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[Norrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The big 1-0. EverQuest II has just joined the ranks of games in their double digits; today marks the 10th anniversary for the fantasy game. And while that's a pretty impressive feat in itself, just growing older isn't all that has happened to EQII in the past year. There have been plenty of content updates (and a change in how those update occur), holiday celebrations, and major news happenings during the course of the past 12 months.

However, instead of just highlighting the major events and changes of the year in a standard retrospective piece, I'm going to do something a little different this year. On top of wandering down memory lane, I've pulled in Senior Producer Holly Longdale to answer a few questions and address some current concerns on the minds of players. Longdale talks about the high price of both the Altar of Malice Collector's Edition and the new Aerakyn race as well as shares some fun facts about who's been working on the game since the beginning.

Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale

MassivelyNorrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few weeks ago we peeked into EverQuest II's impending Altar of Malice expansion with Senior​ Producer Holly Longdale and Creative Director Akil Hooper. In addition to touring the zones and basking in the beauty of the artwork while weaving through dinosaurs, I also got a glimpse of the newest race coming the game and gleaned a few interesting tidbits about these scaly, winged creatures. Although not technically a part of the expansion, Aerakyn will become available to players for purchase on the same day that AoM goes live for All Access members: November 11th.

Be a dragon!

With a new race incoming, some players are already trying to determine whether they will bump an alt or just buy a new character slot. It's not just the opportunity to be what is arguably the first real dragonkind in the game (sorry Sarnak!) but the chance to experience the game as one of the very few flight-enabled races. The Aerakyn, like the Fae and Arasai introduced in a previous expansion, utilize their wings from day one. Of course, the actual flight mechanic cannot be obtained until the appropriate level (85), but the wings still work and the race can glide around. Unlike the Fae and Arasai, however, the Aerakyn will get to use their personal wings as all three advanced mount types.

Continue reading EverQuest II's Aerakyn race is spreading its wings November 11th

MassivelyEverQuest II's Aerakyn race is spreading its wings November 11th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During my recent dev tour of EverQuest II's upcoming Altar of Malice expansion, Senior​ Producer Holly Longdale revealed the new part Shaman/part Warrior elite merc that comes with the purchase of the collectors edition and said "We're really excited about what we're offering there -- some really special stuff this year." And now we've got all those details!

The standard edition will cost $39.99 and comes with a special housing item. This large painting depicts an AoM scene of an angry Lanys T'Vyl and plenty of skulls. The collectors addition for $89.99 adds the elite battle-mystic mercenary Kluuron V'Lon as well a Striped Savage Pterodon flying mount, a tyrannodon house pet, two 40-day spell research potions, three Gems of Armor Advancement, and a multi-appearance mage tower housing item to teleport to the new content. Check out what each bonus looks like in the gallery below.

Altar of Malice is available to November 11th for All Access members (who also get 10% off the purchase prices) and on November 28th for everyone else.

MassivelyEQII's Altar of Malice pricing, bonuses announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Oct 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When EverQuest II's next expansion, Altar of Malice, was announced at SOE Live in August, we heard about upcoming features, perused concept drawings, and even saw some screenshots. As exciting as all that can be, nothing compares to actually getting in the game and seeing the living breathing world of Norrath. And that's exactly what I got to do last week on a tour with Senior​ Producer Holly Longdale and Creative Director Akil Hooper.

While we have to wait a bit longer to hear more about the Aerakyn (the new winged dragonkind race) and what special goodies will be included in the collector's edition, the tour of the zones allowed me to bask in the beauty of the artwork while weaving through dinosaurs, pygmies, and my favorite-yet-long-lost starting zone. And it definitely made me even more excited for the upcoming release of Altar of Malice!

Continue reading Sneaking a peek at EQII's Altar of Malice with SOE

MassivelySneaking a peek at EQII's Altar of Malice with SOE originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's Holly "Windstalker" Longdale has penned a new EverQuest II producer's letter and published it on the game's forums. It contains a general update schedule from now through the end of November as well as an overview of the content in the Altar of Malice expansion.

Said expansion launches on November 25, with an open beta on October 14 and an All Access member beta on October 7.

MassivelyEQII producer's letter talks Altar of Malice date, features originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eq2
EverQuest II is opening up the throttle on in-game promotions this month, as Executive Producer Holly Longdale announced on Twitter that the game will be host to a double XP weekend from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening.

In addition to that, EverQuest II is extending its Gear Up, Level Up promotion through the end of July. During this period, players will get bonus Etyma and a discount on the upcoming expansion. Subscribers are treated to even more goodies, including a 25% XP bonus and a discount on purchasing heroic characters.

MassivelyEverQuest II throws bonus XP weekend, extends summer promotion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Year of EverQuest may still be in its early stages, but that doesn't mean that things are going slowly. EverQuest, EverQuest II, and EverQuest Next Landmark have all churned out their share of updates (not to mention EQNL's alpha launch!), with plenty more on the way.

And to let you in on what's in the pipeline for these three titles, I got to speak with all the games' producers -- EQ's Thom Terrazas, EQII's Holly Longdale, and EQNL's Terry Michaels -- as well as Franchise Director of Development Dave Georgeson about March's upcoming content. To help illustrate their words, we've also embedded a video after the break that highlights that very content.

Continue reading SOE has big plans for EverQuest, EverQuest II, and EQN Landmark in March

MassivelySOE has big plans for EverQuest, EverQuest II, and EQN Landmark in March originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With EverQuest Next Landmark on the horizon, EverQuest Next in the wings, and EverQuest and EverQuest II going strong, this truly is the year of EverQuest. There's simply no denying that 2014 will be pretty significant for the franchise; one game turns 15, another turns 10, and the newest turns 0. To help kick of this monumental year, I got to talk shop with producers Thom Terrazas (EQ), Holly Longdale (EQII), Terry Michaels (EQN/EQNL), and Franchise Director Dave Georgeson and hear about upcoming content slated for each of these different projects. As Georgeson put it, "It's going to be a fun month!"

As a bonus, we've also added a video that shows off some of that very content.

Continue reading EQ, EQII, and EQN devs dish on new game content for The Year of EverQuest

MassivelyEQ, EQII, and EQN devs dish on new game content for The Year of EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dave-Georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq-next-landmarkeq1eq2eqiieqneqn-landmarkeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playHolly-Longdalelandmarkpreviewpreviewssandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmentTerry-MichaelsThom-TerrazasWed, 22 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Double XP now live in EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/double-xp-now-live-in-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/double-xp-now-live-in-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/double-xp-now-live-in-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EverQuest II flying mounts
SOE's Holly "Windstalker" Longdale has checked in with a new holiday-themed producer's letter for EverQuest II. She recaps recent quality-of-life changes including increased alternate currency acquisition rates for gold members and 10 percent mount speed boosts.

Today also marks the beginning of a double XP weekend for adventure, tradeskill, alternate advancement, and guild experience.

In January, gold members can look forward to getting their hands on past expansion items via loyalty tokens, and the next set of fabled dungeons -- this time from the Kingdom of Sky expansion -- is scheduled to release on January 23rd.

MassivelyDouble XP now live in EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playholly-longdalekingdom-of-skysoesonysony-online-entertainmentFri, 20 Dec 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/12/dragons-take-flight-in-eqiis-tears-of-veeshan-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/12/dragons-take-flight-in-eqiis-tears-of-veeshan-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/12/dragons-take-flight-in-eqiis-tears-of-veeshan-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II's dragons take flight in Tears of Veeshan today
It's all about the dragons.

You just can't get more quintessential fantasy than dragons, and EverQuest II's newest expansion is all about dragons. Sure, there are goblins and bow-wielding healers as well, but you can't miss that the focus of Tears of Veeshan is on those massive fire-breathing beasts. From dragons attacking Qeynos and Freeport to the evil dragon arch-enemy bent on destroying all time and space to the dragon afterlife, it is all about the dragons. Heck, even the new AAs are from dragons! So it's safe to say if you aren't a really a fan of wyverns in all their forms (be they live or dead!), you might want to skip this expansion. If, however, you love them in all their scaly glory, you've got plenty to look forward to.

While waiting for ToV to take flight on live servers, I got to tour the highlights of the expansion with Producer Holly Longdale, Creative Director Akil Hooper, and Game Designer Carlos Mora. And from them I learned a few interesting new tidbits about EQII's 10th expansion. Want to know how you, too, can get Qho killed? I thought that might get your attention.

Continue reading Dragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today

MassivelyDragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview expounds on today's Heroic Characters patch in EverQuest II
By now you have probably heard that EverQuest II is launching a little thing called Heroic Characters today; after all, this little thing is kind of a big deal. How often do players get the chance to jump in and experience a game as a permanent high-level character instead of just being teased with one during a brief tutorial? And for two weeks this possibility is completely free to each and every person, be they new players or veterans.

Whether you are eagerly awaiting your chance to jump (back) into Norrath and see what things are like in the newest story arcs or you're eyeing the sudden influx of high level newbs with trepidation, there's no denying that EQ II is going through a fundamental shift today. This patch has the ability to change the landscape of play in the game more so than anything since the free-to-play conversion. When you couple these new Heroic Characters with the lifting of item restrictions, there are literally no more gates barring people from joining and experiencing most of what the game has to offer.

In anticipation of this big change, I had the opportunity to sit down with Franchise Director Dave Georgeson and Producer Holly Longdale to talk Heroic Character shop, and they shed more light on this upcoming experience. They also revealed a little something extra coming for the raiders in Norrath.

Continue reading We interviewed SOE about today's EQII Heroic Characters patch

MassivelyWe interviewed SOE about today's EQII Heroic Characters patch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II moves expansion to November
EverQuest II's next expansion, Tears of Veeshan, has been moved to mid-November, according to a letter by Senior Producer Holly Longdale. Calling the expansion "something special," she said that the team will begin the beta on October 15th and that the project is coming together well.

In the letter, she also announced that heroic characters are now scheduled for the first week of October. Longdale said that the team is still "fine-tuning" details for the heroic character release and is making adjustments to Destiny of Velious zones so F2P players have a place for heroic characters to romp.

Finally, if you haven't purchased the Age of Discovery expansion, you might be interested to hear that SOE is selling features from that expansion individually.

MassivelyEverQuest II moves expansion to November originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-discoverybetaclosed-betadelaydestiny-of-veliouseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playheroic-charactersholly-longdalesoesonysony-online-entertainmentTears-of-VeeshanSat, 07 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE Live 2013: Thursday keynote announces expansions, release dates, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/soe-live-2013-thursday-keynote-announces-expansions-release-da/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/soe-live-2013-thursday-keynote-announces-expansions-release-da/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/soe-live-2013-thursday-keynote-announces-expansions-release-da/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

SOE Live 2013 Thursday keynote highlights EQ, and EQII
SOE Live 2013 kicked off in the new Planet Hollywood venue with a keynote full of information as well as frivolity. The night started with a rap performance by a PlanetSide 2 player and continued with plenty of humor and even prize giveaways. Fan favorite Brasse, aka Linda Carlson, then lit up the stage (literally) in her PlanetSide 2-inspired Dwarven armor set and plugged Player Direct, a way for player-made gaming videos to gain more exposure. And then came the gaming news.

Although even more details will be forthcoming as the convention progresses, there were some definite highlights shared by SOE CEO John Smedley, EverQuest Producer Thom Terrazas, and EverQuest II Producer Holly Longdale, including expansion announcements, release dates, and even some EverQuest Next tidbits.

Continue reading SOE Live 2013: Thursday keynote announces expansions, release dates, and more

MassivelySOE Live 2013: Thursday keynote announces expansions, release dates, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Aug 2013 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EQII embargo Tue 1 pm edt

While many eyes are turned toward Las Vegas in anticipation of big reveals next week, EverQuest II fans get to sink their teeth into a meaty update to help them pass the time until the convention. Darkness Dawns, the continuation of the story developed throughout the previous Scars of the Awakened update, hits servers today.

What in GU67 could possibly distract players from thoughts of SOE Live? How about four fabled Desert of Flames dungeons retooled for the max-level crowd, a more flexible AA system, new PvP rewards, more tradeskill apprentice items, three new contested god avatars, a special raid arena, improved inventory management (yay for personal depots!), daily objectives, and -- in the words of Producer Holly Longdale -- "one of most epic events in game."

Sounds like a bit to take in, doesn't it? And that's just scratching the surface. Thanks to a tour hosted by Longdale, Creative Director Akil Hooper, Lead Designer Kyle Vallee, and Designer Carlos Mora, I was treated to a preview of EQII's newest features and learned a few extra tidbits to pass along as well as the update trailer (which you can see here as well!).

Continue reading Darkness Dawns takes the EverQuest II story to new heights today

MassivelyDarkness Dawns takes the EverQuest II story to new heights today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A devguided tour of EverQuest II's Scars of the Awakened
With Scars of the Awakened going live today, EverQuest II fans are counting down the hours until their first trip into Cobalt Scar and its many adventures. And who can blame them? New content for crafters and adventurers alike is inbound. Along with the new Cobalt Scar overland zone, GU 66 also brings players a new dungeon filled with some brand-new creatures, a new tradeskill quest line along with hot-off-the-presses recipes, some class changes based directly on player feedback, and more.

I got a sneak peek at what lies in store thanks to a tour guided by Holly Longdale, Producer, and Akil Hooper, Creative Director. From walks on the beach among the Ulthork to hordes of undead Othmir to a look at the second half of Sirens Grotto, this tour showed off how the art and the stories blend to create an immersive experience for players.

Continue reading EQII's Scars of the Awakened highlights the story through art

MassivelyEQII's Scars of the Awakened highlights the story through art originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akil-Hooperdev-guided-tourdev-toureq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgu-66GU66Holly-Longdalescars-of-the-awakenedSirens-Grottosoesonysony-online-entertainmentTavalon-AbyssupdateTue, 30 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II starts its new year with new challenges and dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/everquest-ii-starts-its-new-year-with-new-challenges-and-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/everquest-ii-starts-its-new-year-with-new-challenges-and-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/everquest-ii-starts-its-new-year-with-new-challenges-and-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The new challenge for this drake here is swinging its wings without impaling itself.
Another expansion is out for EverQuest II, but this is no time for the game to rest upon its laurels. Producer Holly Longdale recently took to the game's forums to make it clear that the developers have big plans for the game in 2013, and they've been hard at work since December putting together a long-term plan for what will happen over the next year. That starts with a new patch on February 26th.

The update will include a new two-group dungeon in Wurmbone Crag along with a raid version of Dreadcutter. Beyond that, there's improved bag functionality as well as new daily, weekly, and monthly objectives for players to complete for special rewards. And that's not even the next big game update, which is scheduled for some time in the spring. Even though we're in the second month of the year, it's the start of a new cycle for EverQuest II's development, and hopefully players will be pleased with what it has to offer.

MassivelyEverQuest II starts its new year with new challenges and dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coming-attractionseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturesfree-to-playholly-longdalepatchespreviewproducers-lettersoesonysony-online-entertainmentupcoming-patchesTue, 05 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Player-generated content at SOE Live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/some-assembly-required-player-generated-content-at-soe-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/some-assembly-required-player-generated-content-at-soe-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/10/some-assembly-required-player-generated-content-at-soe-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required SOE Live in a nutshell PGC lives! and so do I
By now, everyone has made it home from SOE Live... yes, even that one fellow who kept disappearing, seduced by the one-armed bandit. As my first foray into the annual self-described "family reunion," I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd hoped there would be some news to pass along. If nothing else, a tidbit or two about any title -- be it EverQuest II, PlanetSide 2, or DC universe Online -- would justify my trip out there to me. But what I got wasn't just some news; it was great news!

Although the lights of Vegas are fading from memory, the hope for player-generated content burns brighter than before. From keynote addresses to panels to interviews, Sony Online Entertainment's focus on emergent game play and various sandbox features showed a dedication to gaming beyond just the hack-and-slash treadmill grind. Can we hear a hallelujah?

With so much news coming out of the convention, there wasn't time or space to do much more than just report on the facts. Here, I have the opportunity to sum things up and even add my own impressions of the event! I might even toss in an anecdote or two to illustrate what made this such an incredible experience that I am hooked and will return each year.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Player-generated content at SOE Live

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Player-generated content at SOE Live originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedconconsoleconsolesconventioncraftingdave-georgesondc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieqneventeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfan-fairefantasyfeaturedfpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsholly-longdalehousingkid-friendlykidskids-mmoLarry-Elmorelas-vegasmatt-higbymmo-shootermmofpsopinionpgcplanetsideplanetside-2player-contentplayer-generated-contentplaystation-3playstation3ps2ps3sandboxsarsci-fishootersoesoe-fan-fairesoe-livesoe-live-2012some-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentsteramingsuperherosuperheroestelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgSat, 10 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Touring Chains of Eternity with the EQII team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-tattered-notebook-touring-chains-of-eternity-with-the-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-tattered-notebook-touring-chains-of-eternity-with-the-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-tattered-notebook-touring-chains-of-eternity-with-the-eqii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Tattered Notebook Touring Chains of Eternity with the EQII team
EverQuest II's newest expansion, Chains of Eternity, launches in just a few days. SOE Live brought a slew of news about both the expansion and the future of the game, and for longtime fans, there's a definite return to the game's roots.

This past week, we had a chance to see some of the new zones with a guided tour from Producer Holly Longdale and Designer Carlos Mora. They took us to the Ethernere and explained several exciting new features along the way. Read on for highlights!

Gallery: EQII Chains of Eternity

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Touring Chains of Eternity with the EQII team

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Touring Chains of Eternity with the EQII team originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carlos-morachains-of-eternitydrinaleidolon-jungleeqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhands-onholly-longdaleobol-plainsopinionprestige-abilitiespreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookFri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE Live 2012: EverQuest II interviews highlight focus on crafting, player stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/soe-live-2012-everquest-ii-interviews-highlight-focus-on-crafti/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/soe-live-2012-everquest-ii-interviews-highlight-focus-on-crafti/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/soe-live-2012-everquest-ii-interviews-highlight-focus-on-crafti/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SOE Live 2012 EverQuest II interviews highlight focus on crafting, player stories
It is undeniable: Between panels, keynote addresses, and interviews, SOE Live offered fans a smorgasbord of information this year. Even as we reported on some information, more came our way. Such is the case with EverQuest II and its upcoming Chains of Eternity expansion; no sooner had I shared the new tradeskill AA and prestige lines than I was able to sit down developers to gain more insights into the new features. And of course, another panel came along offering even more tidbits about the expansion and beyond!

Did previous announcements leave you wondering whether crafters will be required to grind their own AA tree up from 0? How many crafted items can actually be mass produced at one time? And what's in store for the Dungeon Maker and SOEmote? These questions and more were answered as I sat down with Brain Ferguson (PvP and tradeskill game designer), Holly Longdale, (Producer), and Dave Georgeson (Director of the EQ franchise).

Continue reading SOE Live 2012: EverQuest II interviews highlight focus on crafting, player stories

MassivelySOE Live 2012: EverQuest II interviews highlight focus on crafting, player stories originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-fergusonchains-of-eternityCoEconcontentconventioncraftingcrafting-recipescrafting-systemdave-georgesondungeon-maker-contestdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieventeverquest-2everquest-iiexclusiveexclusive-interviewf2pfan-fairefantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-hallsheroic-zonesholly-longdalelas-vegasmassively-exclusive-interviewsMassively-interviewraidssoesoe-fan-fairesoe-livesoe-live-2012SOEmotesonysony-online-entertainmenttradeskillWed, 24 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE Live 2012: EQII's Chains of Eternity adding tradeskill prestige and much more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-eqiis-chains-of-eternity-adding-tradeskill-pres/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-eqiis-chains-of-eternity-adding-tradeskill-pres/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-eqiis-chains-of-eternity-adding-tradeskill-pres/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SOE Live 2012 EQII Chains of Eternity adding tradeskill prestige and much more
Players were so excited about some of the announcements made in yesterday's EveryQuest II's panel on mechanics for Chains of Eternity at SOE Live that the room erupted into applause multiple times. What types of goodies brokered this response from attendees? How about new tradeskill specializations (including a separate AA pool and a gathering sidekick that can harvest rares!), new guild amenities, new adornments, and even adornment removers?

Of course, those aren't the only incoming changes. Others include increasing in the level cap to 95, alterations to the mentoring system to prevent AFK XP farming, and new prestige abilities.

Continue reading SOE Live 2012: EQII's Chains of Eternity adding tradeskill prestige and much more

MassivelySOE Live 2012: EQII's Chains of Eternity adding tradeskill prestige and much more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adornment-removeradornmentschains-of-eternityconconventioncraftingcrafting-AAcrafting-prestigeEidolon-Jungleeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieventeverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionf2pfan-fairefantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-amenitiesholly-longdalelas-vegasmentoringmentoring-systemmew-zonesnew-contentObol-Plainssoesoe-fan-fairesoe-livesoe-live-2012sonysony-online-entertainmenttradeskill-AAtradeskill-prestigeSat, 20 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE Live 2012: Friday keynote highlights DCUO, EQ, and EQII]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-friday-keynote-highlights-dcuo-eq-and-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-friday-keynote-highlights-dcuo-eq-and-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/20/soe-live-2012-friday-keynote-highlights-dcuo-eq-and-eqii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SOE Live Friday Keynote highlights DCUO, EQ, and EQII
Day two of SOE Live wrapped up with yet another keynote, this one focused on DC Universe Online, EverQuest, and EverQuest II. Creative Director Jens Andersen of DCUO, Executive Producer Thom Terrazas from EQ, Executive Producer Holly Longdale from EQII, and Dave Georgeson, the EQ Franchise head, all took a turn on stage to give a rundown of what each game had launched over the past year, and more importantly, where each is headed for the future. But before that, SOE paid tribute to the military veterans in attendance (pictured above) and gave two of the longest-serving military members NVIDIA cards to thank them for their service.

Read on for the highlights!

Continue reading SOE Live 2012: Friday keynote highlights DCUO, EQ, and EQII

MassivelySOE Live 2012: Friday keynote highlights DCUO, EQ, and EQII originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-eternityconconsoleconsolesconventiondave-georgesondc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieventeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfan-fairefantasyfeaturedfiriona-viefree-to-playhalls-of-powerHeros-forgeholly-longdalehome-turfjens-andersenkeynotekronolairslas-vegasleague-hallsorigin-crisisplaystation-3playstation3prestige-abilitiesps3rain-of-fearsoesoe-fan-fairesoe-livesoe-live-2012sonysony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesthom-therrazastrials-of-trigonSat, 20 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's Chains of Eternity expansion slated for November]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/everquest-iis-chains-of-eternity-expansion-slated-for-november/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/everquest-iis-chains-of-eternity-expansion-slated-for-november/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/everquest-iis-chains-of-eternity-expansion-slated-for-november/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II's Chains of Eternity expansion slated for November
Sony Online Entertainment has taken the wraps off EverQuest II's ninth expansion this afternoon. Chains of Eternity will release in November, and it will pile even more content on top of one of the MMO genre's most content-rich games. All the new stuff takes place in EQII's version of the afterlife, or as it's known in Norrath: Ethernere.

Adventuring and tradeskill level caps will tick up to 95, new prestige abilities are coming, and of course there are plenty of new quests on the way as well. Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale also hints at "another event that we're keeping under wraps." She says it, whatever it is, will debut around the same time as the expansion.

MassivelyEverQuest II's Chains of Eternity expansion slated for November originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-eternityeq-2eq-iieq2eq2-expansioneqiiethernereeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playholly-longdalesoesonysony-online-entertainmentwindstalkerThu, 06 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/16/the-tattered-notebook-eqiis-level-agnostic-dungeon-maker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/16/the-tattered-notebook-eqiis-level-agnostic-dungeon-maker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/16/the-tattered-notebook-eqiis-level-agnostic-dungeon-maker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Tattered Notebook A look at the Level Agnostic Dungeon Maker
This past week, EverQuest II fans heard even more details about the upcoming summer update. The big news, of course, is the Qeynos revamp, but another nice addition will be the ability to play as ourselves in player-made dungeons. The announcement by EQII Producer Holly "Windstalker" Longdale discussed the new level-agnostic system, and players were treated to a surprise as it hit the test server a few days ago.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at how the new system works and how it could even affect other areas of the game.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: EQII's level-agnostic dungeon maker originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-makereqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalelevel-agnosticopinionsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 16 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Reading the tea leaves of EQII's May update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-tattered-notebook-reading-the-tea-leaves-of-the-may-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-makereq-2eq-iieq2eq2-dungeon-makereq2-may-updateseqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playholly-longdaleplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-made-dungeonssoesonysony-online-entertainmentuser-generated-contentwindstalkerFri, 04 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Skyshrine, mercs, Qeynos, and shields that roar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/the-tattered-notebook-eqii-webcast-talks-skyshrine-mercs-qeyn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperanimated-shieldsdave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiEQII-PvPeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalekaren-bryanmercenariesopinionqeynosQeynos-revampskyshrinesmokejumpersoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebooktradeskill-apprenticesSat, 14 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EQII producer teases March update info, promises more communication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugdev-diaryeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifixHolly-Longdalelettermarch-updateproducers-lettersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentveliousWindstalkerTue, 28 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: New executive producer, new wishlist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-tattered-notebook-new-executive-producer-new-wishlist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-tattered-notebook-new-executive-producer-new-wishlist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-tattered-notebook-new-executive-producer-new-wishlist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Georgeson and Longdale
I was all set to sit down and talk about raiding and the big news of critical mitigation disappearing from gear, and then some even bigger news appeared. Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson has handed the reins over to Holly "Windstalker" Longdale. She is new to take the lead on EverQuest II, but she's not new to the team; in fact, she worked on EverQuest in the past under the name Vahlar.

What's the first thing to do when there's a new leader taking over? Form a wish list, of course! EverQuest II has come a long way since its bumpy launch, but there's always stuff that would make the game that much more fun. Let's look at a few ideas, and then you can add yours to my list.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: New executive producer, new wishlist

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: New executive producer, new wishlist originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdalekaren-bryanopinionsoesony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II producer handing over the reins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/everquest-ii-producer-handing-over-the-reins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/everquest-ii-producer-handing-over-the-reins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/everquest-ii-producer-handing-over-the-reins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

CHEEEEEEEEEESE
EverQuest II players will probably be familiar with the name Smokejumper, the forum handle of the EverQuest franchise's Executive Producer Dave Georgeson. Georgeson has served as Executive Producer for EverQuest, EverQuest II, and the upcoming EverQuest Next while simultaneously filling the role of Producer for EverQuest II. As you might imagine, that's quite a lot of work for a single person. With that in mind, Georgeson announced on the official EQII website today that Holly "Windstalker" Longdale has rejoined SOE in order to take over the position of EverQuest II's Producer.

Holly also takes the opportunity to introduce herself to the community, remarking that "the opportunity to be a producer on this team is surreal and certainly perfect." She goes on to say that "EverQuest... has had a place in [her] life for well over a decade now," making it clear that she's not just some corporate suit who doesn't care about the game -- she's a player who is passionate about the game and is in-tune with the playerbase. To read the full announcement from Smokejumper as well as the follow-up by Windstalker, just click on through the link below.

MassivelyEverQuest II producer handing over the reins originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-georgesoneq-iieq2everquest-2everquest-iiexecutive-producerf2pfree-to-playholly-longdaleproducerproducerssmokejumpersoesony-online-entertainmentwindstalkerThu, 02 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST