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[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 19th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
Missing livestreams is so 2011! There's no excuse now, what with the livestream schedule page going up every week, the constant reminders across Twitter, and the super-cool regulars we have who hang out in the chat room with us. But, alas, some of you do occasionally miss a stream or two and need someone to point out what you might have missed. That someone would be me, and this column is the place to go.

Last week we had all sorts of cool stuff. Some of the highlights? First we had Richie with some Diablo III Hell-smashing action, MJ deciding to run some dungeons in EverQuest II and Aion, finishing up her Choose My Adventure run in City of Heroes and checking up housing decorations in Vanguard. I'm known to run a stream or two as well, and this week I showed off the new fully voice-acted quest Song from the Depths in RuneScape.

Click past the cut and enjoy!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 19th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 19th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondiablo-3diablo-iiiEQ2EverQuest-2EverquestIif2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpjagexlivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmv-tvmvtvnc-softround-uprounduprunescapeSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesvideovideosSun, 27 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: The passing of Ribbitribbitt]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-tattered-notebook-the-passing-of-ribbitribbitt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-tattered-notebook-the-passing-of-ribbitribbitt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-tattered-notebook-the-passing-of-ribbitribbitt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ribbitribbitt
This week's Tattered Notebook started off business as usual. I was putting together part two of a look at the layers of change in EverQuest II through the years. But I was also mulling over a column about the new Hero's Edge items that arrived on the Marketplace; something I had just speculated about in a recent column. There was also the news about upcoming crafting changes to talk about.

And then, suddenly everything gets put into perspective. Ribbitribbitt, the young EQII fan who had been battling cancer, passed away at the age of six. A couple of months ago, the EQII community got a request for assistance in building an in-game playground from his mother, and what followed was an unprecedented show of support. His mother, Myrose, passed along the sad news to the community this past week with a brief forum post, and the community mourned his loss.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll explore how Ribbitribbitt brought a community together, and look at the grieving process from losing an in-game friend.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: The passing of Ribbitribbitt

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: The passing of Ribbitribbitt originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playopinionribbitribbittsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 26 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdaily-grindeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-3everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-sequelsncsoftopinionsequelssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's GU63 tweaks crafting, adds hundreds of new items]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/everquest-iis-gu63-tweaks-crafting-adds-hundreds-of-new-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/everquest-iis-gu63-tweaks-crafting-adds-hundreds-of-new-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/everquest-iis-gu63-tweaks-crafting-adds-hundreds-of-new-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - armorsmith at the forge
If you've been slacking when it comes to keeping up with EverQuest II tradeskill news lately, the recent Game Update 63 (otherwise known as Skyshrine) featured quite a few noteworthy tweaks. Sony Online Entertainment has posted a dev interview detailing some of the larger changes, including the addition of several hundred new craftable items.

SOE's Brian "Omougi" Ferguson says that Carpenters and Alchemists got a lot of love during this patch, and combat-only players will be pleased to know that crafters can now make even more handy upgrades. There are two new consumables for each class archetype, and Ferguson is particularly fond of the tank versions which gives meatshields an additional 20% damage reduction for 12 seconds.

Full details are yours at the official EQII website.

MassivelyEverQuest II's GU63 tweaks crafting, adds hundreds of new items originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeq-2eq-iieq2eq2-craftingeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playnon-combat-gameplaysoesonysony-online-entertainmenttradeskillingtradeskillsyayMon, 21 May 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
What a week of livestreaming! We've got quite the variety and tons of hours of video to watch. What's that? You had to work and missed half of the cool streams we showed? Don't worry! I gather all of the best streams from the week's collection and list them for you right here. Still, you need to bookmark our livestream page so you can see which videos are going to be shown during the week, but if you miss any, you can check out the recap here. That's why we do it.

This week we had a lot to offer. First we had good old Mike jumping into EVE Online for some space action, then into TERA for some scantily clad combat! He then explores some of the great browser-based game Drakensang Online. MJ brought a ton of goodies to the streaming table, goodies like a run-through in EverQuest II, some base-jumping in City of Heroes, a bit of hardcore survival in Xsyon, and a flight around the beautiful lands of Aion. I rounded out the end by streaming some BatMUD, a cool MUD that has been around since many of you have been in diapers!

Click past the cut and grab some popcorn. Keep the butter light but add some salt. Thanks.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 12th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionBatMUDBigpointblueholebluehole-studiosbrowser-basedccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdrakensangdrakensang-onlineen-masseen-masse-entertainmenteq-2eq-iiEQ2eqiieveeve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedominternet-spaceshipslivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmudmv-tvmvtvnc-softncsoftnotoriousnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-studiospost-apocpost-apocalypticpvpround-uproundupsandboxsci-fantasysci-fiSOEsonySony-Online-Entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinestreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsuperherosuperheroesteratruly-freetwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosxsyonSun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-tattered-notebook-peeling-back-the-layers-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EQII flying
I was watching Shrek with my kids the other day, and one of my favorite scenes is Shrek's stroll with Donkey when they first meet. Shrek tries to explain how Ogres are like onions and how both have layers. When you think about it, EverQuest II is also like an onion because it has layer after layer of content and features that have stacked up over the years. In fact, some players have argued that there's almost too much to do, particularly at the lower levels.

I have always loved the fact that EverQuest II has been willing to try out new ideas over the years, and some of them have been remarkably successful. But there are a few that have gotten lost in the shuffle, while others have ended up directly conflicting with later additions of content. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll peel back the onion and look at the lost and conflicting layers of EQII.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Peeling back the layers of time originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundseqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiEQII-arenasEQII-creaturesEQII-dungeon-finderEQII-lfgEQII-mentoringeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkaren-bryanlevel-agnosticopinionscryingsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 19 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/leaderboard-everquest-iis-housing-vs-aions-housing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Leaderboard
Everyone loves player housing, right? Oh, quiet you in the back. Look into my eye: Everyone loves player housing. It is the number one most requested, demanded, and mandatory feature of every MMO. In terms of priority, "having monsters to kill in the game" is lower than giving us sweet pads to decorate. This is the way the virtual world should be and always has been.

Well, now that I've dipped into the well of delusion, it's time to emerge with my hair sopping wet and my mind open to the possibility of a player housing revival. With the advent of Aion's 3.0 update, players in this now-free-to-play game can move into a suburban dreamhouse and spend countless hours figuring out the exact decor to match the subtle majesty of the bathroom's toilet.

But is it enough to challenge the de facto leader of player housing, EverQuest II? Mountains of novels have been written on this game's housing system, novels that were then used to construct a giant book fort in the middle of the grand ballroom. Because that's just how flexible that system can be.

So pitted against each other in an interior design contest, which game would emerge triumphant? Cast your vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing

MassivelyLeaderboard: EverQuest II's housing vs. Aion's housing originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionbattle-royaldecoreq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playhousinginterior-decorationinterior-designleaderboardncsoftone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionplayer-housingpollpollssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttoilettruly-freeversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 14 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge
Whenever the Great MMO Housing debate rears its head, the "of course MMOs ought to have housing" players usually drown out the curmudgeons who lack decorating skills and prefer to live out of their banks and sleep on a bedroll on the public streets (you know who you are!). And then, inevitably, the housing fans turn on each other over which type of housing is best.

Some of us are resigned to the belief that, at best, themepark MMOs willing to take a stab at housing are forever going to implement the instanced variety a la EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online, so we may as well get used to it. But sandbox zealots (a term I'm intending affectionately) insist that housing must be open-world, that players should be able to walk up to their own unique spaces within a game and build their abodes from foundation to rooftop. Instanced housing, they say, is just pointless when other people can't easily see what you've created.

What do you think -- is MMO housing just a waste of dev resources if it isn't open-world?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihousehousinginstanced-housinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-worldopen-world-housingopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkMon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Woodland critters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/one-shots-woodland-critters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

One Shots
TERA isn't quite two weeks old, but it's already offering up some spectacular views. Kromic on the Dragonfall server paused while riding on his mount to take this shot. He writes in,
While doing some exploring on my trusty steed in TERA, I found a great view of the capital city Velika.
His screenshot is just after the cut, along with three more images of woodland critters doing their duty to spice up our MMO scenery.

Continue reading One Shots: Woodland critters

MassivelyOne Shots: Woodland critters originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertatitdblueholebluehole-studiosbring-back-one-shotsegenesisegypten-masseen-masse-entertainmenteq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhistoricalmythologyone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarasandboxscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttaletellingteratriontrion-worldsuser-submissionsSun, 13 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 5th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-5th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-5th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-5th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Previously On header image
Ah, early summer. The air outside is crisp and clear, filled with possibilities. And pollen, lots and lots of pollen. Let's all just avoid that mess and stay inside watching videos all day, huh? In fact, let's start with a series of really cool videos hosted by your favorite MMO site staff! Luckily for you, I have quite a few nice streams to show you this week. Last week's were good -- don't get me wrong -- but this week? This week will live on in your memory until the day you die.

We'll start with a bit of EVE Online and TERA gameplay hosted by Mike, then MJ takes over and shows us some EverQuest II, a chunk of Aion, and a batch of City of Heroes craziness. I square off things nice and neat with a visit to Glitch's new housing system. Be sure to bookmark our Livestream schedule page right here so you can follow what is happening in the world of Twitch.tv streaming each week.

Now click past the cut and get to viewing!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 5th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 5th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpcity-of-heroesEQ2eve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedglitchlivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmv-tvmvtvround-uproundupSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamteratiny-specktwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosSun, 13 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Learning from EQII's free-to-play model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-tattered-notebook-learning-from-eqiis-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-tattered-notebook-learning-from-eqiis-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-tattered-notebook-learning-from-eqiis-free-to-play-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EQII marketplace
What a long way EverQuest II's come! If you had said back in 2004 that the game would not only go free-to-play but have microtransactions and emerge largely intact, I probably would have run to get my pitchfork. But here we are in 2012, and EQII's website has a huge green button that says "Play Free" in big letters, with a long list of special deals on station cash and Marketplace items.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, I want to look back at the evolution of EQII to see how it successfully transitioned while gauging where it's headed down the road when it comes to its payment model. The official move to free-to-play might seem like the final hurdle, but I think we still have a few more around the bend.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Learning from EQII's free-to-play model

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Learning from EQII's free-to-play model originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playnimbynot-in-my-back-yardopinionreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsoesonysony-online-entertainmentstation-exchangetattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 12 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Reading the tea leaves of EQII's May update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EQII golem
The paint has barely dried on the Skyshrine Update, and already we're hearing tidbits about what's planned for this month. On Thursday, EverQuest II Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale announced a few highlights that players can expect to see in the May update. The monthly letters are always welcomed by players, and this one announces several changes that should shore up the foundation of the game even more. "More" and "new" are often used when it comes to update announcements, but if you heap too much on the very top, you need to go back and work through some of the older content and features to make sure they can support the burden.

Read on for a look at the highlights, which bring a welcome change to Dungeon Maker fans, add a new tool that should make testers happy, and hint at changes to bring about more "low-impact" gameplay.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Reading the tea leaves of EQII's May update

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Reading the tea leaves of EQII's May update originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agnostic-levelingdave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalekaren-bryanmay-updateopinionqeynos-revampsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookwindstalkerSat, 05 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II producer talks May updates, player-made dungeon tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/everquest-ii-producer-talks-may-updates-player-made-dungeon-twe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/everquest-ii-producer-talks-may-updates-player-made-dungeon-twe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/everquest-ii-producer-talks-may-updates-player-made-dungeon-twe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - Shadowknight epic
May is shaping up to be an interesting month for EverQuest II fans. Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale has given us a new blog entry that talks about new testing tools, NPC quest-update functionality, and of course, the usual optimizations and bug-fixing that follow any large game update.

Also of note is the upcoming ability to take your own avatars into the game's Dungeon Maker utility. Initially, content creators and fans could select only from pre-made avatars when running through player-made dungeon constructs. Last December, EQII devs introduced the ability to run player-generated content with players' own avatars, but the update wasn't quite ready for prime time. It still isn't, according to Longdale, but she does say that substantial progress has been made. Look for the new "level agnostic" gameplay on the test server soon, and look for more analysis of EQII's changes in tomorrow's Tattered Notebook.

MassivelyEverQuest II producer talks May updates, player-made dungeon tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-makereq-2eq-iieq2eq2-dungeon-makereq2-may-updateseqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playholly-longdaleplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-made-dungeonssoesonysony-online-entertainmentuser-generated-contentwindstalkerFri, 04 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: EQII's hidden gems for low-level explorers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-tattered-notebook-hidden-gems-for-low-level-explorers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-tattered-notebook-hidden-gems-for-low-level-explorers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-tattered-notebook-hidden-gems-for-low-level-explorers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Forest Ruins
One of the things I've enjoyed with the new EverQuest II update is how fun it is to get out there and explore the new zones. The Withered Lands has lots of nooks to check out, like the Holgresh caves up along the cliffs and the ruins just outside the Combine Foothold. As much as I like epic storylines and lofty challenges, sometimes it's fun to just mount up and scout out some really interesting locations.

GU63, however, really doesn't offer any new content for lower-level players, and it's hard for someone under level 90 to get around the Withered Lands and Skyshrine safely. But one of the reasons there's not much new content at the lower levels is that past updates have added in so much already that there's almost too much to see and do. Queue up the Bud Light music, for in today's Tattered Notebook, we salute you, Mr. Low-Level Player. You tirelessly work through the Golden Path, but you deserve some cool hunting spots and gorgeous vistas. Below the cut are some of my favorites!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EQII's hidden gems for low-level explorers

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: EQII's hidden gems for low-level explorers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiEQII-low-level-exploringeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfearfeaturedforest-ruinsfree-to-playisle-of-maralow-levellowbieopinionshard-of-fearsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookzekSat, 28 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On logo
So you accidentally missed your favorite MassivelyTV livestream featuring your favorite Massively personality or writer? Don't worry; we'll forgive you as long as you promise to bookmark our MassivelyTV guide and check back on this weekly recap. That way you are sure not to miss another stream, and you wouldn't need to come back to us, begging for a link. You could also follow Massively on Twitter, one of the best ways to be alerted to new things.

This week we featured a Tboo Thursday, one of our most popular livestreams, which stars resident APB: Reloaded expert Taryn. We also had some more World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria action from Richie, a bit of newbie content in EverQuest II with MJ at the helm, a quick introduction to skybox building in Second Life hosted by me, Mike's return to EVE Online in his shiny new Drake, and Adventure Mike's leap back into Final Fantasy XIV. Pretty exciting stuff if you're into giant rats, explosions, beautiful sunsets, and piles of bullets.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of April 14th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apb-reloadedbeau-hindmanBlizzardccpEQ2eve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playftpgamersfirstlinden-labLiveStreamLiveStreamingmassivelytvmists-of-pandariamj-guthriepreviously-on-mv-tvsecond-lifeSOESony-Online-EntertainmentSquare-Enixtwitchtwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: What to look forward to in GU63]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-to-look-forward-to-in-gu63/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-to-look-forward-to-in-gu63/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-to-look-forward-to-in-gu63/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Skyshrine from Withered Lands
So there I was, watching the server status on the EverQuest II official site on my mobile phone and seeing server after server start to go back online. Game Update 63 officially launched this week, and with it came the much-awaited return of the Skyshrine dragons. But this week happens to be spring vacation week, so as much as I was hoping to see things firsthand, I was out of town and offline as I enjoyed some surprisingly pleasant weather on the beach in New England and in downtown New York City.

Although I missed launch, I got a feel for some of the new content while it was on Test, plus I had a sneak peek with the recent EQII tour, so this week I'm going to digest what I saw, pretend that launch hasn't happened yet, and highlight a few things that I'm looking forward to seeing with the patch. If you're already dipping your toes into the content, think of me, face pressed against the glass as I watch helplessly, and see whether there's anything on my list that might be something you hope to see as well (but hopefully not long before I do!).

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: What to look forward to in GU63

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: What to look forward to in GU63 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerial-collectionsbillydragon-furnitureeqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-update-63GU-63lumpyopinionpoets-palace-dungeon-makersoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 21 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/soe-games-down-monday-for-24-hour-maintenance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SOE logo
We imagine that the word downtime makes Sony Online Entertainment employees cringe, convulse, and eye-twitch for hours on end after last summer's disastrous hacker-induced service outage. Happily, though, the next service interruption is planned, and we've got plenty of notice.

SOE will be performing maintenance this Monday, April 23rd, and the firm says that all of its game services will be unavailable for approximately 24 hours. The downtime starts at 3:01 a.m. EDT. Commerce transactions and account management functionality will also be affected, so you might as well cross all of your SOE-related plans off Monday's calendar.

MassivelySOE games down Monday for 24-hour maintenance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playhistoricalkid-friendlykidskids-mmommofpspiratespirates-of-the-burning-seaplanetsideplaystation-3playstation3potbspsps1ps3sandboxsci-fisoesoe-downtimesoe-maintenancesoe-planned-maintenancesoe-service-interruptionsonysony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroestelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgFri, 20 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The curious case of Vanguard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-soapbox-the-curious-case-of-vanguard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-soapbox-the-curious-case-of-vanguard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-soapbox-the-curious-case-of-vanguard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Vanguard - magic hour duo
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.

"Yaaay!"

"FU-- yeah!"

"Finally."

"WOW! This is the best MMO news I have heard in a long time!"

These are just a few of the comments that greeted our recent announcement of Vanguard's upcoming free-to-play conversion. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive, and Sony Online Entertainment's open-world fantasy themepark was lavished with praise by a wide cross-section of Massively readers. This makes me wonder where all these folks have been since the game's launch in early 2007. It's not like Vanguard shut down and is being resurrected, you know? More importantly, I wonder whether free-to-play can actually save the game from the scrap heap of shuttered SOE MMOs.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The curious case of Vanguard

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The curious case of Vanguard originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaideditorialeqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonthe-soapboxvanguardvanguard-f2pvanguard-free-to-playvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgTue, 17 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A land corrupted and a city under seige: A look at GU63 with the EQII team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-land-corrupted-and-a-city-under-seige-a-look-at-gu63-with-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-land-corrupted-and-a-city-under-seige-a-look-at-gu63-with-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-land-corrupted-and-a-city-under-seige-a-look-at-gu63-with-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lumpy
This coming Tuesday, EverQuest II will launch Game Update 63, and with it comes a bevy of dragons, new content, a level cap increase, and much more. Recently, EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale and Game Designer Carlos "Gninja" Mora took the time to talk about the update and lead a tour of the new zones. Read on for a closer look at the Withered Lands and Skyshrine!

Gallery: EverQuest II Game Update 63

Continue reading A land corrupted and a city under seige: A look at GU63 with the EQII team

MassivelyA land corrupted and a city under seige: A look at GU63 with the EQII team originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygame-update-63honvarinterviewinterviewskval-ruinslendiniarapoets-palace-dungeon-makerpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsskyshrinesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttradeskill-apprenticestrailertrailersvideovideosvyksudrawithered-landsyelinakSun, 15 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Withered Lands Giant
For those gamers who have been patiently waiting to hear about GU63, the past few weeks have been a treat. We've shown off a few trailers on Massively, the official site has hosted a couple of team interviews, and even the SOE Twitch TV channel has been focused on EverQuest II. In fact, the recent webcast was the second part of a featured series on the update, and this one took a closer look Skyshrine and also answered a few fan questions. EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale, Lead Designer Akil "Lyndro" Hooper, and SOE Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson sat down to preview what's coming to a server near you. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at the highlights and analyze what it means to both new players and old. Read on for the skinny!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperanimated-shieldsdave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiEQII-PvPeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalekaren-bryanmercenariesopinionqeynosQeynos-revampskyshrinesmokejumpersoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebooktradeskill-apprenticesSat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II screenshot
Because.

Remember back when this answer was lobbed at you as the definitive answer (often by moms tired of incessant "why"s or as a precursor to "I said so!")? But since I am not your mom -- and more importantly, the boss isn't about to pay me for a one word article -- let me elaborate, though, I warn you, you may regret it; once I get going I may not be able to stop! Seriously, they had to restrain me from taking over Why I Play. Obviously I broke free mwuahahahaha!

Simply put, I love EverQuest II. I log into it daily. Sometimes I don't leave for more hours than I am willing to admit. I can hum the guild hall music from memory. I have a list of things I want to do so long I can't possibly get it all done. All this after taking a multi-year break. Yes folks, I left the game for a long time -- a move I am still kicking myself for. But certain features pulled me back, and let me just say, I am so glad I came back.

So why do I play EQII? Where to begin...

Continue reading Why I Play: EverQuest II

MassivelyWhy I Play: EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-itemsappearance-slotsCollectionscreativitycustomizationdecoratingdungeon-makereditorialeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedflying-mountsfree-to-playhousingmassively-metamentoringmentoring-systemmetanostalgiaop-edopinionplayer-generated-contentshinysoesonysony-online-entertainmentwhy-i-playWed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of March 31st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-31st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

MVTV banner
What a week, huh? We had all sorts of great livestreaming for you to enjoy. If you missed some of the cool things we put on live during the week, no worry! Just check back here every week and you'll be able to recap many of the best moments from our week of live video games. Each week is something new, and this week is no different. We've got quite the variety!

This week, we have Mike jamming on some EVE Online and then jumping into RIFT for horrible magical adventures. Richie ventured into the Mists of Pandaria beta for World of Warcraft to show off cute, cuddly, and furry butts while wielding a weapon of destruction! I had to check out some of the good and bad points about Second Life's Linden Homes, free structures that come with any premium account; I also jumped into Luvinia Online to participate in a huge PvP event, and let me just give you two words to entice you to watch: giant chickens. Blake took some time to shoot things in Global Agenda, and finally, we had MJ taking on some Bristlebane quests in EverQuest II, following it up by attacking stuff all over Aion! Check us out!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of March 31st

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of March 31st originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbeau-hindmaneq-iieq2eve-onlineeverquest-iifeaturedglobal-agendalinden-labLiveStreamlivestreamingluvinia-onlinemassively-metamassively-tvmetamv-tvmvtvpreviously-on-mv-tvriftsecond-lifeSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtriontwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSun, 08 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bunnies at church
Whether you're an Easter traditionalist or you simply need an excuse to eat a chocolate bunny, it's that time of year again. It's also time for a few of our favorite MMO devs to don their silly hats and introduce all manner of egg hunts and contests into games like RuneScape, Runes of Magic, and World of Warcraft.

That's just the tip of the Easter event iceberg; you'll find several more festively inclined titles in our roundup after the cut. Before you hop on over, have a look at the two bunnies above and repeat after us: d'awww.

Continue reading Massively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition

MassivelyMassively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoactivisionanetarenanetatlanticaatlantica-onlineblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmodragon-nesteastereaster-2012easter-eventseaster-roundupeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieventseverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-warsgwholiday-roundupin-game-eventsjagexjagex-games-studioncsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentnexon-korearomrounduprsrunes-of-magicrunescaperunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxscarlet-legacysoesonysony-online-entertainmenttaboreatactical-mmovindictuswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: The great big news roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-tattered-notebook-the-great-big-news-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-tattered-notebook-the-great-big-news-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-tattered-notebook-the-great-big-news-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

skyshrine
One thing you just can't say about EverQuest II is that there's a lack of news coming from the game. In fact, there's been so much going on both in game and out that this week's Tattered Notebook is devoted to a great big roundup. We'll look at developer remarks on Skyshrine, tweaks to the AA curve, some nice in-game promotions, and a brief commentary about the ProSiebenSat.1 deal. There's a lot to cover, so let's get to it!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: The great big news roundup

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: The great big news roundup originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkanderkaren-bryanopinionprosiebensat.1skyshrinesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 07 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: A scenic tour of the Withered Lands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-tattered-notebook-a-scenic-tour-of-the-withered-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-tattered-notebook-a-scenic-tour-of-the-withered-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/the-tattered-notebook-a-scenic-tour-of-the-withered-lands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Withered Lands
As we get closer to April 17th, more and more is being revealed about what's in EverQuest II's Game Update 63. Fortunately, much of it is on the test server, so players can pop in, check things out, and not have to worry about an NDA. I decided to head over, and since I already had a character test copied to the server, I was able to get in and see the new zones and some of the new additions to the game. Read on for highlights of my journeys through the Withered Lands and Skyshrine!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: A scenic tour of the Withered Lands

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: A scenic tour of the Withered Lands originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhonvar-the-earthcrasherkaren-bryanopinionprestige-levelsprestige-pointsskyshrinesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookwithered-landsSat, 31 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EverQuest II video shows off the city of Skyshrine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/new-everquest-ii-video-shows-off-the-city-of-skyshrine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/new-everquest-ii-video-shows-off-the-city-of-skyshrine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/new-everquest-ii-video-shows-off-the-city-of-skyshrine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - would love some Skyshrine assets SOE, kthxbai
Ready for an EverQuest II info dump related to next month's Skyshrine update? Sony Online Entertainment has just released a new behind-the-scenes video featuring senior artist Tad Ehrlich, and he's got plenty to share about the new Skyshrine courtyard zone.

The update continues the game's Destiny of Velious storyline, and prospective players can get a sneak peek at "the glorious ancient dragon city" in the clip we've got for you after the cut. Ehrlich shows off several of the zone's huge districts, and it's a good thing his avatar is moving at the dev equivalent of ludicrous speed because the new area is enormous.

EQII's Game Update 63, featuring the city of Skyshrine, will be yours for the adventuring on April 17th.

[Source: SOE press release]

Continue reading New EverQuest II video shows off the city of Skyshrine

MassivelyNew EverQuest II video shows off the city of Skyshrine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dragonseq-2eq-iieq2eq2-skyshrineeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-update-63skyshrinesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttad-ehrlichvideozonesMon, 26 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: New details on Game Update 63]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-tattered-notebook-new-details-on-game-update-63/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-tattered-notebook-new-details-on-game-update-63/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-tattered-notebook-new-details-on-game-update-63/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EverQuest II
As Massively reported this week, EverQuest II Game Update 63 is inching closer to going live, and it's bringing some exciting changes. There are new zones, instances, quests, and lots of dragons on the way. For old Velious fans, the return of Skyshrine will be a welcome sight, although there's new danger and turmoil both inside the city as well as through the land that surrounds it. We're beginning to get more specifics on what is included in this update, and this week's Tattered Notebook offers a rundown of what's revealed so far.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: New details on Game Update 63

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: New details on Game Update 63 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-update-63karen-bryanopinionpatchpatchespreviewpreviewsribbitribbitskyshrinesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookwithered-landsSat, 24 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Nobody's hero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Heroes (which would make an awful MMO, btw)
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.

We're not heroes, at least in the ubiquitous Hollywood sense. We're teachers and janitors and businessmen, and we may occasionally be heroic in the eyes of our kids or our colleagues, but rarely are we celebrated beyond a tiny circle of family and friends.

Games can meet this emotional need, at least temporarily, and that's a major reason they've become such a booming business over the last couple of decades. We get to be Kratos for a couple of hours, or fem-Shepard or a thousand other pixelized pariahs -- until we set foot in an MMORPG, that is.

Software companies sell pre-packaged heroism in ways that book publishers and filmmakers can only dream of, and it doesn't really matter that it's fake heroism or impersonal heroism crafted on an assembly line and shipped out to millions of consumers. Shouldn't it matter, though, when it comes to MMORPGs?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Nobody's hero

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Nobody's hero originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lillipad Jungle EQII
Every now and then, we hear stories that transcend gaming and prove that there's something more to our pixelated worlds than uber loot and leveling up. Last week, the Guk server (which I proudly have called my home server for the past several years) rallied together to bring some cheer to a young boy with terminal cancer and to his loving family. I first heard of this story last week while I was at GDC, and although I wasn't able to attend the event, I caught up with one of the organizers this week to hear about this incredible effort. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at the story of Ribbitribbit and how his mother's call for help with decorating brought on a wave of support from the amazing EverQuest II community.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: The touching story of Ribbitribbit and the EQII community

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: The touching story of Ribbitribbit and the EQII community originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityeqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygukkaren-bryanlillipad-jungleopinionribbitribbitscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentsylestiatattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 17 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terrazas talks EverQuest F2P launch and anniversary celebration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/terrazas-talks-everquest-f2p-launch-and-anniversary-celebration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/terrazas-talks-everquest-f2p-launch-and-anniversary-celebration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/terrazas-talks-everquest-f2p-launch-and-anniversary-celebration/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

everquest
March is definitely roaring in like a lion for EverQuest. It's launching its new free-to-play program, and it's also celebrating its 13th anniversary with a big bash in game. With all of the changes, players are sure to have more than a few questions about the free-to-play transition and the state of the game today. We recently sat down with SOE Producer Thom Terrazas at a roundtable to answer those questions, so read on for details on the new free-to-play plan as well as the Hero's Journey, revamped maps, birthday celebrations, and the announcement of a brand-new server!

Gallery: EverQuest Free-to-play and 13th anniversary

Continue reading Terrazas talks EverQuest F2P launch and anniversary celebration

MassivelyTerrazas talks EverQuest F2P launch and anniversary celebration originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieq-revamped-mapseq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-13th-birthdayeverquest-2everquest-anniversaryeverquest-free-to-playeverquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryheros-journeyinterviewinterviewspreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentthom-terrazastrailertrailersvideovideosvox-serverFri, 16 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Skyshrine's the limit: EverQuest II delivering new update April 17th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-skyshrines-the-limit-everquest-ii-delivering-new-update-ap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-skyshrines-the-limit-everquest-ii-delivering-new-update-ap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-skyshrines-the-limit-everquest-ii-delivering-new-update-ap/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EverQuest II
It wouldn't be EverQuest II without a dragon or two, and come April 17th, players will be able to bask in as much flamebreath as they can handle. It's on this date that SOE will release the much-anticipated Game Update 63, and with it, the dragon city of Skyshrine and the new area of the Withered Lands.

Skyshrine is a dragon citadel where good and evil dragons dwell, and as of the update's release, it will be coming under siege by mysterious forces. Only the most daring players will be brave enough to explore the nooks and crannies of this city -- and plunder it for its tempting treasure. If Skyshrine isn't enough for excitement, the Withered Lands offer plenty of challenges (over 100 quests) for those who can navigate the formerly glorious region that's been twisted by dark corruption.

Game Update 63 will also include many additional features for players. For those who have the Destiny of Velious expansion, the level cap will be raised to 92, the Skyshrine and Withered Lands areas opened for adventuring, prestige class talents added, and an awesome Drake mount dangled as a major reward. Age of Discovery expansion holders can also get their hands on a new dungeon maker theme and adventurers, tradeskill apprentices, and an elite mercenary for hire.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelyThe Skyshrine's the limit: EverQuest II delivering new update April 17th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-discoverycontent-updatedestiny-of-veliouseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-updategame-update-63gu-63gu63patchskyshrineskyshrine-citadelsoesonysony-online-entertainmentupdatewithered-landsTue, 13 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: The Tattered Notebook attends Brasse's community panel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-tattered-notebook-soes-brasse-talks-community-at-gdc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-tattered-notebook-soes-brasse-talks-community-at-gdc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-tattered-notebook-soes-brasse-talks-community-at-gdc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

holy grail
What do dwarves and Monty Python have in common? They both feature prominently in Linda "The Brasse" Carlson's GDC 2012 talk about the front lines of the SOE community relations team. Given the recent roller coaster ride of the ProSiebenSat.1 deal and the turmoil on the forums that followed, I found it interesting to hear what it's like to be a member of the community management folks as they try to handle being in the middle of it all. While her talk was mainly aimed at community managers in other games, there were a few tidbits that players would probably find interesting and maybe even surprising. Read on for the highlights!

Continue reading GDC 2012: The Tattered Notebook attends Brasse's community panel

MassivelyGDC 2012: The Tattered Notebook attends Brasse's community panel originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brassecarlsoncommunity-managementconconferenceconventiondominoemily-domino-tayloremily-tayloreqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012karen-bryanlinda-brasse-carlsonlinda-carlsonmonty-pythonopinionprosiebensat.1smedleaksmedleakssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 10 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online
In her sandbox column a week or so ago, Massively's own MJ Guthrie brought up an MMO feature that's fallen by the wayside in recent years: player-written books. Ancient sandboxes like Ultima Online and modern classics like EverQuest II give players the ability to write their own books, which then populate player-run libraries, serve as tavern menus, explain quests, and mark the memory of friends who left the game. Later games, however, have sadly passed over the mechanic.

I can't say that player-written anythings have no potential for abuse and inanity. There's a guild in UO, for example, that uses books as advertising spam, and the game's designers were forced to implement a system to lock-in text to circumvent the "Dudebro was here" graffiti that miscreants would otherwise inscribe on other players' masterpieces. But the potential for cool outweighs the potential for abuse for me, and I miss writing and reading in-game books so very much.

What about you -- do you miss player-written books in MMOs? Or do you think they're a niche idea that was retired from MMO design with good cause?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookbooksbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-britishmj-guthriemythicmythic-entertainmentopinionplayer-written-bookplayer-written-bookssandboxsandparksoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoSat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: In like a lion, out like a dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-tattered-notebook-in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-tattered-notebook-in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-tattered-notebook-in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EQII wurm
With the recent drama surrounding the ProSiebenSat.1 deal last week, EverQuest II's March arrived with all of the fury as those storms that have been pounding much of the United States in recent days. But there's been a steady stream of news that signals a much smoother month is on the way.

For the second week in a row, it's what's going on outside of the game rather than in-game that's topping the headlines, and The Tattered Notebook is ready for the roundup! From poll results to pathing to hints about Game Update 63, we'll look at the highlights below the cut.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: In like a lion, out like a dragon

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: In like a lion, out like a dragon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brew-daychronoportal-eventseqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-update-63karen-bryanopinionsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookveliousSat, 03 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
Creativity. It is expressed in so many ways in so many mediums. Art, literature, architecture, music, performance... I love it all, conventional and unconventional. Heck, I revel in it! Why do you think my work and recreation include gaming?

Wait, gaming?! You betcha!

Beyond the artistry of the developers, MMORPGs offer outlets for player creativity in a variety of ways. I am not ashamed to admit that the primary reason I delve into MMORPGs is not for the gameplay but to explore and experience the creative expression of others (and to express some of my own as well). In fact, finding and sharing that very creativity by championing and highlighting player-generated content is precisely what Some Assembly Required is about.

Between (or in lieu of) the hacking, the slashing, and the plundering, players seize proffered tools in myriad virtual realms to build works of art, pen masterpieces, construct edifices, compose melodies, and take the stage, all within the pixeled confines of a virtual world. Unfortunately, not all games have adequate tools for such creative expression. While inspired players can make do if they must, having supporting features exponentially enhances a game (and positively affects retention). Thankfully, some games provide a few standard-setting features that -- in my opinion -- should be included in every game on the market. Here are six of those must-have features.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-slotsbookbookscreativitydecoratingdungeon-makeremotesEQ2EverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedgame-mechanicshousingopinionperformancepgcplayer-booksplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingplayer-written-booksquest-builderroleplayRolePlayingrpsandboxsarSOEsome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesswgterraformingvanguardwritingxsyonxsyon-preludeFri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EQII producer teases March update info, promises more communication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EverQuest II
New EverQuest II Producer Holly Longdale has completed her maiden voyage around the good ship S.S. SOE, completing her first month of reviews and meetings as future plans are laid out. Now that she's gotten her feet wet, Longdale wrote a short letter to the community about the general activities and focus of the team.

The March update -- centered around the Velious storyline -- is coming along, and the team will be unloading tons of information in the near future. Longdale reports that it's not just new content that the EQII crew is concerned about, as bug fixing and refining features are a major priority for the team's engineers. Players irritated with the quest feather graphic issue will be happy to know that it's high up on the priority list.

Longdale also let players know that she's paying attention to "big hot-button issues" with the game and is trying her best not to overlook anything. She wraps up her post sharing the meaning behind her dev name, Windstalker, and promising that she'll be corresponding with the community frequently from here on out.

MassivelyEQII producer teases March update info, promises more communication originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugdev-diaryeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifixHolly-Longdalelettermarch-updateproducers-lettersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentveliousWindstalkerTue, 28 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE president John Smedley announces that all players will be able to play on any server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/soe-president-john-smedley-announces-that-all-players-will-be-ab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/soe-president-john-smedley-announces-that-all-players-will-be-ab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/soe-president-john-smedley-announces-that-all-players-will-be-ab/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I can't handle this emotional rollercoaster, SOE.
It's no secret that Sony Online Entertainment has been in more than a little hot water in the wake of the recently announced region locks that were to be put in place following the studio's deal with ProSiebenSat.1, but there may still be a silver lining on the horizon. SOE president John Smedley tweeted earlier today that the studio has "come up with a plan to allow ALL players to play on any servers they want." While details are still to come, this should be incredibly welcome news for players of SOE titles who weren't looking forward to playing without their international friends.

Smedley promises us that there are "more details to follow," so stay tuned and hopefully we'll have some idea of what's in the works before too long.

MassivelySOE president John Smedley announces that all players will be able to play on any server originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayaculturedramadrama-llamaeq2everquesteverquest-iifiascogaming-cultureindustryjohn-smedleymmo-culturemmo-industryplanetsideplanetside-2prosiebensat.1region-lockregion-lockssoesoe-prosiebensat.1sony-online-entertainmentMon, 27 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Breaking up the family]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-tattered-notebook-breaking-up-the-family/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-tattered-notebook-breaking-up-the-family/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-tattered-notebook-breaking-up-the-family/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

soe

This is the cartoon that launched a thousand posts. Well, maybe not a thousand, but it created tension on the forums and resulted in a temporary ban for popular community figure Morgan Feldon. With this week's news about the ProSiebenSat.1/Alaplaya deal, SOE fans were up in arms, and EverQuest II was at the epicenter of the protest. There were concerns ranging from account security to quality of player support, but the biggest concern was the fact that there would be a barrier between U.S. and European players going forward.

I've written before about how tight-knit the community is in EQII, and that's probably why you saw some of the strongest protests originate on the EQII forums. That closeness extends to the EQII development team as well. I've been to a couple of Fan Faires and was surprised at how accessible the team always made itself. Combine that with a core community of longstanding, loyal players, and you basically have one big family. So when fans were hit with the second big news story of the week, the departure of Associate Producer Emily "Domino" Taylor, players reacted as if a friend or family member had moved out of the home. What do these two news stories have in common, and what can they tell us about EverQuest II?

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Breaking up the family

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Breaking up the family originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayadominoemily-tayloreqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieuropeeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkaren-bryanmorgan-feldonopinionprosiebensat.1smedleysoesony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 25 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE responds to ProSiebenSat.1 fiasco, says it's not a done deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/soe-responds-to-prosiebensat-1-fiasco-says-its-not-a-done-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/soe-responds-to-prosiebensat-1-fiasco-says-its-not-a-done-deal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/soe-responds-to-prosiebensat-1-fiasco-says-its-not-a-done-deal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sony Online Entertainment has finally responded to the ProSiebenSat.1 brouhaha. Director of Global Community Relations Linda "Brasse" Carlson gave frustrated fans a faint glimmer of hope with a forum post last night that basically said the controversial deal isn't quite a done deal.

In a nutshell, SOE plans to divide its long-time gaming community by region, with European player accounts handed off to ProSiebenSat.1 and Alaplaya. The announcement sent shockwaves through the EverQuest II community, as many guilds and sub-communities feature players from both sides of the Atlantic.

The forced transfer of player accounts and personal information from SOE to Alaplaya also raised eyebrows, as some in the player community voiced concerns over security and convenience since Alaplaya reserves the right to delete inactive accounts after 90 days and has been accused of publishing real names on past-due accounts (the company has denied the latter).

SOE's forums have been on fire over the past two days, with dozens of bans handed down by moderators (including one to noted community leader Morgan Feldon of EQ2Wire). Feldon's fansite is the place to go for info about the ongoing drama; it provides a wealth of opinion on why the proposed deal sucks for players as well as a collection of community reactions. Aside from Brasse's post, SOE has been silent about the deal, which comes on the heels of the firm's generating quite a bit of fan goodwill by reversing its decision to shelve the Mac version of EverQuest.

MassivelySOE responds to ProSiebenSat.1 fiasco, says it's not a done deal originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayadramaeq2eq2wireeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playprosiebensat.1region-lockingregion-lockssoesoe-prosiebensat.1Sony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 23 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Go behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EverQuest II - Lumpy the dragon in production
Behind-the-scenes videos are quite a lot of fun, and we're pleased to bring you the latest such from Sony Online Entertainment and the EverQuest II dev team. The new clip gives us a peek at the birth of Lumpy the dragon. For all intents and purposes, Lumpy is EQII's first low-rider dragon, since the rest of the game's drakes are sinewy, towering masses of muscle and scale.

Senior character artist Steve Merghart describes Lumpy as "low to the ground and stocky," and the video clip shows us everything from initial concept sketches to the various stages of poly modeling, painting, and animation that make up the finished product. Have a look-see after the cut.

[Source: SOE press release]

Continue reading Go behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon

MassivelyGo behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimatorsartcharacter-arteq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifantasylumpylumpy-the-dragonmodelingpaintingsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsteve-merghartvideoWed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST