Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Pox Nora is the coolest online card game you've never heard of]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-pox-nora-is-the-coolest-online-card-game-you-ve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-pox-nora-is-the-coolest-online-card-game-you-ve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-pox-nora-is-the-coolest-online-card-game-you-ve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Pox Nora
Pox Nora is a game that's hard to categorize. It's like Hearthstone, you see, because it's an online card game. But it's also like Civilization because it uses turn-based combat on a variety of maps with terrain that affects the battle. And maybe it's like Minecraft as well because it was built by a tiny team and developed incrementally through the feedback of a passionate fan base.

Pox Nora was free-to-play before free-to-play was a thing. It's gone from tiny little indie to SOE-backed product and back again. And through its eight years, it's managed to fly quietly under the radar while its developers continually churn out content, implement community ideas, and expand its possibilities.

At PAX South over the weekend, I sat down with Arthur Griffith, CEO of Desert Owl Games and co-creator of Pox Nora, to learn more about the game and its latest content additions.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Pox Nora is the coolest online card game you've never heard of

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Pox Nora is the coolest online card game you've never heard of originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arthur-griffithconconventiondesert-owl-gameseventevent-coverageeventsexpof2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhalf-featurehands-oninterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemicrotransactionmicrotransactionspaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expopox-norapoxnorapremiumturn-basedMon, 26 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Moonrise and State of Decay shine at the Undead Labs booth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-moonrise-and-state-of-decay-shine-at-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-moonrise-and-state-of-decay-shine-at-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/pax-south-2015-moonrise-and-state-of-decay-shine-at-the-undead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Undead Labs
Most media appointments at an event like PAX South 2015 work like this: You meet the person you're supposed to meet, that person shows you the game her studio is working on, and then you rush off to the next booth on your list while cursing yourself for not scheduling time for a snack. Undead Labs handled my PAX appointment a bit differently, sitting me down for back-to-back play sessions with brand-new tablet game Moonrise and a remastered version of State of Decay, the zombie survival game that put the studio on the map.

It was a little jarring to go from adorable pet battles to being torn in half by a zombie, but the two-for-one session provided a nice glimpse of where Undead Labs has been and where it intends to go.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Moonrise and State of Decay shine at the Undead Labs booth

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Moonrise and State of Decay shine at the Undead Labs booth originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidconconsoleconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpof2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhalf-featurehands-oninterviewinterviewsioskindle-firemassively-event-coveragemicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobilemoonrisepaxpax-2014pax-2015pax-primepax-prime-2014pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expopokemonpremiumstate-of-decaysteamundead-labsxboxxbox-oneMon, 26 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX South 2015: Slaying giants in Motiga's Gigantic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-slaying-giants-in-motiga-s-gigantic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-slaying-giants-in-motiga-s-gigantic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/25/pax-south-2015-slaying-giants-in-motiga-s-gigantic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gigantic
Motiga's Gigantic is one part Team Fortress, one part Dota, and one part Monster Hunter. The basic match structure will sound familiar to MOBA lovers -- two teams of five slug it out for superiority by controlling resources, leveling up, and killing one another -- but the skill-based mechanics, multiple maps, and shifting strategy priorities make the game more than a three-lane farm fest. Gigantic isn't about last-hitting or memorizing meta. Instead, it's about slaying giants and aiming true.

I hopped in on a quick Gigantic match with some other press folks this afternoon at PAX South 2015, and in the midst of delivering an absolute drubbing to the scrubs (kidding!) on the other side of the table, I was able to get a feel for the game's combat system, characters, and the way its massive guardians change the way battles play out.

Continue reading PAX South 2015: Slaying giants in Motiga's Gigantic

MassivelyPAX South 2015: Slaying giants in Motiga's Gigantic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testalpha-testingbetaconconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpof2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgame-mechanicsgigantichalf-featurehands-onmassively-event-coveragemicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobamotigamovementnew-titlespaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expoplay-mechanicspremiumtestingtrailertrailersvideovideosSun, 25 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: A bit of TERA sightseeing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/choose-my-adventure-a-bit-of-tera-sightseeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/choose-my-adventure-a-bit-of-tera-sightseeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/choose-my-adventure-a-bit-of-tera-sightseeing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TERA
There's no question that TERA is one of the most beautiful MMOs on the market. Its open world features gorgeous terrain, cool set pieces, and lots of variation for the screenshot-obsessed. So when Choose My Adventure's voters elected to send me exploring last week, I was more than happy to oblige. I wouldn't accomplish much Fate of Arun stuff, but at least I'd get to see some sights!

I also, somehow, learned a bit more about the Warrior class and how to effectively deploy it in combat. It's been a long, hard crawl, but I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of my combo abilities and my evasion techniques. I'm definitely dying less and even occasionally having moments when I feel totally in control of the actions my character is taking and the reasoning behind them. I almost feel... good.

Until the next BAM smacks me down, of course.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: A bit of TERA sightseeing

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: A bit of TERA sightseeing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfate-of-arunfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choiceteravotevotingWed, 21 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Questing into TERA's Fate of Arun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/the-stream-team-questing-into-teras-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/the-stream-team-questing-into-teras-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/the-stream-team-questing-into-teras-fate-of-arun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

TERA
TERA's Fate of Arun expansion is the topic of this month's Choose My Adventure, and Massively's Mike Foster has a reader-created level 60 Castanic warrior all set to go. Join Mike as he explores the first bits of Fate of Arun's content and presumably fumbles his way through the basics of playing one of TERA's most dynamic classes. The action starts at 6:00 p.m. EST.

Game: TERA
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, January 15th, 2015
Time: 6:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Questing into TERA's Fate of Arun

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Questing into TERA's Fate of Arun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfate-of-arunfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choicestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamterathe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosvotevotingThu, 15 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Air travel is not very safe in TERA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/choose-my-adventure-air-travel-is-not-very-safe-in-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/choose-my-adventure-air-travel-is-not-very-safe-in-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/14/choose-my-adventure-air-travel-is-not-very-safe-in-tera/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TERA
Massively multiplayer online games are collections of interlocking systems. A character's skills allow her to interact with the world, interacting with the world gives her experience points, experience points give her levels, levels give her skills, and so on. Inventory, items, professions, quests, and social interactions are also systems, layered on top of the core combat and gameplay mechanics.
When you have mastery over an MMO, you don't just have mastery over skill rotations; you have mastery over all of the systems underneath. By the time a normal person hits 60 in En Masse's TERA, for example, that person can probably tell the difference between good gear and bad gear, organize a character's inventory, and use the game's menus. This is the stuff you take for granted when you've been playing an MMO for weeks, months, or years.

Leaping into expansion content with a near-max-level character but little core game experience is, thus, not very smart. But I did it anyway, charging into TERA's Fate of Arun with a brand-new-yet-level-60 Castanic Warrior for Choose My Adventure.

It went okay.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Air travel is not very safe in TERA

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Air travel is not very safe in TERA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-ass-monstersblueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfate-of-arunfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choiceteravotevotingWed, 14 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Ramping up for TERA's Fate of Arun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/the-stream-team-ramping-up-for-teras-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/the-stream-team-ramping-up-for-teras-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/the-stream-team-ramping-up-for-teras-fate-of-arun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

TERA
Choose My Adventure is headed into TERA's Fate of Arun expansion, and tonight, Massively's Mike Foster is shaking off the cobwebs by logging in to his old character and tanking whatever he can tank. Next week marks the start of his expansion adventure; tonight's all about remembering what buttons do what. Polls are still live if you want to vote on which type of character Mike will end up with for this month!

Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EST to catch all the action.

Game: TERA
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, January 8th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Ramping up for TERA's Fate of Arun

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Ramping up for TERA's Fate of Arun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfate-of-arunfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choicestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamterathe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosvotevotingThu, 08 Jan 2015 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: TERA's Fate of Arun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/choose-my-adventure-tera-s-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/choose-my-adventure-tera-s-fate-of-arun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/choose-my-adventure-tera-s-fate-of-arun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

TERA
As was mentioned many times during our end-of-year awards and the comments surrounding them, 2014 was a much better year for adding to existing properties than releasing new ones. Some of the biggest launches of the year came in the form of expansions like Rift's Nightmare Tide, Star Trek Online's Delta Rising, and Star Wars: The Old Republic's Shadow of Revan. Choose My Adventure even took the expansion route last month by investigating World of Warcraft's Warlords of Draenor.

En Masse's TERA, too, received a huge update in 2014, though it launched with significantly less fanfare than some of the other major expansions of the year. Fate of Arun introduced new zones, added new dungeons, and raised the level cap (as expansions are wont to do). It also brought a new game mode in The Coliseum, a PvP/PvE hybrid arena-type thing. Perhaps most notably when compared to the other expansions of 2014, Fate of Arun is free to all TERA players.

Since TERA so often flies under the radar with MMO fans, I thought it might be fun to dedicate this month's CMA to Fate of Arun. So get ready because it's time to start slaying some big-ass monsters.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: TERA's Fate of Arun

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: TERA's Fate of Arun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfate-of-arunfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choiceteravotevotingWed, 07 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soloing through SWTOR's Shadow of Revan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/soloing-through-swtors-shadow-of-revan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/soloing-through-swtors-shadow-of-revan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/05/soloing-through-swtors-shadow-of-revan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Impressions of soloing through SWTOR: Shadow of Revan
Some people question how you can be a solo player in an MMO. To be honest, I, too, question how someone can do the whole game solo, but I do understand the desire to experience the game at your own pace. I believe the creators of Star Wars: The Old Republic understand this, too. Game director James Ohlen said that the biggest thing players wanted was the continuation of Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2. Although part of the SWTOR story did continue the Revan and Exile stories, a lot of players haven't even touched on that storyline.

In a multiplayer game, it's hard sometimes to experience the story solo with all the group-only material. However, Shadow of Revan creates an amazing opportunity for the solo MMO player to really experience the full story it has to offer.

Fair warning: I will not spoil major plot points for the expansion, but I will reveal some key characters in order to talk you through this leveling experience.

Continue reading Soloing through SWTOR's Shadow of Revan

MassivelySoloing through SWTOR's Shadow of Revan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlucasartsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpremiumsci-fishadow-of-revansolo-contentsolo-flashpointssolo-levelingstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 05 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Battlefields open in Sevencore's first expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/battlefields-open-in-sevencores-first-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/battlefields-open-in-sevencores-first-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/30/battlefields-open-in-sevencores-first-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Battlefields opening in Sevencore's first expansion
Sevencore may have just enjoyed its global launch at the beginning of this month, but there's already an expansion just around the corner. On December 2nd, Webzen will release Occupation War for the English server Balmung. This expansion includes the battlefields Tillau and Crimson Plateau, where players can earn victory points (VP) to spend on weapons, armor, random boxes, and even mounts from the PvP vendors.

Each Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EST, one guild will compete against the others for control a certain area. Winners of this contest will be able to collect taxes and manage prices in regional goods as well as access the Presidential election for Inadar.

[Source: Webzen press release]

MassivelyBattlefields open in Sevencore's first expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsexpansionf2pfree-to-playfreemiummicrotransactionmicrotransactionspremiumpvpSevencorewebzenSun, 30 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Swordsman with a little help from Perfect World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/30/the-stream-team-swordsman-with-a-little-help-from-perfect-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/30/the-stream-team-swordsman-with-a-little-help-from-perfect-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/30/the-stream-team-swordsman-with-a-little-help-from-perfect-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
Massively's Mike Foster has concluded his October Swordsman Choose My Adventure and can think of no better way to go out than in a blaze of incompetent glory. Join Mike tonight as he hops onto a max-level Swordsman character and runs some late-game instances. The Swordsman team will be in-stream to answer viewer questions and presumably sigh in frustration at Mike's inability to understand his new skills.

The action starts at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Game: Swordsman
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, October 30th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Swordsman with a little help from Perfect World

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Swordsman with a little help from Perfect World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Swordsman
I've spent quite a bit of time in Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman this month. Thanks to the unique layout of October 2014, Swordsman ended up getting an extra week compared to most Choose My Adventure endeavors. And while I'm ready to move on to the next game, it was nice to have some extended time with Swordsman before sending it to that magic hard drive in the sky. Sometimes a few extra days can give you time to see things in a game you didn't see before.

Swordsman is definitely a game that grows on you. The experience continually improves. If you're willing to stick through the slow opening and limited early experience, there's a pretty interesting game waiting to be discovered.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Closing off our time in Swordsman

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Closing off our time in Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmartial-artsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choiceswordsmanswordsman-onlinevotevotingwuxiaWed, 29 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Dungeoning in Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-stream-team-dungeoning-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-stream-team-dungeoning-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/the-stream-team-dungeoning-in-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
According to Perfect World, the real meat of Swordsman is to be found in its dungeon content (and its PvP). Join Massively's Mike Foster tonight as he continues his Choose My Adventure exploration of Swordsman by queuing up for some mid-level instances and seeing where his whips take him. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. EDT -- assuming, of course, that the instance gods show Mike some pity and give him a group.

Game: Swordsman
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Friday, October 24th
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Dungeoning in Swordsman

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Dungeoning in Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmartial-artsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choicestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamswordsmanswordsman-onlinethe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosvotevotingwuxiaFri, 24 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The once and future Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/choose-my-adventure-the-once-and-future-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/choose-my-adventure-the-once-and-future-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/choose-my-adventure-the-once-and-future-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
For the last three weeks, I've been whipping and kicking every bad guy I can find in Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman in the hopes of understanding this peculiar wuxia MMORPG. My Choose My Adventure experience thus far has been mixed; I've enjoyed Swordsman's theme and setting, but its mechanics and hard-to-follow narrative have made the experience a touch less manageable. Swordsman from 1-30 seems at best like an extended tutorial and at worst like a game that plays itself.

That's not just my opinion. All of the feedback I can find on the game seems to point in one direction: Swordsman's early levels aren't the main attraction. The real Swordsman exists in PvP (unlocked at level 30), guild quests (unlocked at level 35), and instances (unlocked at 15 -- not bad). Last week's combat discipline discovery at 25 further cemented the idea that Swordsman is a game designed to reward players who stick through the initial grind.

I didn't have much time to play this last week, but I did get a chance to sit down with PWE product manager Gabrielle Heiland to talk about Swordsman's first expansion, the future of the game, and how Perfect World feels about the game's current "wait and see" design.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The once and future Swordsman

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The once and future Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgabrielle-heilandgilded-wastelandhands-onmartial-artsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choiceswordsmanswordsman-onlineWed, 22 Oct 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Sightseeing in Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/the-stream-team-sightseeing-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/the-stream-team-sightseeing-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/the-stream-team-sightseeing-in-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

PWE
Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman offers quite a few interesting locales to visit, complete with temples, rickety bridges, and practicing martial artists. Tune in tonight as Massively's Mike Foster takes a laid-back tour of some of Swordsman's zones and checks out each of its martial arts school headquarters.

The wandering begins at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Game: Swordsman
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Wednesday, October 15th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Sightseeing in Swordsman

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Sightseeing in Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2014 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmartial-artsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-enWed, 15 Oct 2014 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Clicking around in Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/choose-my-adventure-clicking-around-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/choose-my-adventure-clicking-around-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/15/choose-my-adventure-clicking-around-in-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
Three weeks into our Choose My Adventure adventure, I'm not sure what to make of Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman. The game boasts a deep literary pedigree and markets itself on its wuxia themes and combat-oriented design. It has a rich, beautiful world that is dripping with powerful design cues and historical influences. Like all PWE games, it is slick and easy to pick up and play.

Swordsman is a well-made MMORPG. It is mechanically sound and conceptually solid. So why am I so bored?

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Clicking around in Swordsman

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Clicking around in Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmartial-artsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choiceswordsmanswordsman-onlineWed, 15 Oct 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: SWTOR because Star Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/the-stream-team-swtor-because-star-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/the-stream-team-swtor-because-star-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/10/the-stream-team-swtor-because-star-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SWTOR
Massively's Mike Foster is a tremendous Star Wars geek who for some reason just realized that there is an MMO where he can swing lightsabers and listen to NPCs talk about Jedi/Sith relations for hours on end. Join Mike as he experiences Star Wars: The Old Republic from a new player's perspective and nerd out with him about Han Solo's demise, Boba Fett's survival, and Darth Vader's floating glove.

The action starts at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Bring your own Wookiee.

Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Friday, October 10th
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: SWTOR because Star Wars

MassivelyThe Stream Team: SWTOR because Star Wars originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamslucasartsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvpremiumsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamswtorthe-old-republicthe-stream-teamtortwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosFri, 10 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Swordsman's Five Venoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/the-stream-team-swordsmans-five-venoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/the-stream-team-swordsmans-five-venoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/the-stream-team-swordsmans-five-venoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
Swordsman is this month's Choose My Adventure game and Massively's Mike Foster is ready to spend his evening whipping bad guys and poisoning their friends with his Five Venoms character. Poll voters wanted to see the female-only martial arts school in action, so tonight's the night. Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EDT to check out Perfect World Entertainment's latest free-to-play juggernaut and to see if Mike can make any sense out of its Mandarin voice acting.

Game: Swordsman
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Wednesday, October 8th
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Swordsman's Five Venoms

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Swordsman's Five Venoms originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmartial-artsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choicestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamswordsmanswordsman-onlinethe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosvotevotingwuxiaWed, 08 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Cracking whips in Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/choose-my-adventure-cracking-whips-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/choose-my-adventure-cracking-whips-in-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/08/choose-my-adventure-cracking-whips-in-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
In last week's Choose My Adventure poll, I asked two simple questions of the Massively community: Which gender should our character be in Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman, and what path should that character take among the game's 10 available schools of combat? The result was a resounding win for the female-character-exclusive Five Venoms school (probably because whips) and for the creation of a female character.

Since the polls closed on Saturday, I've created our character and spent a little time with Swordsman's intro sequence, tutorial missions, and the earliest chapters of its main storyline. I've whipped a bunch of dudes, summoned giant frogs, and set a few horses on fire. And while it's early yet to declare Swordsman a success, failure, or mediocre in-betweener, thus far I would describe the experience as decidedly mixed.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Cracking whips in Swordsman

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Cracking whips in Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmartial-artsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choiceswordsmanswordsman-onlinevotevotingwuxiaWed, 08 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: CMA Live with Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/the-stream-team-cma-live-with-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/the-stream-team-cma-live-with-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/02/the-stream-team-cma-live-with-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman has been officially outed as October's Choose My Adventure title, and Massively's Mike Foster is ready to jump in with his fists flying. Tune in at 7:00 p.m. to get an idea of how Swordsman sets up its story, what options the character creator offers new players, and what the game's action combat looks like in motion.

As an added bonus, there will definitely be at least one quest centered on drinking wine.

Game: Swordsman
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, October 2nd, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: CMA Live with Swordsman

MassivelyThe Stream Team: CMA Live with Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmartial-artsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choicestreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamswordsmanswordsman-onlinethe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosvotevotingwuxiaThu, 02 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Dota 2's 6.82 madness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/the-stream-team-dota-2s-6-82-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/the-stream-team-dota-2s-6-82-madness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/the-stream-team-dota-2s-6-82-madness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dota 2
The last few months in Dota 2 have come with a sense of stagnation. The professional and high-tier play meta, on display most prominently in this year's $11 million International championship, was in a rut. Something had to change before players grew bored or frustrated with facing the same three or four team strategies. Last week, Valve delivered an earthquake of a content patch, providing a ridiculously huge update that changed items, heroes, abilities, game modes, core mechanics, and even the map itself. For the next few months, pros and casuals alike must sift through the wreckage and try to re-optimize how they play.

Tune in tonight as Massively's Mike Foster takes one of Dota's newly-reworked heroes for a spin and tries to make sense of the post-6.82 carnage. The action begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Game: Dota 2
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Wednesday, October 1st, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Dota 2's 6.82 madness

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Dota 2's 6.82 madness originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6.82defense-of-the-ancientsdotadota-2f2pfree-to-playfreemiumlivestreammicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobapatchpatchespremiumsteamstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamvalvevideovideosWed, 01 Oct 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The proud wanderers of Swordsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/choose-my-adventure-the-proud-wanderers-of-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/choose-my-adventure-the-proud-wanderers-of-swordsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/01/choose-my-adventure-the-proud-wanderers-of-swordsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Swordsman
Since commandeering Choose My Adventure in August, I've been on something of a sci-fi rampage. First we took a second look at a post-release Firefall; then we spaced out with a beta build of Frontier's Elite: Dangerous. And while spaceships and rocket boots are certainly wonderful things, Choose My Adventure is as much about investigating new worlds and new genres as it is about checking out new games. Thus, it's time to leave the world of science fiction behind in search of something a bit more classical.

This month, we're adventuring into Imperial China -- as far from deployable sentry guns and pulse lasers as possible -- with Perfect World Entertainment's Swordsman.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The proud wanderers of Swordsman

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The proud wanderers of Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachoose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmartial-artsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspremiumpwereaders-choiceswordsmanswordsman-onlinevotevotingwuxiaWed, 01 Oct 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Custom decks with HEX: Shards of Fate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/the-stream-team-custom-decks-with-hex-shards-of-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/the-stream-team-custom-decks-with-hex-shards-of-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/19/the-stream-team-custom-decks-with-hex-shards-of-fate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

HEX: Shards of Fate
In last week's stream of Cryptozoic's HEX: Shards of Fate, Massively's Mike Foster opened 20-ish booster packs and used the cards he discovered to build a haphazard custom deck. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time left in the stream to actually hop into a live match with another player. In tonight's stream, Mike will take his probably terrible deck into the wild and see how it fares against a real-life HEX opponent.

Card-slinging begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Game: HEX: Shards of Fate
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Friday, September 19th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Custom decks with HEX: Shards of Fate

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Custom decks with HEX: Shards of Fate originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingccgCollectible-Card-Gamecryptozoiccryptozoic-entertainmentcryptozoic-studiosf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onhexinterviewlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactimicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvpremiumstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosFri, 19 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bruce Lee comes to Conquer Online... sort of]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/bruce-lee-comes-to-conquer-online-sort-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/bruce-lee-comes-to-conquer-online-sort-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/bruce-lee-comes-to-conquer-online-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

conquer online
Conquer Online is co-opting one of martial arts cinema's greatest stars to be a playable character in its game.

The team announced that it is bringing in a Bruce Lee "tribute" character called Lee-Long in a future update. "Many companies have put him in games to salute him, but there was no one putting his elements into an MMORPG," said the team. "As a popular oriental fantasy MMORPG in North America, and with the elements of martial arts and the Dragon combined, Conquer Online has the responsibility to create a character to show our respect to Bruce Lee."

The creation of Lee-Long took a full year of work and involved motion capture and close examination of Bruce Lee's films. Bruce Lee died in 1973, but has remained a pop culture icon ever since. The team is being coy about the connection between Bruce Lee and Lee-Long, but said "more details" about be given soon. You can watch a making of video for Lee-Long after the break.

[Source: 99.com press release]

Continue reading Bruce Lee comes to Conquer Online... sort of

MassivelyBruce Lee comes to Conquer Online... sort of originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Sep 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>99.combruce-leeCOconquer-onlineeventsf2pfree-to-playfreemiumlee-longmartial-artsmartial-arts-mmomicrotransactionmicrotransactionsNetDragonpremiumPvPtq-digitalvideoThu, 18 Sep 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's ArcheAge launch diary: Day six - P2W and the early verdict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/massivelys-archeage-launch-diary-day-six-p2w-and-the-early-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/massivelys-archeage-launch-diary-day-six-p2w-and-the-early-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/18/massivelys-archeage-launch-diary-day-six-p2w-and-the-early-v/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is ArcheAge pay-to-win? That's a question I've been asked several times in recent days. Before I answer it, let's get something out of the way up front. And by "out of the way," I mean that this is the most important part of the article and needs to be emphasized in the intro.

Pay-to-win is 100% subjective.

There is no scientific or universally accepted definition of pay-to-win. Some things in this life are absolutes. Pay-to-win is not one of them.

Continue reading Massively's ArcheAge launch diary: Day six - P2W and the early verdict

MassivelyMassively's ArcheAge launch diary: Day six - P2W and the early verdict originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheagearcheage-cash-shoparcheage-launch-diaryarcheage-pay-to-winbusiness-modelscash-shopf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlaunchlaunch-daylaunchesmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmo-traveloguep2wpay-2-winpay-to-winpremiumpvpsandboxsandparktriontrion-worldsxl-gamesxlgamesThu, 18 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Getting decked in HEX: Shards of Fate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/the-stream-team-getting-decked-in-hex-shards-of-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/the-stream-team-getting-decked-in-hex-shards-of-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/12/the-stream-team-getting-decked-in-hex-shards-of-fate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HEX: Shards of Fate
HEX: Shards of Fate is an all-new (well, maybe) online trading card game that raised over $2 million on Kickstarter in 2013 and just recently entered closed beta. Tonight, Massively's Mike Foster will leap into HEX to see how it feels compared to its most high-profile competitor, and to take a thorough lashing from players who are much better at playing card games than he.

Join Mike at 7:00 p.m. EDT to catch a glimpse of HEX in action.

Game: HEX: Shards of Fate
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Friday, September 12th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Getting decked in HEX: Shards of Fate

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Getting decked in HEX: Shards of Fate originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingccgCollectible-Card-Gamecryptozoiccryptozoic-entertainmentcryptozoic-studiosf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onhexinterviewlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmotcgmv-tvmvtvonline-tcgpremiumstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamtcgtestingthe-stream-teamtrading-card-gametrailertrailerstwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosFri, 12 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ragnarok Online 2 shutting down in Southeast Asia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/ragnarok-online-2-shutting-down-in-southeast-asia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/ragnarok-online-2-shutting-down-in-southeast-asia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/11/ragnarok-online-2-shutting-down-in-southeast-asia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ro2
Ragnarok Online 2 isn't exactly taking the world by storm as of late. Following the title's closure in Korea last year, Ragnarok Online 2 is closing its doors in Singapore and Malaysia on October 9th. There is a pretty bright spot to this story, however, as Asiasoft's version of the game will accept account transfers from affected players.

"Following the opening of Ragnarok 2's Odin Server to Philippine players last month, we are thrilled to be continuing the global expansion of Warpportal's Ragnarok Online 2 by welcoming all players from Southeast Asia regions!" Asiasoft posted.

Southeast Asian players will not be able to access their characters until October 9th, and none of their Kafra Points will make the leap over to the new server.

MassivelyRagnarok Online 2 shutting down in Southeast Asia originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiasoftasiasoft-onlinecancellationclosureeuropef2pfantasyfree-to-playfreemiumgravitygravity-europekorealaunchlaunchesmalaysiamicrotransactionnorth-koreapromotionragnarok-2ragnarok-onlineragnarok-online-2ragnarok-online-iiro2singaporesouth-koreasoutheast-asiasunsetWarpportalThu, 11 Sep 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Getting spacey with Elite: Dangerous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/the-stream-team-getting-spacey-with-elite-dangerous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/the-stream-team-getting-spacey-with-elite-dangerous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/04/the-stream-team-getting-spacey-with-elite-dangerous/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elite Dangerous
What happens when you take a space sim rookie, strap him into a starship, and tell him he's free to explore the stars as he pleases? Join Massively's Mike Foster as he discovers the answer to just that question in the current beta build of Elite: Dangerous. Elite, built by Frontier Developments and funded by the crowd, is the subject of this month's Choose My Adventure, and there's no better way to start our journey than by broadcasting our maiden voyage for all to see.

The death parade beings at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Game: Elite: Dangerous
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, September 4th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Getting spacey with Elite: Dangerous

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Getting spacey with Elite: Dangerous originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingchoose-my-adventurecmadangerousdavid-brabeneliteelite-dangerousf2pfree-to-playfreemiumfrontierfrontier-developmentshands-oninternet-spaceshipkickstarterlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmv-tvmvtvopinionpremiumsandboxsci-fispacespaceshipsstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamtestingthe-stream-teamtrailertrailerstwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosThu, 04 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: It's lonely out in Elite: Dangerous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/choose-my-adventure-it-s-lonely-out-in-elite-dangerous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/choose-my-adventure-it-s-lonely-out-in-elite-dangerous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/03/choose-my-adventure-it-s-lonely-out-in-elite-dangerous/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elite: Dangerous
In 1990, hurtling across the edge of our solar system at around 40,000 miles per hour, NASA's Voyager 1 space probe performed a quick rotation and snapped a parting photograph of the planet on which it had been conceived, built, and launched. The resulting image, known as the Pale Blue Dot photo, features a tiny Earth surrounded on all sides by an infinite blackness. It was this image, transmitted a distance of 3.7 billion miles at the speed of light, that inspired Carl Sagan to write, "There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world."

In other words, space is big. Really big. And it is into this great unknown, this unimaginable void wrapped in darkness and silence, that Choose My Adventure now boldly goes via Elite: Dangerous, a crowdfunded space simulator (no, not that crowdfunded space simulator) from Frontier Developments. With 55 star systems and 38,000 cubic light-years of space to explore, Elite's Beta 1 release should offer us plenty of freedom to sate our interstellar cravings and to thrive or die as an independent pilot.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: It's lonely out in Elite: Dangerous

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: It's lonely out in Elite: Dangerous originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingchoose-my-adventurecmadangerousdavid-brabeneliteelite-dangerousf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumfrontierfrontier-developmentshands-oninternet-spaceshipkickstartermicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpollpollspremiumreaders-choicesandboxsci-fispacespaceshipstestingvotevotingWed, 03 Sep 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Seeking chaos with Dota 2's ability draft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/02/the-stream-team-seeking-chaos-with-dota-2s-ability-draft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/02/the-stream-team-seeking-chaos-with-dota-2s-ability-draft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/02/the-stream-team-seeking-chaos-with-dota-2s-ability-draft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Dota 2 Ability Draft
One of the most important steps in mastering a MOBA like Dota 2 is developing a deep understanding of every hero's skills. When you know what a hero can and cannot do, you can play effectively both as that hero and against him/her. But what happens when you take hero abilities, stick them in a blender, and force players to fight using whatever skills they can grab? Ability Draft, that's what.

Join Massively's Mike Foster at 7:00 p.m. EDT as he investigates Dota 2's Ability Draft mode (by viewer request!), where skills are picked up à la carte and chaos reigns supreme. He may win, or he may lose, but in Ability Draft, it's more about the journey than the destination.

Game: Dota 2
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Seeking chaos with Dota 2's ability draft

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Seeking chaos with Dota 2's ability draft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ability-draftdefense-of-the-ancientsdotadota-2f2pfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmobamv-tvmvtvpremiumpubsteamstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtrailertrailerstwitchtwitch-tvvalvevideovideosTue, 02 Sep 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Firefall as it stands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/choose-my-adventure-firefall-as-it-stands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/choose-my-adventure-firefall-as-it-stands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/27/choose-my-adventure-firefall-as-it-stands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Firefall
As I noted in the first week of this month's truncated Choose My Adventure, Firefall is finally an honest to goodness real-life video game. The extended extended beta is over, the launch trailer has released, and the game has been cut loose into the world. One might argue that Red 5 is now officially out of excuses; if something isn't satisfactory in Firefall, it must be unsatisfactory by design. We have stepped beyond the point where "it's a beta" is a fair explanation of the game's rougher edges.

Because what we're dealing with is theoretically intended to be a full retail product, it's not useful to talk about what Firefall used to be, nor is it useful to speculate on what Firefall might become. The only honest evaluation of the game, if evaluation is the goal, must center on the current iteration of the product, the one that Red 5 considered complete enough to release as the finished version of its vision. Is Firefall, in its current state, worth playing? Does it offer enough content to keep players engaged? Is it finally delivering on the promise we have glimpsed in its systems?

For the first time since my initial encounter with the game in early 2013, I'd say the answer is yes.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Firefall as it stands

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Firefall as it stands originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfirefallfpsfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmo-shooteropinionpollpollspremiumpvpreaders-choicered-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterthird-person-shootervotevotingwarWed, 27 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Firefall's farewell]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/26/the-stream-team-firefalls-farewell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/26/the-stream-team-firefalls-farewell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/26/the-stream-team-firefalls-farewell/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Firefall
Massively's Mike Foster is prepping for one last go-round with Firefall, the subject of this month's Choose My Adventure. According to the results from last week's poll, readers are hoping to catch a glimpse of Firefall's newly-implemented campaign in action. So, with guns blazing and rocket boots flaming, Mike steps once more unto the breach. Join him live at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Game: Firefall
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Firefall's farewell

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Firefall's farewell originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red 5's Firefall
If there's one thing you can say about Firefall, it's that there's never a shortage of things to shoot. Join Massively's Mike Foster as he continues his adventures in Firefall by exploring the world, checking our ARES jobs, and shooting everything silly enough to come within his field of vision. There's only one week left of Choose My Adventure for Firefall, so now's the time to come along for the jet boot-powered ride. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Game: Firefall
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Shooting all the things in Firefall

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Shooting all the things in Firefall originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefall's rocket boots in action.
Firefall's second Choose My Adventure is in full swing, and Massively's Mike Foster is leaping headlong into the game's recently added campaign to see if Red 5 has finally delivered the epic experience it has been promising players since 2012. Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EDT to catch a glimpse of Firefall's PvE content; if you're interested in grouping up, Mike's Firefall character is named GiantButt, which he swears came from the random name generator.

Game: Firefall
Host: Mike Foster
Date: Thursday, August 21st, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Exploring Firefall's campaign

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Exploring Firefall's campaign originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfirefallfpsfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmo-shootermv-tvmvtvpremiumpvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterstreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamthird-person-shootertrailertrailerstwitchtwitch-tvvideovideoswarThu, 21 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The distraught wives of Firefall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/20/choose-my-adventure-the-distraught-wives-of-firefall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/20/choose-my-adventure-the-distraught-wives-of-firefall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/20/choose-my-adventure-the-distraught-wives-of-firefall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

"There is no problem in this world a gun can't solve." These words, to my knowledge, are never explicitly stated in Firefall. There's no wise-in-his-grizzledness war veteran to rub his stubbled chin, frown into the distance, and impart such wisdom upon the player. But make no mistake, Firefall's world is one in which most tough situations are resolved with the thunderclap of gunfire. In Firefall's New Eden, violence really is the answer.

In last week's Choose My Adventure column, I asked you to help guide my path through this dangerous world, to give my character an identity, a role to play, and a purpose to fulfill. Votes were cast; suggestions were made. I've since created a new character and blasted my way through the re-re-re-re-designed tutorial/opening experience. And while I am, as always, having a wonderful time, I still can't get over my one recurring Fireball criticism: I'm shooting a lots of stuff but I don't care or know why.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The distraught wives of Firefall

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The distraught wives of Firefall originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfeaturedfirefallfpsfree-to-playfreemiumhands-onmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsmmo-shooteropinionpollpollspremiumpvpreaders-choicered-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterthird-person-shootervotevotingwarWed, 20 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Firefall is finally a real game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/13/choose-my-adventure-firefall-is-finally-a-real-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/13/choose-my-adventure-firefall-is-finally-a-real-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/13/choose-my-adventure-firefall-is-finally-a-real-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Forgive me, Massively readers, for I have sinned. It has been six months since my last Choose My Adventure. Luckily, absolution is readily available via a 50-pound desktop computer, a mostly stable internet connection powered by one of the most hated companies in the United States, and three or four Hail Proudmoores. In summary: I have stared into the face of an eternal offline purgatory, clenched my teeth, and growled, "Not today."

No, today I'm going to play Firefall. And you're coming with me.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Firefall is finally a real game

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Firefall is finally a real game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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aura kingdom
Aura Kingdom has been playable for some time now, but if you're one of those digital platform snobs who refuses to play anything that's not offered, you've previously been out of luck. This has all changed this week, as Aura Kingdom passed the Steam Greenlight process and has become available through the platform.

Aeria Games CEO Pascal Zuta hopes that this will give the anime MMO a good boost: "Having a game launch on Steam is a sign of trust in the quality of the game and the service we provide. We are very excited to now be able to offer Aura Kingdom to a wider audience through the Steam platform."

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

MassivelyAura Kingdom lands on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamesanimeAura-Kingdomf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreemiumin-game-eventsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopen-betapremiumreleasesteamsteam-greenlightvalveSun, 06 Jul 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's first impressions of Black Gold Online's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/31/massivelys-first-impressions-of-black-gold-onlines-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/31/massivelys-first-impressions-of-black-gold-onlines-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/31/massivelys-first-impressions-of-black-gold-onlines-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Do you prefer a steampunk or fantasy flavor in your MMO? With Black Gold Online you don't have to choose! And for those who vehemently dislike one or the other, you're welcome to express that distaste on the battlefield; Snail Games' upcoming free-to-play game features realm versus realm warfare that pits machine against magic. With these two different genres represented, the game looks to please a broader spectrum of players than the traditional single-genre titles that populate the MMOverse. The question is, will it succeed?

Even though we've perused available news and watched a variety of videos about everything from the various classes and different races to action combat to guild vs. guild systems, nothing beats getting into the MMO and experiencing it for yourself. Closed beta for Black Gold Online began mid-May, so I jumped in to get a taste of what awaits players when the game hits open beta this summer. What I found is that while the game excels in some areas, it comes up short in others. Here's a run-down of my first impressions.

Continue reading Massively's first impressions of Black Gold Online's beta

MassivelyMassively's first impressions of Black Gold Online's beta originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aura Kingdom
Aura Kingdom is set to get a major update this Thursday called The Dark Legion, and Massively has the first look at the patch.

Dark Legion, Aura Kingdom's fifth content update, contains a wide array of new content with an emphasis on high-level adventures. The update will add two new level 60-plus zones: the alliterative Vulture's Vale and Blizzard Berg. Also coming are login bonuses, the Kaiser Zeta eidolon, the level-65 Landing of the Sky Dragon King dungeon, better rewards, improvements to the weapons and partner systems.

You can check out the Kaiser Zeta teaser video after the break!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Aura Kingdom's Dark Legion content update

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Aura Kingdom's Dark Legion content update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eldevin
It's a big week for Eldevin, as the indie MMO got greenlit on Steam this past week.

Hunted Cow thanked the community for voting on the title and said that it's working on getting the downladable version of the game prepped for Steam: "We've got some work to do to get it ready for release on Steam (implement Steam achievements and integrate it with Steam accounts etc.) but we'll keep you updated on the progress."

Eldevin won Massively's Frindie Award for Best Browser Game in 2013.

MassivelyEldevin gets thumbs-up from Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 May 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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