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Latest Heroes of the Storm blog post details heroes, mounts, and more

MJ Guthrie — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, News Items, Dev Diaries, MOBA

Want more information on Blizzard's upcoming MOBA Heroes of the Storm while waiting for your technical alpha invite? The latest blog post dishes details on the availability of heroes, a try-before-you-buy feature, leveling, earning in-game currency, acquiring new skins, and mounts. Every player starts with a basic horse mount. For the free-to-play crowd, five heroes will be available to play each week, with the list rotating every Tuesday. Players can buy other heroes at any time using cash or with in-game gold that is earned after reaching level 5. Various skins with tint slots can also be bought. For more info or to apply for alpha, check out the official site.

We've got the video first look of the alpha after the break.

Continue reading Latest Heroes of the Storm blog post details heroes, mounts, and more

Latest Heroes of the Storm blog post details heroes, mounts, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: How LotRO explores what it means to be a hero

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

Developers, journalists, and bloggers alike have spent gobs of time chewing on the concept of heroism in MMOs: what makes us heroes, how these games can be tailored to make us feel heroic, whether games should force us to be heroes, and whether heroism is a desirable trait for a gamer. What we can agree on is that, if nothing else, the term has been so widely used and abused that we don't even think about the fact that "hero" is often used synonymously with the term "player character." It's just accepted that we're all heroes in MMOs as a base characteristic.

But am I a hero? At the start of an MMO, no, I am not. I am a blank slate. My character has no backstory inside of the game, no accolades under her belt, and no past adventures in which she showed herself to be anything out of the ordinary. That's another thing about heroes, apparently: They can't be ordinary. They have to become uber-elite and save the world, preferably on a weekly basis by beating something to death with an axe or immolating it with a fireball spell.

Lord of the Rings Online and its dev team may not be innocent of trying to shove us into the roles of heroes and play to that allegedly universal fantasy, but what I do appreciate is that this game has made me truly consider what it is to be a hero and how most MMOs get it wrong.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: How LotRO explores what it means to be a hero

The Road to Mordor: How LotRO explores what it means to be a hero originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars

Brendan Drain — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, Business Models, Events (Real-World), Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, PvP, Endgame, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Consoles, Casual, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, Sandbox, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Star Citizen, Path of Exile

Several new experimental game modes are on their way to League of Legends, starting with the interesting One For All mode that gives every player the same champion. Valve defended its decision to silently cancel Dota 2's Diretide event but has agreed to release the event as part of a huge upcoming gameplay update. And Heroes of Newerth has now released its chaotic new Rift Wars game mode that spawns players with a completely random set of abilities.

New details on Diablo III's upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion were revealed this week at BlizzCon 2013, including an Adventure Mode that makes the endgame a lot more like classic Diablo II. The expansion will also introduce the Nephalem Rift mode that creates randomised game maps for farming loot, and a hilarious console feature that sends deadly monsters to kill people on your friends list. Path of Exile will soon be coming to Asian regions thanks to a new partnership with Asian publisher Garena Online. And Star Citizen announced its plans to support AMD's proprietary Mantle graphics API, an alternative to OpenGL and Direct3D that's optimised for Radeon graphics cards.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars

Not So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prime World introduces two witchy heroes with new videos

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA

Just in time for Halloween, Prime World has introduced two new heroes to the MOBA that fit right into the witching-hour theme: Witch and Moira. While both ride a broom and are accompanied by an iconic black cat familiar, the two couldn't have more different beginnings; Witch had a life of privilege in a castle, whereas Moira had it rough from day one in a small Andornian village.

How do these two enchantresses play? Watch these two gameplay videos for a look at each hero's various talents and skills in battle and to glean some hints and tips for playing these newest additions.

[Source: Prime World press release]

Continue reading Prime World introduces two witchy heroes with new videos

Prime World introduces two witchy heroes with new videos originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel Heroes makes it easier to earn new superheroes

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game Mechanics, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes, Dev Diaries

While it's always been possible to gain new superheroes in Marvel Heroes via loot drops, Gazillion CEO David Brevik says that the current system is less than ideal. "The best loot should be challenging to acquire," he writes, "but we don't want players to be overly frustrated with the process of acquiring heroes."

To address this, Gazillion is preparing to scrap the current hero token drops and institute Eternity Splinters instead. Splinters are a new type of currency that will drop from mobs more frequently than hero tokens did and can be saved up to purchase the hero of the player's choice. They'll also be used to purchase ultimate power upgrades and hero respecs.

Brevik says that the team is committed to adding new heroes to the game so that players will always have something new to earn. He also posted a FAQ regarding the upcoming system for those who have specific questions.

Marvel Heroes makes it easier to earn new superheroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMITE unveils Hun Batz, the new monkey god

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA

The most recent SMITE patch did not add a new god so much as it monkeyed around with an existing one. Sun Wukong has been removed from the game for the time being and replaced with the Mayan monkey god Hun Batz. While Hun Batz has a similar overall set of abilities, he's undergone some tweaks, so even veteran Sun Wukong players will still have to take the simian out for a stroll to understand how he works.

Hun Batz features several abilities to close range and deal area damage, while his passive ability ensures that each strike after an ability is more vicious. He also inherits any skins owned by players for Sun Wukong, so you don't need to go bananas over lost cash. Whether you were a big Sun Wukong fan or are just happy to get that monkey off your back, you can try out Hun Batz now with the latest patch.

[Source: Hi-Rez Studios press release]

Continue reading SMITE unveils Hun Batz, the new monkey god

SMITE unveils Hun Batz, the new monkey god originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythic developers discuss the swan song of Wrath of Heroes

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA

Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is shutting down near the end of the month, but it turns out that the developers have a few last hurrahs for the game. A recent fansite interview sheds some light on the new heroes that are coming out during the game's final month of operation, with 17-18 heroes being fast-tracked for release. The game's main currency, Gold, will be able to purchase everything in the cash shop including Gold Boost items, intentionally creating plenty of money for players to enjoy the last bits of the game.

What's not coming? Most anything else that was in development, including some heroes that the developers just didn't have enough time to finish. There were also Scenarios in development that aren't close enough to completed to be functional; while pushing out heroes quickly is a priority, a half-finished Scenario is fun for no one. Fans looking for fine details on exactly which traditional Warhammer factions will be represented in the last month can look at the full interview.

Mythic developers discuss the swan song of Wrath of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content

Brendan Drain — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Culture, Game Mechanics, Lore, New Titles, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, Sandbox, Crafting, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Crowdfunding

Path of Exile released several patches this week, adding new map types and fixing a number of bugs. Developers also revealed that the schedule for upcoming open beta content additions will begin with the next patch. Diablo III released patch 1.0.7 this week, adding a new dueling mechanic to the game and a brand-new endgame farming task based around collecting Demonic Essence to craft powerful account-bound gear. The patch also included some much-needed buffs for popular Wizard and Monk abilities.

SMITE revealed its new ranged crowd-control god Neith this week; she manipulates invisible magical weaves to empower her attacks. And Dota 2 released classic hero Tusk, who can roll himself and his team into a giant snowball of death. League of Legends announced a series of buffs for Nasus, Akali, and Riven in a new Patch Preview video, in addition to changes to items with the cooldown reduction stat.

Heroes of Newerth's patch 3.0.2 fixed an exploit with the Insanitarius item, while competitive team Trademark eSports secured its fourth win in the Diamond division of the HoN Tour league. Finally, Star Citizen continued to break gaming crowdfunding records this week as its total funds raised passed the $8,000,000 US mark.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content

Not So Massively: Diablo III launches patch 1.0.7, Path of Exile gets new content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Open betas, antisocial players and graphical overhauls

Brendan Drain — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, Game Mechanics, Launches, New Titles, Patches, Previews, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Path of Exile entered open beta this week as a peak of 56,700 simultaneous players piled into the servers to check the game out. Open beta brought with it the final character wipe, so for all intents and purposes, the game has now released. Upcoming first-person MOBA SMITE similarly opened its doors to the public last Thursday and released a series of new gameplay updates and graphical overhauls.

League of Legends issued permanent game bans to two extremely antisocial professional players, effectively removing Team Solo Mebdi from upcoming European competitive tournaments. Dota 2 moved to curb antisocial harassment behaviour this week by implementing new privacy features to stop players' stats from being tracked by third-party rating websites.

Heroes of Newerth announced some major upcoming graphical and gameplay overhauls with its massive Patch 3.0 update that will go live in just a few days. The update aims to revamp the map graphics and introduce bots for players to play against in a new co-op mode. Rise of Immortals continued development with the release of its new mage immortal Undine, and Blizzard announced that its upcoming MOBA Blizzard All-Stars is still in development.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Open betas, antisocial players and graphical overhauls

Not So Massively: Open betas, antisocial players and graphical overhauls originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: One of us is going down

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

You and your group of roleplaying companions need something new to do. You've grown tired of sitting around talking about problems in the outside world or engaging in a non-stop soap opera drama wherein someone is always sleeping with someone else inappropriately. By complete coincidence, you and your companions all appear to be heavily armed and armored, leading to an excellent suggestion -- you should go out and get involved in a conflict! A fracas of some kind! What a concept!

Sarcasm aside, long-running conflicts are a lot of fun when handled right. While I've talked about them in brief before, today I want to look at a handful of common conflict types and offer some tips about how to run them without tears. If you think drama can spill over into OOC channels when it's just a matter of pretend romances being spurned, you don't even want to know what happens when the knives come out.

Continue reading Storyboard: One of us is going down

Storyboard: One of us is going down originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMITE rolls out a video for Ares

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA

Interested in the deities of SMITE? You'll be quite happy to know that the game has put out a new video revealing one of the game's many heroes. In a stunning move that should shock nearly no one, one of the heroes available for play in this game of warring gods is Ares, the Greek god of war. And while almost any student of mythology could give you a brief rundown of who Ares represents (people who like war), the video goes into depth about Ares' abilities and combat roles.

Ares in SMITE is meant as a melee magical tank. His abilities allow him to chain other gods for continual damage and increased movement speed, bolster the defenses of himself and nearby allies, and breathes fire from his shield to cut down high-health targets. At the apex of his power, Ares can pull several enemies together to him while dealing extensive damage. Take a look past the cut to see a full rundown of his skills as well as some demonstrations of their tactical execution.

Continue reading SMITE rolls out a video for Ares

SMITE rolls out a video for Ares originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Too many MOBA heroes, D3's legendaries revealed

Brendan Drain — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, Classes, Contests, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Have you ever thought that MOBAs release far too many new heroes and champions? This week Riot Games revealed not one but two new champions coming to League of Legends: stealthy assassin Rengar and telekinetic mage Syndra. Heroes of Newerth released its brand-new Core Pool game mode that lowers the MOBA learning curve by limiting the playing pool to just 40 available heroes. The game also switched from a two-week hero release schedule to a four-week schedule as there are already well over 100 heroes to choose from.

Valve announced its new free Dota 2 Spectator Client, which that aims to get all Steam users interested in the game's upcoming competitive tournaments. Upcoming MOBA SMITE revealed its latest character, the adorable little cherub Cupid, God of Love. Blacklight: Retribution's $1,000 US per day 30 Days of Fight contest has officially begun, and its new Siege game mode is now live.

Diablo III announced many of the changes coming in its upcoming patch 1.0.4 this week, including details of upgraded legendary items and a whole series of buffs for every single class. Finally, Path of Exile updated players on the game's current development progress this week, revealing that over a million US dollars had been secured in pre-purchase supporter packs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Too many MOBA heroes, D3's legendaries revealed

Not So Massively: Too many MOBA heroes, D3's legendaries revealed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Game Mechanics, Opinion, MMO Blender

I like superheroes. So I'm not unhappy at the presence of several superheroic MMOs, but I am unhappy at how the games handle heroes. I think there's space for a game that does superheroes better than they've been done yet, one designed to be unmistakably about superheroics while still being a really great MMO. That means taking little bits and pieces from several other games and blending them into one unified whole, something that's more than the sum of its parts.

The problem is that superheroes aren't just people with powers beating up other people with powers. There's more to it than that, and there are a lot of little elements that depend entirely upon the setting. Some stories just don't work in the Marvel universe, some don't work in the DC universe, and some need a completely different setting altogether. So let's look at this from the ground up while I show you my dream superhero MMO, one that would deliver exactly what I'd like to see.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp

MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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End of Nations outlines Heroes and Mercenaries in a new video

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMORTS

End of Nations has a large number of units, and each of them has a relatively fixed role. You know at a glance what any given unit is meant to do and how it works with other units in the game. And then there are hero units, which are specifically meant to throw that balance off. Heroes possess multiple special abilities, generally ones that synergize well with other units, allowing you to pull out an unexpected set of abilities on an unsuspecting opponent.

Some Heroes are willing to work for any side in a conflict, and these Mercenaries are arguably even more powerful. When you hire a company of Mercenaries, you acquire both a Hero unit and several sidekick units specifically tuned to complement the Hero's abilities. That means a full strike force tuned for maximum impact, one that might enable a strategy not normally available to your faction. Jump on past the break for the full video explaining Heroes and showing these powerful units in action.

[Source: Trion Worlds press release]

Continue reading End of Nations outlines Heroes and Mercenaries in a new video

End of Nations outlines Heroes and Mercenaries in a new video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments

Brendan Drain — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, Bugs, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Two major Diablo III exploits were made public this week, allowing Wizards to make themselves invulnerable and Barbarians to kill monsters just by running past them. The exploits have been in the game for at least a month and were hotfixed this week. Path of Exile celebrated its third public testing weekend this weekend and released its major 0.9.11 update, including a complete revamp of the passive skill tree.

In MOBA news, Major League Gaming released details of its $10,000 League of Legends tournament this week, and Riot Games unveiled new champion Diana, Scorn of the Moon. Dota 2 released a whopping three new heroes this week and began preparation for its upcoming tournament The International. Wrath of Heroes introduced a new leaderboard system and newbie quests in game update 0.23 this week, and Bigpoint unveiled its new MOBA, Universal Monsters Online, which lets players take on the mantle of Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments

Not So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nival unveils new heroes for upcoming Prime World

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA

If you're looking forward to Prime World, Nival's upcoming entry into the growing market of DotA-style games, you'll be happy to know that the game's developers have just released information on a new group of heroes. This week's reveals cover a lot of ground, from the stalker-style Phantom and Faceless to the ice spells of Cryo and Blizz and the pack tactics of Wolf Dancer and Jaeger.

Phantom and Faceless focus on hit-and-run tactics to harass the enemy, with high mobility, low hit points, and a lot of quick damage skills. Their talents include damaging teleportation and a stacking buff to damage as battles wear on. Cryo and Blizz instead focus on control and damage at range, with the ability to lock opponents in place and blanket an area with biting winds. Last but not least, Wolf Dancer and Jaeger use their pets as miniature armies, overwhelming enemies with large numbers of vicious targets. Take a look at some early screenshots of these heroes in the gallery below.

[Source: Nival press release]

Gallery: Prime World

Nival unveils new heroes for upcoming Prime World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Making the perfectly flawed character

Beau Hindman — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser, Casual, Roleplaying, Mabinogi, Free for All, Miscellaneous

Whenever I play a new MMO, the first thing I want to know is who I am supposed to be inside this particular game world. I would like to have as much control over the conception of my character as possible, but let's be honest: Great customization is not as common as many of us would like. This might explain my attraction to games that offer the ability to craft a true, unique character, even if only in looks. I love a good cash shop and the ability to make my character essentially me -- if I were the me inside that other world.

I don't play MMOs to be the hero, at least not most of the time. I don't want to kill the largest boss or get the best armor. I'll leave that to gamers who like that sort of thing. I play an MMO to sort of lose myself inside the world of a character of my own making. Over the years I've noticed a pattern in how I establish a great character, one that I want to continue playing. Originally, I wanted to refine this process into a list in case other players wanted to compare, but the list keeps evolving, so instead, I'll give some examples of how I have been creating unique and wonderfully flawed main characters in some of my favorite MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: Making the perfectly flawed character

Free for All: Making the perfectly flawed character originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Lore, Opinion, Free-to-Play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

Last week I discussed why I'm not fond of Nemesis as a group, and this week I promised to discuss villainous groups that I think that City of Heroes could use a bit more actively. So I am certain that longtime readers expected me to spend most of this week talking about the Fifth Column because of course I would. I love the Fifth Column, I think they're a fantastic group of villains, and I've talked about how great they are as a group over and over.

Surprise! Not this time.

For all that I love the Column (and their continual curbstomping of their pale imitation in the Council), that wasn't my goal this week. No, this time around I want to highlight other groups that I think Paragon City could use a bit more often, enemies that either fall off the radar or just don't get as much attention as they're due. Even in a game that's been around as long as City of Heroes, there are certain enemy groups that just never get the love they deserve. Maybe the future can fix that for some of these guys.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals

Jef Reahard — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, MMOFPS, Hands-On (Massively's), First Impressions, The Firing Line

During the first 10 minutes of my time with Heroes & Generals, I killed once, died twice, and drove a tank, a jeep, a half-track, and a bicycle (not necessarily in that order). I also rode shotgun on said tank and said jeep, manning a nifty vehicle-mounted machine gun in the process.

I marveled at the visuals, took way too many screenshots of my squadmates looking at the blow-away badass in-game map (it's the little things, amirite?), and generally had a helluva good time. Did I mention that all of this happened in a browser?

Continue reading The Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals

The Firing Line: Hands-on with Heroes & Generals originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow?

Shawn Schuster — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

The lifespan of the MMO genre is still fairly short when you take general gaming into consideration. Fifteen years ago, most of us wouldn't have dreamed of what's available online today, thanks to the innovators who brought together graphical roleplaying games and the MUDs of the day. People like Richard Garriott, Raph Koster, Starr Long, J. Todd Coleman, and a handful of others helped create what we know today as MMORPGs.

But who will be the innovators and trend-setters of tomorrow's MMOs? We see a lot of innovation these days, but ascribing those ideas to one person isn't as easy (or applicable) as it was in the early days of five-man studios. Still, there are geniuses in these modern studios making some much-needed improvements that will carry on for many years.

So if you're a player and you know of someone who will be known for his or her innovation in the future, let us know. If you're a developer who wants to call out a co-worker for something he or she has done to change the genre, get that name out there!

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!

The Daily Grind: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Party with the Gods & Heroes devs in Austin

Brianna Royce — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, Livestream, Miscellaneous

Heatwave Interactive aims to seize the day -- Friday, October 14th, that is -- by offering players of Gods & Heroes a unique opportunity to visit the studio in person. Following the final day of GDC Austin, Heatwave's community team will offer 10 attendees the chance to spend an afternoon and evening touring the offices for "sneak previews" and a Q&A with various panels and team members, including CEO Anthony Castoro, the design team, the art team, the support team, and the community team. Guests will then participate with the devs in hosting a live Ustream chat, after which they'll enjoy the fruits of their labors (or more accurately, the meats) with a BBQ worthy of the gods.

Interested parties can RSVP by email on the official site. Have fun!

Party with the Gods & Heroes devs in Austin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes bonus weekend coming July 28th

Jef Reahard — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, MMO Industry, News Items

Break out those City of Heroes alts, as there's a double XP event looming large over Paragon City next week. The festivities kick off at 9:00 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, July 28th, and the party continues through 11:59 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, July 31st.

In addition to the XP smorgasbord, you'll be happy to know that your characters can double their pleasure when it comes to Inf and Prestige as well, so dust off those semi-retired superheroes and get ready to gorge them on NCsoft's sweet, sweet bonus event. Catch up on all our City of Heroes coverage while you wait, and don't forget to visit the CoH website for the official announcement.

City of Heroes bonus weekend coming July 28th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Wait, so he wins by getting himself killed?

Brendan Drain — Sat, 21 May 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Video, Game Mechanics, Lore, News Items, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Not So Massively

Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Defense of the Ancients, Bloodline Champions, and more.

Not all online games can be neatly classified as either a full-fledged MMO or not an MMO at all. Some games contain elements of persistence, community, and iterative development that we've come to expect only from MMOs. In last week's colossal Not So Massively, we we published an exclusive reveal of Rise of Immortals character The Netheurgist and took a look at the new LoL champion Vayne.

Following on from that, we celebrated Heroes of Newerth's first birthday with a look at its one-year Honiversary update. We also took a look at a few new games from Prime World, Realm of the Titans, and Karma Online to Blizzard's highly anticipated Diablo III. As if that weren't enough, we got an interview with END Games, the developer behind Vorp!, an online multiplayer action game based entirely in Facebook.

In this week's Not So Massively, we take another peek at the sheer creativity of the League of Legends community and get technical with Heroes of Newerth's practically suicidal hero Martyr. We also take a look at Bloodline Champions' new match replay system, Rise of Immortals' immortal Aislynn, and the latest Realm of the Titans game update arriving in time for closed beta.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Wait, so he wins by getting himself killed?

Not So Massively: Wait, so he wins by getting himself killed? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: Is ArenaNet approaching the pay-to-win line?

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, Flameseeker Chronicles

The addition of Guild Wars Mercenary Hero Packs to the NCsoft store is the latest step in ArenaNet's effort to highlight Guild Wars "microtransactions." (I am ambivalent about using the word microtransactions in this context -- "micro" in my eyes says under 10 dollars.)

The mercenary heroes are probably the most controversial addition to the current store to date, and the ongoing debate fascinated me. I can see both sides of the argument, so I thought I'd take today and explore this new addition to the store and what it means. Follow along after the jump and let's look at the perceived pros and cons of the newest not-very-micro-transaction in the NCsoft store!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Is ArenaNet approaching the pay-to-win line?

Flameseeker Chronicles: Is ArenaNet approaching the pay-to-win line? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Embark Beach and Mercenary Heroes coming to Guild Wars

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Guild Wars, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play

Do you play Guild Wars with nothing to lose and nothing to prove? Then you might wind up dancing with yourself in the newest update to the game, which will add a new system of Mercenary Heroes -- turning other characters on your account into special heroes just for your use. And since this update also gives players the option to have a full party of seven heroes, there's plenty of reason to improve alts and play with them even on other characters.

Of course, that's the least of the features packed into the new update, and you may not even need the new heroes with the introduction of the group-focused Embark Beach. Allowing players transport to a multitude of locations and missions, the outpost serves as a waypoint for players to find groups and get right into the action of a mission without any trouble. It's also a hub for services, making it an ideal place for players to congregate and look for any needed assistance.

That's not even touching upon the new daily quests in Pre-Searing Ascalon, the changes to the Survivor title track to make it earnable on an existing character even after that character has died, and a new Minion UI feature. In short, Guild Wars players have plenty to dance about in the new update, whether by themselves or with others.

Gallery: Guild Wars Core Gallery

Embark Beach and Mercenary Heroes coming to Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What motivates your faction choice?

Jef Reahard — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Super-hero, Dark Age of Camelot, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, DC Universe Online

Most MMOs have some sort of factional component, even if the mechanics and options aren't directly identified by a "faction" label. Whether it's heroes and villains in DC Universe Online, Alliance and Horde in World of Warcraft, or the Albion, Hibernia, and Midgard trifecta from Dark Age of Camelot, creating a character in an MMO usually requires some sort of alignment choice.

Often this choice boils down to a good or evil stereotype, and while roleplayers and lore enthusiasts may argue that "the Horde isn't evil" (or similar arguments from other games and factions), the fact remains that the Horde's visual palette is filled with imagery and concepts that have signified evil throughout much of human history.

In today's Daily Grind, we'd like to know why you pick particular factions, and if the visual or lore-centric baggage they carry influences your decision. Do you usually roll characters that are good? Evil? Neutral? Why?

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!

The Daily Grind: What motivates your faction choice? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speak live with Gods & Heroes developers on Ustream

Larry Everett — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events (Real-World), New Titles, Livestream

The Telchine gods have returned to enact revenge on their Olympian conquerors with the citizens of Rome caught in the middle. It is your place to take up the mantel of protector of the empire. Battle gods and monsters to gain favor with the Roman gods and test your drive to save the citizens of your country. You may join the fight in upcoming MMO Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising.

We all would like the inside scoop on what's happening in our favorite game, and it's not often that developers have an opportunity to speak directly to the players. Heatwave Interactive would like to change that with a live Ustream event today (November 30th) at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Get your questions ready because developers want to tell you what to expect for launch in 2011. If you like what you hear, you can then sign up for the closed beta by visiting the Gods & Heroes website.

Speak live with Gods & Heroes developers on Ustream originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet adding seven-hero parties, new outpost to Guild Wars

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, News Items

The latest ArenaNet blog post is up, bringing with it the Guild Wars War in Kryta survey results and some exciting news.

One survey question regarding seven-hero parties sparked a lot of discussion in the community, and ArenaNet heard the answer loud and clear: An upcoming content update will bring the ability to fill your party with all heroes.

For those of you who love grouping, the other half of this update is for you: "We're going to be adding Embark Beach-a new Zaishen outpost that will allow players to travel to all Mission outposts (that they are eligible for!) from a single location. So if you're looking to find something to do or someone to help you out, you just have to check one convenient location. Embark Beach will be included in an upcoming feature build containing some improvements for the game."

Check out all of the survey results at the ArenaNet blog!

ArenaNet adding seven-hero parties, new outpost to Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to 50: A guide to filling your Guild Wars Hall of Monuments (II)

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Guild Wars 2

Welcome to day two of The Road to 50! After addressing minipets yesterday, I'm excited to spend today on their larger counterparts: pets and heroes. The Monument to Fellowship is so much fun to fill in my view, because it sends you to challenge missions, off-the-beaten-path quests, elite areas, and more in order to obtain everything on the list.

Getting every pet required and armor for every hero in the game, in my view, is an opportunity to explore some real teamwork with your friends, guildmates, and allies while you see parts of Guild Wars that you haven't seen before.

Follow along as I tell you all about how to get the full eight points in the Monument to Fellowship.

Continue reading The Road to 50: A guide to filling your Guild Wars Hall of Monuments (II)

The Road to 50: A guide to filling your Guild Wars Hall of Monuments (II) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE

Brendan Drain — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Lore, Opinion, EVE Evolved

In last week's EVE Evolved, I looked at a few of EVE Online's most famous outlaws. In the game's open-ended sandbox, players are free to turn to a life of crime. Around every corner, you'll find another thief making off with someone's loot, or a pirate waiting for an unsuspecting victim to pass by. Worse still are the many scam artists and market manipulators you'll find in trade hubs like Jita, making a dishonest living at the expense of other players. But it's not all doom and gloom, and not all players are the dark, nefarious types EVE is famous for.

For every low-life scammer trying to steal your hard-earned ISK, there are helpful individuals working to counteract scamming. For every war-mongering pirate preying on new players, there are hundreds of people willing to teach new players to defend themselves and stay safe. Despite all the talk of EVE's anti-social element, you'll also find a rich and diverse community, built around forums, chat channels and dozens of blogs. Programmers even spend their free time to provide the community with free tools to aid play. These are all people I would call heroes of EVE, either because they work to prevent the wrong-doings of outlaws, or because they selflessly enrich the EVE community.

In this opinion piece, I look at a few of the people and groups I consider to be true heroes of EVE. Who are your heroes?

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE

EVE Evolved: Heroes of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, Flameseeker Chronicles

Oh, settle down. I'm not stating that as a fact, I'm just repeating what others have said. It's an old argument, but one that's recently come to my attention several times over the past week, so I want to take a look at the argument today.

Heroes came to Guild Wars near the end of 2006 with the introduction of Nightfall. They were a huge upgrade from the much-maligned Alesia and her companions. Sure, you had to level them up, but you had as much control over their runes and insignias, skill bars, and weapons as you did your own.

The addition gave players the option to add three of these customized companions, making it much easier to continue adventuring even if you couldn't get a group at the moment. It sounds perfect, right? Not everyone agrees, and it's a debate that flared back up in the past months when the possibility was raised of companions in Guild Wars 2.

Hit the handy "read more" button to check out both sides of the argument.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What makes you feel like a hero?

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

There's always been a big to-do in MMORPGs about making you feel like a hero (and, hey, all RPGs ever). Dev interviews, particularly before release, usually include discussion about how such-and-such will make the player feel important, feel central to the story, feel... heroic.

Of course, when everyone else and his or her specially trained dog or cat are doing the exact same thing, it's hard to feel like a unique snowflake in the hero crowd. While NPCs are supposedly helpless and need a dashing, daring stud or studette to champion their cause, after a while it may seem like they're more "lazy bums" than "weak innocents."

Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's something in MMOs that does, in fact, make you feel like a hero. Maybe it's not anything scripted by the developers, but instead happens out of the blue. Perhaps you're the healer who kept your raid alive, or the person who gave up a night to help out a lowbie in the guild. Maybe you saved a total stranger from annihilation, or you chained sixteen crits in a row until the bad guys were weeping for mercy.

What makes you feel like a hero in MMOs?

The Daily Grind: What makes you feel like a hero? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Going Rogue video documentary hits the City of Heroes Facebook page

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items

Having celebrated its sixth anniversary back in April, City of Heroes is a bit of an old dog in the MMO world. But it's proving quite adept at learning new tricks, with Going Rogue bringing out a big new trick in the form of its morality system. Allowing players not only to play heroes or villains but several intermediate forms in between, the ability to change allegiance is one of the expansion's biggest selling points -- as well as being the focus of the second video documentary, available on the game's Facebook page.

While the video doesn't reveal every piece of system information on changing from hero to villain or vice versa, it does talk more about the choices that go into such a shift. We've been hearing for some time that players will be making choices within the missions of Going Rogue, and it's explained here as well. It also discusses in brief how Praetoria is a framework removed from the hero-villain dichotomy of Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, allowing players to make choices and shape morality from the ground up. City of Heroes players are encouraged to take a look at the documentary and leave their comments on the page, as the developers are due to check in there throughout the day.

New Going Rogue video documentary hits the City of Heroes Facebook page originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Arenas and Hero Battles not the only thing changed in latest Guild Wars update

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Game Mechanics, Patches

Devona without "Charge!"? No more Firestorm for Cynn? Abasi has...wait, what did Abasi have before? Who is that, anyway?

Regina said a few days ago that Hero Battles and Team Arenas would be removed from Guild Wars this week and that the Sealed Deck/Codex Arena would be added. It looks like the Live Team took care of that, made a few more PvP tweaks, then turned their attention to heroes and henchmen. Our sometimes-trusty sidekicks got quite the makeover. Nearly 70 henchmen skill bars throughout every campaign plus Eye of the North were rebalanced, and the AI for nearly every class of hero, henchman, and Hard Mode NPC was updated. (The AI on Necros and Dervishes got a pass - apparently they used their skills well enough to be left alone.) The full list of changes can be viewed here.

The Underworld got some attention too, fixing bugs, streamlining things, adjusting spawns and adding the ominous statement "Something stirs deep in the Underworld, slowly making its presence known." Hopefully we'll find out more about that something when the Halloween events get into full swing.

For now, we're going to find out if removing Healing Touch from Alesia's bar has taught her that she's not a frontliner.

Team Arenas and Hero Battles not the only thing changed in latest Guild Wars update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline

James Egan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, New Titles, Quests, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online is a superhero MMO in development at Sony Online Entertainment, but one that we didn't get to see much of at E3 2009. That's not going to be the situation with Comic-Con International which is happening this week in San Diego. The DC Universe Online team will be on hand and will hopefully reveal more about the game.

While you won't get to play as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, you will begin the game as a hero who fights alongside such comic book icons. In fact, once you roll a character you'll choose a specialty from among super powers, tech powers, or magic powers. That choice will determine the storyline you begin with, according to info revealed in a Variety article. Sony Online Entertainment gave Chris Morris from Variety's 'The Cut Scene' an exclusive on how players will begin the game.

Continue reading An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline

An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 5th Column returns as City of Heroes Issue 15: Anniversary goes live

James Egan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items

It was only a few weeks ago that we wrote about the City of Heroes Issue 15 beta testing, but this latest update to the game, Anniversary, has gone live. Issue 15 brings a host of improvements to City of Heroes particularly in terms of hero and villain character customization. There are 20 new character faces to choose from, two new costume sets, and costume change emotes, which provide flashy transitions between costumes for your characters.

Issue 15: Anniversary also marks the return of The 5th Column and The Reichsman, and thus new missions at levels 45-50 -- with Villain Strikeforce and Hero Taskforce arcs, depending upon which side of the law you're on. NCsoft has more info about Issue 15 on their Anniversary overview site, and asks, "What does the opening of the Omega Team Time Capsule hold in store for Paragon City and the Rogue Isles?" The answers, we suspect, should be clear as City of Heroes and City of Villains players explore the new Issue 15 content.

The 5th Column returns as City of Heroes Issue 15: Anniversary goes live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online's "The Next Legend Is You" trailer

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Super-hero, Trailers, Consoles, DC Universe Online

The new DC Universe Online trailer that just recently hit the streets is one comprehensive video. In the short one minute and 23 seconds that the trailer runs, we get to see many of the highlights of DCUO, including environmental weaponry and damage, many of the game's iconic characters, a frenetic look at the game's combat, a taste of character customizations, and more!

Currently the trailer can be viewed at the main DCUO site, or over at Shacknews in standard and hi-resolution modes. HD resolution, however, is only available to those who have a Shackvideo username and password.

Now, if you can excuse us, we're going to go ponder what colors of spandex we're going to choose for when the game comes out.

DC Universe Online's "The Next Legend Is You" trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heroes star Masi Oka developing MMO-themed movie: The Defenders

James Egan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, News Items

Massively multiplayer online games sometimes get a bad rap in mass media, but these games and the experience of playing them are slowly becoming more prevalent in TV and film. In fact, a new family adventure movie called "The Defenders" will focus on MMOs, and the film's concept is from none other than Heroes star Masi Oka, best known for his role as the time-travelling Hiro Nakamura. Oka has some serious geek cred, having worked on fluid effects for Industrial Light and Magic and being a dedicated World of Warcraft player.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Defenders has been picked up by DreamWorks. THR.com gives a brief synopsis of the plot: "The story centers on a group of mostly teenagers from around the world who are involved in a multiplayer video game, each unaware of who they really are behind the cover of their consoles and avatars. They are forced to come together for a real adventure, becoming inadvertent heroes in the process." In some respects, this film sounds like The Goonies re-imagined for a contemporary audience that identifies with their virtual personas.

[Via WoW.com]

Heroes star Masi Oka developing MMO-themed movie: The Defenders originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online's Dr. Silverback profiled

Kyle Horner — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, New Titles, News Items, Champions Online

Don't believe everything you've learned from Planet of the Apes movies. Dr. Silverback is easily one of the most intelligent creatures around, and he's very much a gorilla, too. You can read all about him in the latest hero profiles on Champions Online's official website.

But what we really love about Dr. Silverback is that he fights not with his strength, but his mind by building powerful gadgets. And because he attended schools of higher learning in England -- where he was also made an official citizen -- he possess an incredibly charming accent to compliment his intellect. This has, of course, made him quite popular with the media and general populace.

So what we have here is a "gentleman" of a gorilla with enough brainpower to light up a large metropolis, who builds cool gadgets and helps the Champions solve scientific conundrums. Could you ask for a more interesting leader? Possibly, if you got really lucky, but we'd follow a crazy-smart gorilla's plans any day of the week.

Champions Online's Dr. Silverback profiled originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces City of Heroes: Going Rogue expansion

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game Mechanics

Two worlds collide. Loyalties will change. Where will you stand? This is the question posed to us as NCsoft announces the first major expansion for the City of Heroes franchise since the launch of City of Villains in 2005. Going Rogue will be a new experience for CoH fans introducing the 'mirror universe' of Praetoria and an all-new alignment system that blurs the lines between Heroes and Villains.

For the first time ever, Heroes can become Villains, and Villains can become Heroes. This is yet another groundbreaking game mechanic that the Paragon Studios folks have introduced in a recent whirlwind of exciting new features. Look out Champions Online and DC Universe Online; City of Heroes is raising the standard of superhero MMOs.

Check out the exciting new teaser trailer right after the jump, and to answer any questions you may have, they've compiled a handy FAQ.

Continue reading NCsoft announces City of Heroes: Going Rogue expansion

NCsoft announces City of Heroes: Going Rogue expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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