythicfrontiersmaster-levelsmythicpatch-1.111patch-notespvprvrrvr-queststhaneswalking-mushroomsWed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tomorrow is a long way away, and it gets further away with each successive drink.
Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition.

The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer.

MassivelyRing in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aleannual-eventsbeerbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsholiday-eventsin-game-eventsintoxicantskeg-endliquormythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentspecial-eventswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WAR
Saddle up, rough riders: It's time to head to more fertile lands! Starting next week, select Warhammer Online players will be given the option to transfer between servers for free. The decision is Mythic's attempt to merge underpopulated servers, and the company hopes that this move will drive up the action in RvR for previously quiet locations.

Players on the Gorfang (North America) and Karak Azgal (Europe) will be able to move house to Badlands and Karak Norn, respectively, starting December 14th. Once this happens, Gorfang and Karak Azgal will be marked as "Legacy" servers, keeping new players from rolling on them, and then after three weeks, the two servers will be shut down completely. Any characters left on those servers will not be playable until they transfer to their new homes.

Mythic is also paving the way for guilds to move wholesale to new servers, with more information about this coming next week.

MassivelyWaaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badlandsbioware-mythiccharacter-transfercharacter-transfersea-mythicgorfangKarak-AzgalKarak-Nornlegacymergemythicretireretiredretired-serversserverserver-mergeserver-mergesserver-transferserver-transfersserverswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: November 7-13, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MV Guide
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: November 7-13, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: November 7-13, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdc-universe-onlinedcuoea-mythicfallen-earthfefeaturedgamersfirstlittle-space-heroesmv-guidemv-tv-mythicperfect-worldpwesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestoultima-onlinewar-of-dragonsMon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Warriors Saga screenshot
It's unfortunate when my normal Rise and Shiny decision-making process bites me in the butt. I generally try to find games semi-randomly, but there really is no random choice for a guy who is pretty aware of almost any title coming out in the U.S., like I am. When I saw Warriors Saga splashed across the front page of Massively, I decided to take a chance and Rise and Shiny the heck out of it.

Well, nearly a week later and several hours into the game, I can tell you that there is so much that still needs to be done to the title that it is almost not fair to give you my first impressions. But alas, I have the super-seriously tough job of playing games for a living, so click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowser-basedclapalongea-mythicf2pfeaturedflash-based-mmofree-to-playftpmobileMythic-EntertainmentUltima-Onlinewarriors-sagayoogamesSun, 06 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer sticking with its subscription model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - still not F2P, hehe
Those of you holding out for a freemium conversion for Warhammer Online may as well resign yourselves to waiting on the upcoming Wrath of Heroes MOBA. In a new piece at PC Gamer, BioWare-Mythic vice president Eugene Evans says there are still no plans to give away the game aside from the ongoing endless trial that covers the title's newb tier content.

"Right now, we're focused on Wrath of Heroes as our free-to-play offering in the Warhammer universe," Evans said at this week's GDC. "We believe in the community of players who are playing Age of Reckoning. Yes, we could have attracted a lot of players to it [via F2P], but it's unclear how long you'll keep them. We wanted to support our game as it currently exists."

MassivelyWarhammer sticking with its subscription model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicea-biowareea-mythicf2pfantasyfree-to-playgdcgdc-2011hehemobamythicMythic-Entertainmentwarwarhammerwarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
It's not every day that an MMO turns 10, and Mythic is taking full advantage of the situation to hype up Dark Age of Camelot's impressive milestone by treating players to a few goodies. First up is a highly detailed mural depicting the conflicts, races, and classes of DAoC over the years. Mythic has been revealing the mural piecemeal over the last few weeks before finally unveiling it today to the playerbase.

In addition to this poster, Mythic's unleashed Producer Stuart Zissu to film a video laying out the plans for the game's celebration. Zissu talks about the new training hubs designed to get beginners on their feet, epic encounters in the world for groups to tackle, moral arcs that give players concrete choices to make, UI changes, and the 10th anniversary t-shirt. Players logging into the game in October will also find that they'll be enjoying several bonuses to XP, crafting, and more.

You can watch Zissu get the crowds pumped up for the party after the jump!

Continue reading Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-celebrationartworkbioware-mythiccelebrationdaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythici-played-this-game-and-all-i-got-was-this-awesome-t-shirtmuralmythicmythic-entertainmentposterStuart-Zissuvideoxp-bonusTue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mark Jacobs
It's been a couple of years since Mark Jacobs abruptly left -- or perhaps was let go -- from EA Mythic, but curiosity around the split persists in the MMO industry. Yesterday, Jacobs opened up about the event that occurred after EA's acquisition of Mythic and BioWare.

Long story short: The merge brought about changes, and Jacobs wasn't on board with them. "They made a decision on a direction they wanted to go and obviously, as we put out in our joint statement, that wasn't a direction that had a role for me, or at least the role that I wanted. It really is as simple as that. Or at least publicly. Whatever went on behind the scenes, whatever we talked about, I have no intention of sharing that," he said.

Jacobs insists that EA has been kind to him in the subsequent years. "One thing I'll say publicly about EA, they have been very good in what they've said post-departure regarding me. Similarly I've been good about what I've said about them post departure."

He has since gone on to form a new company to create social and mobile games. In an ironic twist, Jacobs says that the idea for getting into the social gaming market took root while he was at Mythic, but he left before acting on that notion.

MassivelyMark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccity-state-entertainmentdepartureeaea-biowareea-mythicfirefiredfiringJohn-riccitiellomark-jacobsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamessocial-gamingsplitTue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DAoC
As part of Mythic's continued efforts to introduce a "New User Journey" experience that's friendly to Dark Age of Camelot beginners, the studio has turned its attention to the ever-crucial subject of gear. In a new dev diary by DJ Frazier, the dev spells out the problem: "For a new player who wanders into battlegrounds, especially ones like Thidranki or Molvik, they will often find themselves losing almost every fight they encounter, simply because they are playing against people who have had a chance to outfit themselves out in the best equipment they can find for their level range."

Because the team fears that this armor disparity proves to be a dealbreaker for many newbies, the devs are retuning the gear that players get during their leveling up process to be more durable and competitive on the battlefield.

The two main paths of leveling -- PvE questing and RvR battlegrounds -- will both offer solid picks of gear when patch 1.110 hits. Players who risk the battlegrounds will find themselves in possession of top-notch weapons and armor, whereas those who choose to quest will find themselves "90% of the way there" with their gear. Hopefully, these changes will create an environment that's much more welcoming to newcomers to DAoC.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbattlegroundsbeginnersdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diaryDJ-Frazierea-mythicgearmythicnew-user-journeynewbiesnoobspvepvprvrweaponsThu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Also, bear stampede.
Dark Age of Camelot is taking aim at bounties. Specifically, the development team is taking aim at the bounty points that players can now earn via quests in the game's battlegrounds. Longtime players have no doubt noticed this change, and in the latest developer diary for the game, Kai Schrober outlines the team's plans to continue improving player experience via a new set of equipment purchasable from special bounty vendors inside the battlegrounds.

The equipment available isn't meant to just be good -- it's pre-templated and should bring characters close to the apex of their abilities. The goal, obviously, is to help players feel rewarded for their participation in the game. But the diary also goes into detail about more enhancements to gameplay, including new epic events surrounding quest hubs and new teleporters to give players easy access to battlegrounds. It's a laundry list of improvements for DAoC, a clear sign that even though the past few months have been a bit quiet for the game, development hasn't abated.

MassivelyNew bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsbioware-mythicbounty-pointsdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaea-mythicelectronic-artskai-schrobermythicmythic-entertainmentpatchesupcoming-patchesupdatesWed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warhammer Online - vanity pets
It's time to raise a glass to Warhammer Online, as Mythic's fantasy PvP title turns three on September 18th (time flies when you're WAAAGHing, we suppose).

What's on tap for the inevitable celebration? Bonus XP/RP, of course, and a whopping 10 days of it. Starting today, players can enjoy increased advancement potential and loot a few fireworks from the twitching carcasses of their foes. Also, three-year veterans are being recognized for their loyalty, as Mythic is gifting them with a Jack-O-Lantern vanity pet and an endless supply of both chaos black and blazing orange dyes.

Don't forget that the 1.4.4 patch was recently deployed, and the Wild Hunt event is currently ongoing. Finally, check in with Massively on Sunday for our three-year Warhammer Online retrospective.

MassivelyWarhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-year-anniversarybioware-mythiccelebrationchaos-blackdyesea-mythicelectronic-artsmythicpetsvanity-petswaaaghwaaagh-hammerwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot takes players to school]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
Dark Age of Camelot's new website is already paying off in spades for players, as the developers are able to pass along a host of new information, concept art and previews for the populace. DAOC will be 10 years old as of next month and isn't slowing down. Exhibit A: The team is already hard at work on the 1.110 patch.

John Thronhill penned a dev diary about the patch this week; he focuses on the new Lesson Quests that will go hand-in-hand with the beginner experience. Lesson Quests are designed to help newbies get their footing in this complex setting, especially since the game continues to see a "large amount of returning and brand-new players" each month.

As players progress through Lesson Quests, they'll not only get a better understanding of how DAOC works but be rewarded with buff tokens, potions, and other nice goodies. As part of the quest chain, NPCs will demonstrate crowd control techniques and other RvR survival skills in the hopes that new players will be able to make a better contribution to the war. These tutorial quests can also be skipped if players already know the ropes.

Lesson Quests aren't the only new additions coming with 1.110, although Thornhill says we'll have to wait until another day to hear about the rest.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot takes players to school originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversarybeginner-experiencebioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diarydeveloper-diaryea-mythicJohn-Thronhilllesson-questsmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-experiencenew-user-journeypatch-1.110pvprvrtrainertutorialFri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - humans
Warhammer Online's latest patch is here, and it's just in time for the fantasy title's third anniversary week. Well, technically the 1.4.4 patch isn't here yet, as the servers are still down and scheduled to rez at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT today.

The new patch introduces the Wild Hunt live event, which allows players the chance to "test their skills tracking and slaying fierce animals, collecting sacred pelts, and sighting the elusive White Stag." There's also an opportunity to earn event influence and participate in the Curse of Kurnous public quest.

Mythic has also tweaked the RvR keep defense mechanics, introduced new vanity pet packs, and shifted the scenario lineup. Finally, you can vote for the next batch of scenarios via the Dev Discussions forum on the official WAR website.

MassivelyWarhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.41.4.4-patchbioware-mythicea-mythicfantasylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4.4public-questsscenariosWARwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewild-huntwild-hunt-live-eventTue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
Mythic is taking an interesting approach in promoting its new MOBA, Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes -- it's throwing Warhammer Online under the bus. At the Wrath of Heroes reveal panel at PAX, the Mythic team talked up its new project as something that Heroes' parent game is not.

The team found that people liked WAR but couldn't justify investing in it, so Mythic wanted to create an experience for them. The team took what it saw as one the more popular aspects of WAR -- the scenarios -- and modified them to pit three teams (six on each) against each other for quick, 15-minute gameplay sessions. On death, you can choose any hero in your arsenal so you can adjust to whatever your team needs.

This game format allowed the team to strip away the parts of the game it saw as unnecessary. "We went, you know what? If you play the MMO, we give you all this cool equipment on your adventure, and it's a neat thing to do, but let's just get rid of the boring crap and give people cool [stuff] to wear," Paul Barnett said.

Citing the accumulation of multiple -- and sometimes quite situational -- skills over the course of "748,000 hours of grinding," Barnett said that his team got rid of this approach by focusing on only five skills per hero in Wrath of Heroes. He thinks that the small incremental progress of skills and skill effects in Warhammer Online is "dull" and instead extolls Wrath of Heroes for picking the best skills, effects and armor so that players don't have to worry about getting all of them.

You can watch the full reveal panel of Wrath of Heroes after the jump.

[Thanks to Joris for the tip!]

Continue reading Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR

MassivelyMythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6v6v6bioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdeveloper-panelea-mythicf2pfree-to-playgamespotgearmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-prime-2011reveal-panelthrow-under-the-buswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesTue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As of today, I'm finished with Warhammer Online. Today is my final installment of Choose My Adventure, with the torch passing along next week to Larry Everett. Before anyone asks, yes, I'm definitely going to miss the feature... but that's not really what you're here for at the moment, is it? You're here for the fanfare, and it's all over but the depressing part.

Last week's vote was overwhelmingly meta -- rather than a recounting of events, the audience clearly wants to hear my thoughts on the future of Warhammer Online, what worked and what didn't, and why the game followed the trajectory it did. (Also, an awful lot of people want to know about the Choppa Song.) I'm admittedly coming into the game late and with somewhat less passionate eyes than many of the game's fans, but looking at my experience, I think I found a lot of the game in microcosm. I see all of the things it did right... and in hindsight, where certain choices went wrong.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicchoose-my-adventureea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsfailurefeaturedmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentopinionsuccesswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everyone knows that a good mascot can make a difference between a video game's death and rabid popularity. Mario, Master Chief, Duke Nuke 'Em, Pac-Man, Samus Aran, Pyramid Head -- each one of these mascots isn't merely an aspect of the game, they are the virtual spokesperson (or spokesthing) which represents the game itself.

Yet when you think about it, MMOs have had a tougher time producing mascots than other video game genres, partially because unlike other games, you don't play as the mascots, and partially because when you have a cast of thousands of NPCs, picking out one to elevate above the rest is a difficult job.

Difficult, that is, but not impossible. Today we're going to look at ten MMO mascots (MMOscots?) that studios have tried to promote as the face of these games, to varying degrees of success.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO mascots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13371337-speakanarchy-onlineanetangelaoapril-foolsarenanetarthasbatmanbe-the-broccoliblizzardbroccolicharrchatdycity-of-heroescohddodevildungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-mythicelfy-mcnoclotheseqeverquesteye-of-the-northf2pfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-eye-of-the-northgwgwenjack-emmertleetleet-speakleetslich-kinglistlistsmascotmascotsmythicmythic-entertainmentperfect-10perfect-tenplayboyprince-arthasretconretconningsarah-morrisonsoesquigsquigsstatesmantabula-rasathe-jokerthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbinewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Da udder half lives]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I remember thinking quite distinctly that I was ready to be done with the Tier 1 scenarios, oh, forever ago. It's not that Nordenwatch is inherently a bad scenario; it's just that when you see it often enough, you start to get sick of it. So I was very happy when the voting closed on last week's poll and I saw that I had a very different list of scenarios available to me in Warhammer Online. That had probably happened several levels ago, sure, but I hadn't been queueing.

Unfortunately, I found out that Oscar Wilde's old chestnut about the gods granting our wishes when they want to punish us proved entirely accurate. Jump on past the break for this week in Klurgind's somewhat less than epic adventure, with the caveat that it's going to be just a wee bit depressing in places. But hey, I never promised this story had a happy ending.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Da udder half lives

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Da udder half lives originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecolumnea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsfeaturedmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentopinionquestingwarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaWed, 27 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online begins testing Publish 71.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/ultima-online-begins-testing-publish-71-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/ultima-online-begins-testing-publish-71-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/ultima-online-begins-testing-publish-71-0/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You'd think that an MMO well into its golden years like Ultima Online would slow down to take advantage of senior citizen menu options, bingo night, and yelling at youngsters to get off the lawn. But, no, the dev team is instead running like they've never run before, as a new update on the test shard Origin can attest.

Yesterday, the highly anticipated Publish 71.0 was pushed to the test server for players to tinker around and explore. The patch notes tell a tale of many, many balance changes and tweaks, along with plenty of brand-new buff icons. Fishing's also been treated to somewhat of an overhaul with the patch, as additional trophies are being installed and schools of magical fish will begin to move around in order to keep you guessing. There's even a special sea encounter with Charybdis that is only available to dedicated fishermen.

To check out all of the nitty-gritty details and bug fixes that are coming with 71.0, head on over to Ultima Online to read the notes!

MassivelyUltima Online begins testing Publish 71.0 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>71.0buff-iconsbug-fixesCharybdisea-mythicfishingmythicmythic-entertainmentoriginpatchpublishpublish-71.0testtest-shardultima-onlineuoupdateWed, 20 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Ork in da wild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/choose-my-adventure-ork-in-da-wild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/choose-my-adventure-ork-in-da-wild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/choose-my-adventure-ork-in-da-wild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this past week was the sort of event that turns one's entire life upside-down. The stuff that happened was also pretty unambiguously good, yeah, but between that and my computer randomly screwing up, this has not been the best of weeks for Warhammer Online and myself. Which is odd, seeing as how there's been big (albeit secretive) news for the community, and I've still managed to sit down and get some solid time clocked in with Klurgind despite that.

Last week's polls both indicated that I should follow the WAR Report around the map, and they also indicated that people would really like to roll up with some Massively warband action. So we're going to make an event out of it, based on the best details and planning I can provide. Click on past the break for a recount of Klurgind's most recent adventures in Warhammer Online, plans for the meetup on the weekend, and the new set of polls.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Ork in da wild

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Ork in da wild originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecolumnsea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsfeaturedgreenskinmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentopen-pvpopinionpvprvrwarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaWed, 13 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadventureraltdorfcharacter-designclassclassesclimaxclimax-groupclimax-onlineDavid-Nicholsondwarvese3e3-2003e3-2004ea-mythicelvesfeaturedgames-workshopgamezonehalflingsKarl-Jefferylive-eventsmagicmaster-assassinmicrosoftmythicmythic-entertainmentogresoverlordpaul-barnettplaystationpvpreiklandrobin-dewsrogueseasonssegasilent-hillskill-basedsunglassessypwaaghwarwar-is-everywherewarhammerwarhammer-fantasywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarriorweatherweather-eventsTue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: I da popular ork]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Klurgind may not be the smartest ork in Warhammer Online nor the strongest one, but he's certainly a popular greenskin. What is it about him? That beady, penetrating stare? The way he eulogizes Squig Herders on the fields of Nordland? His sharply alluring green-blue skin and bright orange tattoos? Or just the fact that everyone knew he was my character, thus ensuring that every regular reader went out of the way to shower him with praise, advice, and adulation?

I don't know. But I do know that special thanks go out to Tsavonglah for some excellent in-game advice and a veritable wall of information in the comments, Daswagga for a large pile of Strength talismans, and the many people who gave me a wave or cheer for bring a touch of Massively WAAAAGH to the game. So read on past the break for talk about my adventures in the twilight of Tier 1, the dawn of Tier 2, scenarios, open RvR, and the general stages of the Choppocalypse.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: I da popular ork

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: I da popular ork originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurechoppaclassescmacolumneaea-mythicfeaturedmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpollpollstier-1waaghwarwarhammerwarhammer-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-onlineWed, 06 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It took me some hunting to find a copy of Warhammer Online on shelves. I could have just bought one online, yeah, but I will admit to being a fan of sentimental clutter like retail boxes. Once I finally nabbed one -- an adventure in and of itself involving a trip around Farmington, CT in a dismally overcast evening -- I installed it and got busy making a character.

Or at least, I would have, if not for the fact that one of the polls was a dead heat from start to finish. See, while my faction and class were apparently pretty easy to assign by consensus, getting my ork-or-goblin's class decided proved quite an ordeal. By the time the class poll closed, ranged DPS and melee DPS were in a dead heat.

Well, I had to have a little executive initiative, right? Klurgind the Choppa was born on Gorfang and given the oldest and most intelligent ork face I could find. (I would have gone with Grignr, but it was sadly taken.) So jump on past the cut to see what I got up to during my first foray into Warhammer Online and to let me know where I'm going next.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbiowarebioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecmacolumneaea-mythicelectronic-artsfeaturedmythicopinionplayer-choicepollpollspvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 29 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's patch day in Warhammer Online, and we've got your your 1.4.3 update at a glance. In case you're trying to sneak in a few minutes of play during your workday, we're sorry to inform you that Mythic's servers are currently down (the good news is that there's an expected up time of 1:30 p.m. EDT according to the note posted yesterday on the official website).

So what's new and exciting in this patch? For starters, Sigmartide. This two-week live event sees Order players basking in the glow of the faction's first emperor while they "seek out corruption, cleanse the wicked, and honor the age-old bonds with the Dwarfs." Destruction types, meanwhile, will actively oppose all the revelry by desecrating celebration altars and doing all the things that bad guys do.

Also falling under the 1.4.3 banner are new temporary RvR accessory sets and a shakeup of WAR's scenario lineup. Hit up the official website for more details.

MassivelyWarhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.31.4.3-patchdestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentorderpatchrvrsigmartideupdatewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The readers have spoken! More specifically, the fans of Warhammer Online have spoken, and so the game is my destination for the next several weeks. And what a surprising speech it was, especially given that I, my editor, and my co-workers all assumed that with RIFT on the ballot we might as well just close up the voting after half a day. But the forum thread on the official boards kept people coming over and voting, and thus I'm heading over into the world of Order and Chaos.

I'm glad to see Warhammer Online as the selection, as it's long been a game and setting that I've found interesting even though it's never quite made it on my list of things to play next. The game has certainly seen its fair share of hardship over the past several years, so it's going to be interesting to take a look at the game as it exists now. So click on past the break to start me down the path that leads me into the game and check out my usual disconnected ramblings.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicchoose-my-adventuredcmacolumneaea-mythicElectronic-ArtsfeaturedmythicMythic-Entertainmentplayer-opinionpollpollsvotingwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-perfect-ten-why-a-harry-potter-mmo-makes-sense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-perfect-ten-why-a-harry-potter-mmo-makes-sense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-perfect-ten-why-a-harry-potter-mmo-makes-sense/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The idea of a Harry Potter MMO is hardly a new one at this point -- we've even speculated on it around Massively for years now. Rumors and wishful thinking have brought up this hypothetical MMO time and again, and for good reason: It simply makes sense.

In fact, the more you think about it, the more surprising it is that we haven't heard official word of a Harry Potter MMO by now. After doing some poking around, the most likely suspects to take on this project would either be Warner Bros. (which owns the rights to the franchise) or Electronic Arts (which purchased a license from WB to make the movie video games). Both companies have MMO studios at their command -- Turbine, BioWare, Mythic -- and both have the resources to make it happen.

So why does Harry Potter make perfect sense for MMO-adaptation? Hit the jump and I'll run you down the top 10 reasons! And if you post a positive comment after this column, I'll add five points to the house of your choice (go Hufflepuff!).

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassesdeathly-hallowsdefense-against-the-dark-artseaea-biowareea-mythicelectronic-artsfactionsfantasyfeaturedgolden-goosegoose-that-lays-golden-eggsharry-potterharry-potter-mmoherbologyhogwartsholy-trinityhouseshufflepuffipj-k-rowlingjk-rowlingkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlevelinglevelslord-of-the-ringsmagicmythicnarniapotionsquidditchrowlingspeculationturbinetwilightUniversal-Orlando-Resortwarner-broswarner-bros-interactiveWarner-Bros-Interactive-Entertainmentwizardwizard101wizardsworld-buildingThu, 05 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Hickman hops over to Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/jeff-hickman-hops-over-to-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It might be a case of in-house talent poaching or just a good opportunity for all parties involved, but BioWare has hired Jeff Hickman away from Mythic to be Star Wars: The Old Republic's new Executive Producer of Live Services.

The hire was announced at the recent BioWare's Fan Site Summit, according to Ask a Jedi. Hickman was previously the Studio Executive Producer for all of Mythic's MMOs. He'll step into the role left open by Gordon Walton, who left BioWare earlier this year.

With both BioWare and Mythic under the same parent company -- Electronic Arts -- it stands to reason that the two studios have a strong network and relationships that could lead to such transfers of personnel. We'll look forward to seeing what Jeff Hickman will bring to TOR as it progresses toward launch!

MassivelyJeff Hickman hops over to Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaea-biowareea-mythicelectronic-artsexecutive-producergordon-waltonjeff-hickmanlive-servicesmythicstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer community update talks crafting, scenario tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Community update posts are piling up as the calendar rolls on toward May, and a new letter on the official Warhammer Online website adds Mythic's RvR title to the list.

The letter addresses the recently released 1.4.2 patch as well as a tentative time window for 1.4.3 (late June). Crafting adjustments are also on the discussion table, and before you scratch your head regarding the importance of tradeskills in a kill-'em-all PvP-fest like WAR, someone's got to make all the bows and blades, amirite? Details are sketchy, but the update letter indicates that interested craftsmen should keep an eye on the dev discussion forums over the next week.

There's a blurb about some upcoming scenario changes too. Gromril Crossing and Thunder Valley are expanding to include 18 players over the Easter weekend, and both instances will also reward combatants with double scenario tokens. Finally, Mythic is ponying up for a 50% renown and XP bonus for the weekend.

MassivelyWarhammer community update talks crafting, scenario tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythiccraftingea-mythicelectronic-artsfantasymythicrenown-bonusscenario-tokensscenario-tweaksthunder-valleywarwarhammerWarhammer-Onlinexp-bnousFri, 22 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Power play: Warhammer Online's 1.4.2 patch improves Tier 4 [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/power-play-warhammer-onlines-1-4-2-patch-improves-tier-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/power-play-warhammer-onlines-1-4-2-patch-improves-tier-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/power-play-warhammer-onlines-1-4-2-patch-improves-tier-4/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a quiet month or so following Warhammer Online's 1.4.1 patch, so it's a relief to see Mythic swinging back into action with the sequel: patch 1.4.2. The servers are coming down this morning and should be back up and ready for action by 1:00 p.m. EDT.

According to the patch highlights, patch 1.4.2's main focus will be on improving WAR's Tier 4 RvR combat. Power levels and power gaps are due for a tune up, and Mythic claims to have taken in a lot of feedback about the end game in order to make these changes.

As it's done in the past, Mythic is changing the scenario lineup for this new update, temporarily retiring some of these PvP instances while bringing others back online. The patch will also introduce a couple additional vanity pets, including the powder monkey and imp skeleton, which can be purchased via the EA Store. Some of these pets give you 5% additional gold when you loot corpses, making them very desirable indeed.

[Update: Mythic has posted the full 1.4.1 patch notes for your perusal!]

MassivelyPower play: Warhammer Online's 1.4.2 patch improves Tier 4 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.11.4.2ea-mythicend-gameimp-skeletonmythicpatchpatch-1.4.2powder-monkeypvprvrscenariostier-4updatevanity-petswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 19 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online revisits dynamic content with Magincia reconstruction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/ultima-online-revisits-dynamic-content-with-magincia-reconstruct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/ultima-online-revisits-dynamic-content-with-magincia-reconstruct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/ultima-online-revisits-dynamic-content-with-magincia-reconstruct/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Long before RIFT barreled on to the MMO scene and made a buzz-phrase out of "dynamic content," Ultima Online developers were busily pumping out some dynamic content of their own. In the fall of 2007, the influential fantasy sandbox title saw a horde of nasty demons descend upon the hapless town of Magincia and raze it to the ground despite (or in some cases, because of) the efforts of players on each of the game's shards. The invasion was part of a larger story cycle called Warriors of Destiny, and a new event is now brewing that will bring players back to the site of the ruined town.

As part of the New Magincia rebuilding process, the provisional government of Britannia is holding a lottery for 22 land plots atop the city ruins. Said plots may be used for residences or shops at the winning player's discretion. The city is also playing host to a new public gardening mechanic, and you can find all the details at the official Ultima Online website.

MassivelyUltima Online revisits dynamic content with Magincia reconstruction originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britanniadynamic-contenteaea-mythicElectronic-Artseventsfantasygardeninghousingin-game-eventsmaginciamythicMythic-Entertainmentpublic-gardeningsandboxultimaultima-onlineuowarriors-of-destinySat, 12 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The original PvP-centric version of Ultima Online may be dead, but the heart and soul of the sandbox MMORPG lives on thanks to a dedicated playerbase and the Mythic dev team that is continually pumping out the updates.

In a new video diary, producer Calvin Crowner talks about a return to Ultima's roots in 2011 and says that doing so necessitates moving away from the checklist mentality that often permeates development cycles. "If we go through a checklist, there's no way we're going to appeal to everyone, so instead of doing that we'd rather really get back to that feel and that flavor that brought players to Britannia every day."

Associate producer Bonnie Armstrong agrees and points out that Ultima is moving away from MMO-standard kill quests and focusing more on stories (which are often helped along by the dedicated event GMs on each shard). Lead engineer Derek Brinkman says this will work well with the newly optimized client and the new high-resolution environment assets. Finally, the dev team talks about the redesigned new player experience and how it is expressly intended to get players into the world quickly while the meat of the client download happens behind the scenes. Hit the jump for the full video.

Continue reading Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience

MassivelyUltima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calvin-crownerdev-diaryea-mythicfeaturesmythicMythic-EntertainmentpvepvpsandboxultimaUltima-Onlineuovideovideo-diaryWed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online producer's letter mentions crafting additions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/warhammer-online-producers-letter-mentions-crafting-additions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/warhammer-online-producers-letter-mentions-crafting-additions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/warhammer-online-producers-letter-mentions-crafting-additions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While we here at Massively are swamped with GDC-related news tidbits, life outside the annual conference does indeed go on. BioWare-Mythic's Warhammer Online is one such title that keeps on keeping on, and the latest producer's letter is up on the game's official website for your perusal.

If you'd rather we peruse it for you, well, keep reading. Producer James Casey has a fair bit to say, and he starts things off with a mention of the new communication initiative that is ongoing in the Developer's Corner section of the WAR forums.

Casey also touches on the upcoming tweaks to Grovod Caverns, a new live event called Sigmar Tide (currently scheduled for this summer), and a few proposed additions to crafting that are intended to "introduce new mechanics and flesh out the offerings available" for artisans throughout the realm.

MassivelyWarhammer Online producer's letter mentions crafting additions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythiccraftingcrafting-updateseaea-mythicElectronic-Artsfantasygrovod-cavernsjames-caseylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentproducer-lettersigmar-tidewarwarhammerWarhammer-OnlineWed, 02 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR shakes up the world with patch 1.4.1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/war-shakes-up-the-world-with-patch-1-4-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/war-shakes-up-the-world-with-patch-1-4-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/war-shakes-up-the-world-with-patch-1-4-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After a few weeks in testing, Warhammer Online's 1.4.1 patch has hit the live servers today. Topping off the list of improvements to the game is a brand-new claim window, which was designed to handle the various account entitlements that players have accrued. This interface now replaces the in-game mail system as a way to deliver the special goodies that players have earned or purchased over the years.

Patch 1.4.1 is also aiming at shaking up the game with two major changes to the status quo. Several PvP armor sets are now much easier to attain, and in many instances they can be purchased at a lower level than before. This means that players will find themselves better-equipped to participate in the brutal hand-to-hand combat that the game offers.

WAR is also rotating its scenario lineup: Some scenarios have been called out of retirement, some have changed tiers, and some are being put in mothballs for the time being.

You can read the full 1.4.1 patch notes over at Warhammer Online.

MassivelyWAR shakes up the world with patch 1.4.1 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.1account-entitlementsarmor-setsclaim-windowea-mythicmythicpatchpatch-1.4.1pvppvp-armor-setsrenown-ranksscenarioscenariosupdatewarwarhammer-onlineTue, 01 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are other game studios taking countermeasures against RIFT? [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/are-other-game-studios-taking-countermeasures-against-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/are-other-game-studios-taking-countermeasures-against-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/are-other-game-studios-taking-countermeasures-against-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you didn't know, today is the head start launch of RIFT and the beginning of many strained household relationships as players finally dive into Telara for real. While we've known for some time that Trion Worlds' creation was going to be a major player in the MMO field, it seems as though RIFT's release has caused other MMO studios to step up and take countermeasures.

In the past 24 hours, there have been a few significant developments that seem suspicious in regard to timing, at least. The first is that Blizzard dropped World of Warcraft's next content update, Patch 4.1, on to the public test server in the middle of the night. Mortal Online's announced that its free 14-day trial program is now active for any interested parties. We've also received numerous tips that EA Mythic disabled the cancel subscription option for Warhammer Online.

Although we obviously can't be certain that all of these events are due to RIFT, timing, as they say, is everything. Have you seen any other MMO studios stepping up their game today as a distraction from the new shiny?

[Update: The Warhammer subscription option was a bug that should be resolved today, according to the devs.]

MassivelyAre other game studios taking countermeasures against RIFT? [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcancelcancel-subscriptioncontent-updatecountermeasuresea-mythiceamythichead-startlaunchmortal-onlinemythicpatch-4.1riftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsupdatewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 24 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online bringing 1.4.1 out for testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/warhammer-online-bringing-1-4-1-out-for-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/warhammer-online-bringing-1-4-1-out-for-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/warhammer-online-bringing-1-4-1-out-for-testing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Scenarios have formed one of the PvP cornerstones for Warhammer Online, leading to a large-scale overhaul of Scenarios several months ago. Certain Scenarios were placed on a weekend rotation, while others were permanently available at different level bands for players to enjoy. Patch 1.4.1, which is due to hit the public test server, Warpstone, tomorrow, is making some alterations to which Scenarios may be played at all times, with some cycling into a permanent slot and others entering retirement for a time.

While the shifting lineup is certainly one of the big elements of the patch, it's not the only one. Balance changes have been made for several Skaven abilities, including several overhauls for the Packmaster class. A number of item sets have had their Renown Rank requirements lowered, as well, to give players easier access to the items; there has been a new set added to fill the newly created gap between the Warlord and Sovereign sets. Warhammer Online players can examine the current patch notes and take part in the testing starting tomorrow.

MassivelyWarhammer Online bringing 1.4.1 out for testing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalance-changesbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentpatchpatchesrvrscenariosskavenupdateswarwar-eawar-patch-1.4.1warhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 15 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Night of Murder brings holiday butchering to Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/night-of-murder-brings-holiday-butchering-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/night-of-murder-brings-holiday-butchering-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/night-of-murder-brings-holiday-butchering-to-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard to deny that Warhammer Online takes place in the most metal universe anywhere. That becomes especially clear during the Valentine's Day event in the game, which features absolutely no affection between characters but a great deal of rampaging bloodlust. The Night of Murder event is upon players once again, giving everyone an in-game opportunity to completely bypass the usual plethora of chocolates and cards in favor of battleaxes and bloody vengeance.

Running from February 8th until the 22nd, the event is a celebration of Khaine, during which even the forces of Order wind up drifting close to the chaotic side. Players taking part can net a variety of rewards, including the quite desirable Butcher's Blessing buff, which increases both Experience and Renown gains by 10% for three in-game days. Hop in now to enjoy Warhammer Online's senseless slaughter, which includes nearly as many hearts as the usual take on the celebration (except that the usual holiday involves those hearts remaining within the ribcage).

MassivelyNight of Murder brings holiday butchering to Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsin-game-eventmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentnewsnight-of-murdervalentinesvalentines-day-eventswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 08 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online offering free server transfers as prelude to two server shutdowns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/warhammer-online-offering-free-server-transfers-as-prelude-to-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/warhammer-online-offering-free-server-transfers-as-prelude-to-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/warhammer-online-offering-free-server-transfers-as-prelude-to-tw/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you're playing on the Iron Rock or Volkmar servers for Warhammer Online, it's time to get ready to say goodbye. The development team for the game has just announced that free server transfers are being unlocked for both servers, allowing players to transfer to Gorfang to help bolster the population. That in and of itself wouldn't be all that unusual, except that when the transfer starts, both Iron Rock and Volkmar are being flagged as Legacy servers to prevent any new characters from being created.

Starting on February 9th, transfers will be enabled and the Legacy flag will go into place. After three weeks of open transfers, both Iron Rock and Volkmar will be flagged as "Retired," meaning that any characters not transferred off the server will have to be transferred to Gorfang (or Badlands via a paid transfer). That means that two of the game's remaining four American servers will be removed in the near future, and while the population boost will no doubt help Warhammer Online's RvR battles, it's still a shutdown for two servers.

MassivelyWarhammer Online offering free server transfers as prelude to two server shutdowns originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentrvrserverserver-mergeserver-shutdownserverswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaMon, 07 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot keeps its eyes firmly fixed on RvR for 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/08/dark-age-of-camelot-keeps-its-eyes-firmly-fixed-on-rvr-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/08/dark-age-of-camelot-keeps-its-eyes-firmly-fixed-on-rvr-for-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/08/dark-age-of-camelot-keeps-its-eyes-firmly-fixed-on-rvr-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"Realm vs. Realm combat is what keeps you here year after year," Stuart Zissu concludes in the Dark Age of Camelot's January newsletter. Because of this fact, Zissu reassures players that Mythic is firmly committed to strengthening and focusing on DAoC's RvR in 2011.

Zissu first addresses a number of important issues that the team is tackling, such as lag ghosting. Realm abilities are also being adjusted to include several additional levels. While these new levels won't add to the overall strength of the abilities, they do allow players to fine-tune just how much (or little) of these abilities they want to have. A few of the realm abilities will be improved on a case-by-case basis, however.

He also highlights the next upcoming live event, which will revolve around the return of demonic invasions. Those wacky demons -- like frat boys out of control, they are!

You can read the full newsletter over on the Camelot Herald.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot keeps its eyes firmly fixed on RvR for 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camelotcamelot-heralddaocdark-age-of-camelotdemonic-invasionea-mythiclaglag-ghostinglive-eventlive-eventsmythicmythic-entertainmentnewsletterpvprealm-abilitiesrealm-vs-realmrvrstuart-zissuSat, 08 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Last week, our own Jef Reahard mounted the Massively Soapbox with an article titled Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP. In it, he argued that open PvP was a natural and necessary part of any solid sandbox MMO. He also made waves by suggesting that FFA PvP is crucial to the roleplaying experience and that roleplayers should really face their "fears" and give it a try.

I'm a sandbox gamer and a PvPer at heart. I played the early years of Ultima Online and lived the adrenaline rush of full and brutal PvP and thievery. Dark Age of Camelot's RvR sucked up another year of my life. Star Wars Galaxies remains my sandbox of choice, and I've braved a World of Warcraft PvP server since launch. I know this territory very well. I'll knock it, because I have more than tried it -- in several tasty flavors.

And even though I'm an unabashed Jef-fangirl, I think there are a few debatable issues with his article. Hit the jump for some good old-fashioned counterpoints!

Continue reading The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchyBlizzardccpCCP-Gamesconsequencesdeath-mechanicea-mythiceveeve-onlinefeaturedffaffa-pvpgankergriefergriefersImmersionopen-pvpopen-world-pvpopinionpve-sandboxpvppvp-sandboxroleplayroleplayerRolePlayersRolePlayingRPSandboxsandbox-mmosandparksoapboxSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-soapboxThemeParktrammelUltima-OnlineUOWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST