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Onigiri MMO coming to consoles next year

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Free-to-Play, Consoles

The Japanese mythology MMO, Onigiri, is officially on its way to the Xbox One (and PlayStation 4) next year in North America and Europe, Windows Central reports. The title, which is developed by Cyberstep, will be free-to-play and is already live on the Xbox One in Japan.

Onigiri came out on the PC in 2013. The console version may have patches slightly lagging behind the PC version, but it will otherwise be identical in form and function. There will be no cross-over play between platforms.

While Windows Central says that this will be Xbox One's "first MMO," that overlooks the already-released Destiny and The Crew as well as other titles on the way, including Elder Scrolls Online, PlanetSide 2, All Points Bulletin, Neverwinter, The Division, and Warframe.

Onigiri MMO coming to consoles next year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teaser page confirms Blade & Soul is heading to Japan

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, News Items, Blade & Soul

Confirmation for Blade & Soul's trip to Japan was just provided by a teaser page released by NCsoft. Steparu discovered the page, which boasts the URL 1.0/secret, when it appeared on the studio's official Japan website. Although the images are shrouded in shadow, the forms and armor are recognizable. Unfortunately, there are no other details available; it is unknown if the Japanese version of Blade & Soul will be IP blocked or if it will follow in the Korean version's footsteps and be censor free.

While this shows the game is moving into yet another international market, there is still no word (or image) on the game coming to the West.

Teaser page confirms Blade & Soul is heading to Japan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks welcomes Japan to the fight

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patches, Previews, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks

One might think that World of Tanks is starting to run out of countries to introduce to the game if it's diving into Japan, a country not exactly known for tank dominance in World War II. However, maybe the alternate history of the game will vindicate these tanks when they show up with Update 8.10.

The upcoming content addition will add 14 Japanese tanks to the game and a revamped lighting and shadow system. The Japanese tanks will be split between four light and nine medium war machines. The crown jewel of the new tank line is the Type 3 Chi-Nu Kai premium medium tank.

[Source: Wargaming press release]

World of Tanks welcomes Japan to the fight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Nov 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on with Darkfall's Japanese open beta

Andrew Ross — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Darkfall, Culture, Game Mechanics, Guilds, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Sandbox

I'm not very good at aiming. I prefer third person to first person view. Nintendo consoles and games are my drug of choice when I'm not on a PC. I hate duels and arenas. I tend to spend my time gathering resources or crafting and want to kill only mobs or players if I must. On the Bartle test of gamer psychology, I'm 60% Explorer/Socializer and 40% Achiever/Killer.

And I loved Darkfall Online.

Aside from Aventurine's little, ah, "delays," Darkfall was always a lot of fun for me, even though the guild I joined was established years before I met its members. However, when I moved to Japan, I was region-locked out of the game and unable to check out the revamped Dark Fall: Unholy Wars until recently when the Asian open beta began. I've done my best to keep up to date on the game, but reading information and playing the game are two different things. This was not so much a welcome home for me as it was a returning to my hometown after a few years to find that the buildings and local language have changed. That may sound negative to some people, and it could be, but for me, it was an adventure, which has always been something DF offers me that other games struggle to match.

Continue reading Hands-on with Darkfall's Japanese open beta

Hands-on with Darkfall's Japanese open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: PSO2 may not be heading to the West, despite being 'fully localized'

Mike Foster — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Launches, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Rumors, MMORPG

It looks as though Sega has no plans to bring Phantasy Star Online 2 to Western markets after all. TSSZ is reporting that a source close to the publisher has revealed that while the game has been "fully localized" for an English release, that localization is aimed at English-speaking regions in Asia and not European or North American audiences.

The source speculated that Sega may be concerned about PSO2's potential profitability in the West but was clear that whispers from its contacts in the company in no way represent an official cancellation of a Western release. Phantasy Star Online 2 has had no visible presence in the Western games community since it was shown at the 2012 Penny Arcade Expo.

[Thanks to BGO for the tip!]

Rumor: PSO2 may not be heading to the West, despite being 'fully localized' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Oct 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese tank line coming to World of Tanks

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Video, Patches, PvP, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks

Now that Update 8.8 is in the books, Wargaming has announced that its wildly popular World of Tanks will be adding Japanese tanks to the mix.

"The introduction of Japanese tanks allows us to explore the design and innovation of a number of legendary armored vehicles and give players the chance to experience their technological evolution throughout the mid-20th century," said World of Tanks Producer Mikhail Zhivets. "Tank models based on original designs of Japanese engineers will offer players a wide selection of authentic upgrade schemes, each tailored for particular combat objectives."

The Japanese tank tree, which will initially consist of nine medium and five light machines, will be the seventh national line added to the game. Be sure to check out the new trailer for this upcoming content just after the jump.

[Source: Wargaming press release]

Continue reading Japanese tank line coming to World of Tanks

Japanese tank line coming to World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Should governments meddle in MMO business models?

Brianna Royce — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Opinion, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Legal, Miscellaneous

Last year, we wrote about a Japanese government crackdown on free-to-play games that used a gambling-centered crafting mechanic. This past summer, the German high court effectively barred advertising for virtual items sold within free-to-play MMOs (because won't someone think of the children). Like it or not, governments are becoming more and more interested in how games, especially "free-to-play" games, conduct their business.

And that makes it our business. Some of us like subs, some prefer buy-to-plays, and some genuinely prefer a la carte free-to-play games. But I'm pretty sure none of us likes exploitative cash shops, even if we'd disagree precisely on which ones those are. And that brings us to today's question: Do you think governments should be deciding what constitutes an exploitative F2P mechanic or microtransaction practice and outlawing its implementation accordingly?

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: Should governments meddle in MMO business models? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Quest X expansion set for TGS 2013 reveal

Mike Foster — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events (Real-World), News Items, Consoles, Miscellaneous, MMORPG

Square Enix has announced plans to reveal a brand-new Dragon Quest X expansion at Tokyo Game Show 2013. Titled The Ghost That Never Sleeps, the content addition will expand upon the main Dragon Quest X story and add new maps, systems, jobs, and crafts.

This announcement follows news that a PC version of Dragon Quest X would be seeing release on September 26th and comments from Square Enix indicating that the game is edging closer to an overseas launch. Tokyo Game Show begins September 19th.

Check out the trailer for the PC launch after the break.

Continue reading Dragon Quest X expansion set for TGS 2013 reveal

Dragon Quest X expansion set for TGS 2013 reveal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEGA releases three new PSO2 videos and a roadmap for the future

Mike Foster — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMORPG

It seems like just last week that SEGA launched Phantasy Star Online 2's Episode 2, Chapter 1, and that's because it was literally just last week. Expansion continues at a breakneck pace, with Episode 2, Part 2 receiving a reveal trailer today outlining the new costumes, maps, and gear to be added when that update goes live August 7th.

But that's not all. Episode 2, Part 3 is already in the works, with an expected launch window of December 2013. SEGA also released two new commercials for Phantasy Star Online 2, one for the regular game and one for the Vita version. Both are weird.

Check out the new trailer and commercials after the break.

Continue reading SEGA releases three new PSO2 videos and a roadmap for the future

SEGA releases three new PSO2 videos and a roadmap for the future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Path of Exile events, Diablo III coming to PS4, and huge MOBA updates

Brendan Drain — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Expansions, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III

Blizzard revealed this week that Diablo III will be coming to both the PlayStation 3 and Sony's new PlayStation 4 console and will be shown off at PAX. Torchlight II developer Runic Games announced that the game will soon be localised to Japanese and Chinese for its upcoming release in Asia; a free DLC is on the way with three new Asian-themed pets. Path of Exile revealed the schedule for its first full season of ladder-style race events and announced new account security options along with its new policy to never restore items from hacked accounts.

League of Legends unveiled its new champion duo, Quinn and Valor, a dynamic pair of characters that work together as a single champion to dominate teamfights. Heroes of Newerth revealed its own new hero with a video spotlight on Saloman, a melee support hero who gains power from movement and can heal and shield his allies.

Dota 2 added a new Hero Build feature to its beta this week, giving players access to community-produced skill and item builds for all heroes. Console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth showed off its new goblin DLC character Snaga, and online FPS Blacklight: Retribution detailed its upcoming Onslaught expansion, which comes with three new game modes.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Path of Exile events, Diablo III coming to PS4, and huge MOBA updates

Not So Massively: Path of Exile events, Diablo III coming to PS4, and huge MOBA updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge market expands to Japan, hopes rise for more globalization

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, ArcheAge, Sandbox

Although the publishing agreement with GameOn for the service of ArcheAge in Japan was actually signed in 2009 (according to February 25th's press release about Simplygon), details of the company's plans for the game just recently became clear: GameOn's parent company, NeoWiz, aims to distribute and support ArcheAge using a revived social gaming platform called Pmang combined with GameOn.

It's not exactly the announcement Western ArcheAge fans want to hear most, but the news that the game will be published in Japan is definitely a step in the right direction; adding yet another country gives hope that the market will continue to expand, perhaps finally to North America and Europe. Also fanning the flames of hope is talk that NeoWiz may take the platform worldwide. We have our fingers crossed!

[Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

ArcheAge market expands to Japan, hopes rise for more globalization originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Western players gripe about random number generators, especially when it comes to cash shops. Many of us rebel against paying for lockboxes in Star Trek Online, TCG cards in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, and super-packs in City of Heroes because we want to buy a thing, not a chance at a thing.

Apparently, the idea annoys at least one government too. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that the Japanese government might crack down on social games that employ "konpu gacha" -- essentially a crafting mechanic that requires a succession of lottery-esque random rolls. To gather the random and rare items you need to craft the gizmo you really want, you wind up spending tons of real cash on a bunch of stuff you don't. Sound familiar?

I'm not a fan of legislative meddling in how fools and their money are parted, but I'm still wondering what you all think. Are these kinds of cash-shop tricks fair play, or do you think the genre would be better off without them?

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: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star Online 2 posts a benchmark and character creator for all [Updated]

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, New Titles, Previews, News Items

If you're an American fan of Phantasy Star Online 2 -- or heck, just a non-Japanese fan -- you're kind of out of luck at the moment. The game is currently not anywhere near a translated state, and testing has thus been mostly limited to Japanese players. If you're in that unlucky boat, however, things are getting at least a little bit better now. The game's character creator and benchmark has just been released for all, whether or not you're testing the game or even able to read the language.

A fan blog for the game features both screenshots of the character creator and corresponding benchmark as well as a guide to getting the program to work on your machine. While it's not quite the same as being able to log into the game and enjoy the testing sequence, it's at least a chance to get a taste of what the game will be like when (and if) it comes to our shores.

[Update: Thanks to Venova for the original tip as well as the news that there's an unofficial English patch for this benchmark toy!]

Phantasy Star Online 2 posts a benchmark and character creator for all [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA consolidating servers in Japan [Updated]

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, TERA

While highly anticipated in the West, not all is sunshine and rainbows for TERA overseas. Under assault by bots and bugs, NHN Japan announced that it will be reducing the number of open beta players currently in the game down to 33% by consolidating servers. Players in Japan shell out $38.50 per month to test the game.

TERA's been testing in Japan for five months now and has shown promise, with over 48,000 concurrent players logging in at one point. Even though the beta test is shrinking in players, NHN is making tweaks to the game to improve the experience for those who remain. These improvements include doubling the amount of free time for new players and cutting the cooldown time of dungeons in half while increasing the amount of loot dropped.

NHN Japan says that the population decrease will help to improve the game's performance as it progresses in testing: "Although the CCU has been decreased from the initial start, it is now more stable than we expected. The server consolidation is to promote better cooperative play."

The Korean beta test of TERA conducted a similar server consolidation last May.

[Update: While the developers are currently consolidating servers, TERA is no longer in beta testing in Japan. TERA launched several months back as a subscription-based game. We apologize for the confusion.]

TERA consolidating servers in Japan [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizardry Online launches open beta in Japan while eyeing the west

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, PvP, Free-to-Play

Gamepot's hardcore do-or-die Wizardry Online took a big step in its development last week as the title went into open beta in Japan. Over 100,000 players stormed the castle gates to get a peek at this permadeath MMO, and Gamepot had to add several additional servers during the first day to handle the influx of adventurers.

Gamepot's Shuhei Ueda says that seducing Japanese players is just the first step in the company's plans: "For Gamepot, it is truly amazing to see so many enthusiastic fans of the Wizardry franchise participate in the open beta testing, and now live service, of Wizardry Online. Bringing this innovative and legendary series to a new platform has been a rewarding process and we're looking forward to continuing our world-wide rollout to fans around the globe."

Work continues on an English version of Wizardry Online, which Gamepot hopes will make it across the Pacific sometime in 2012. The studio is also seeking out a publisher for North American and European markets. While you wait, you can read up on our first look at Wizardry Online from this past summer's E3.

Gallery: Wizardry Online

[Source: Gamepot press release]

Wizardry Online launches open beta in Japan while eyeing the west originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate is cursed... in a good way

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), Patches, Hellgate: London, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS

Just when we thought we'd be stuck in London forever, Hellgate Global took us across the world to the ravaged vista of Tokyo late last month. To celebrate the good times and charred corpses all across virtual Japan, the resurrected MMOFPS is bringing a set of new challenges for players to overcome.

For those who scoff at curses and camping out on top of primitive burial grounds, Hellgate dares you to activate your Curse of Dawn mode and attempt to take out Imhotep and Anaksunamun. Those who do so will be on the receiving end of rewards beyond imagination. Also, in-game currency.

Other challenges heading into the game include a guild battle system, and the return of Boss Time Attack. It's not all work and no play, as players will enjoy bonus supplies, free gifts at specific levels, and XP boosts. For a limited time champion monsters will drop lucky coupons, which can then be exchanged for rare items. These will only be in the game until the end October 15th, as luck can only last for so long.

[Source: T3 Entertainment press release]

Hellgate is cursed... in a good way originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft pet sales contribute over $1.9 million to Red Cross

Matt Daniel — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items

In May, Blizzard announced that sales of the Moonkin Hatchling in-game pet had raised $800,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Around the same time, Japan suffered a devastating earthquake and Blizzard was quick to introduce a second in-game pet in the form of the Cenarion Hatchling, the sales of which would all be contributed to the Red Cross's Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami relief fund.

Well, it looks like the World of Warcraft community -- with a little help from the adorable feathered Cenarion Hatchling -- has done it again. Blizzard announced today that as of today, sales of the Hatchling have totaled over $1.9 million, with every last penny going to the Land of the Rising Sun in its time of need. Blizzard -- and we here at Massively, for that matter -- send out heartfelt thanks to the players who helped contribute to this staggering amount to the Red Cross.

World of Warcraft pet sales contribute over $1.9 million to Red Cross originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP partners with Nexon to release EVE Online in Japan [Updated]

Brendan Drain — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Business Models, Launches, MMO Industry, News Items, DUST 514

The Japanese games market can be difficult for western companies to break into, with accurate client localisation and translation acting as a huge potential roadblock. In an unexpected press release today, EVE Online developer CCP Games announced a strategic partnership with Japan-based MMO publisher Nexon to bring both EVE Online and DUST 514 to the Japanese market. EVE is currently available in English, German and Russian, and Japanese players have so far found considerable difficulty in playing the game.

Unlike EVE's Chinese release, the Japanese client will connect to the main Tranquility game server. Nexon will add the game to its portal website and use its own billing system for Japanese subscribers. As we've seen with EVE's sizeable Russian playerbase, it's likely that entire alliances and communities will build up within the game once it hits the shelves in Japan. While the language barrier between players from different parts of the world can limit social interaction, it turns out that everyone understands the language of smashing internet spaceships to bits with lasers. The PC release of EVE Online in Japan will appear later this year.

[Update: CCP has informed us that this deal with Nexon does not apply to anything DUST-related.]

CCP partners with Nexon to release EVE Online in Japan [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hello Kitty Online donates $6,000 to Japanese earthquake relief fund

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Hello Kitty Online, Kids, Family

It's been inspiring to see how many people have stepped up following the tragic Japanese earthquake and tsunami a month ago, including gamers and studios. Sanrio Digital rallied Hello Kitty Online players to the cause with its aptly named Japan Earthquake Aid project.

During a recent in-game event, players were encouraged to gather together special items and hand them in to a GM. Depending on the amount of items accrued over the event, Sanrio Digital promised to donate a variable amount of money to Project KIBOW, which helps fund Japan's Civic Force, an organization that hands out supplies and food to those still struggling with this crisis.

Sanrio announced today that due to the players' efforts, the company is handing in a check for $6,041 on behalf of Hello Kitty Online. Helpful players who passed a certain item donation threshold received a spiffy in-game Tokyo outfit as a thank-you from the company.

Hello Kitty Online donates $6,000 to Japanese earthquake relief fund originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Exploring the lands of MOBA

Brendan Drain — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, Video, Culture, Game Mechanics, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively

Welcome to Not So Massively, our brand-new 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.

It's sometimes hard to believe that MMOs and online gaming in its current form are both relatively new. In a single generation, online gaming has gone from a technical infeasibility to a global industry worth billions. The list of MMOs is constantly growing, and the line between MMOs and other online games blurs more every year. In the past few years, we've seen a massive rise in the popularity of microtransaction-supported and free-to-play MMOs. Other online games like League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth have adopted similar strategies, using a cash shop to fund ongoing development.

There are now lots of heavily community-based games out there that for one reason or another aren't quite MMOs. The lack of shared persistent worlds in some online games or the relatively small size of server communities can render the game not-so-"massive," but persistent stats, character progression, cohesive communities, or other qualities make them more than just another online game.

In this first edition of Not So Massively, I look at the generosity of League of Legends players, a new hero on the way for Heroes of Newerth, the Rise of Immortals closed beta, plans for future development in Bloodline Champions, and other big news stories from the previous week.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Exploring the lands of MOBA

Not So Massively: Exploring the lands of MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online players raise over $44,000 for Japan relief fund

Brendan Drain — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items

Never let it be said that gamers don't have big hearts. When Japan was hit by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami, people around the world stepped up to donate to disaster relief programs. Several MMO developers have made substantial donations using profits from their games. NCSoft made a huge donation of 500 million yen (6.3 million USD), and Sony Online Entertainment donated 300 million yen (3.6 million U.S. dollars). SOE, gPotato, Perfect World Entertainment and Hi-Rez studios have all been running schemes to help players donate, ranging from special once-only microtransaction items to just donating a percentage of all cash shop proceeds to charity.

EVE Online's developer CCP Games has encouraged donations through their unique PLEX system. Players who couldn't afford to donate cash were encouraged to buy PLEX in-game using ISK and donate them to the relief fund. CCP would then scrap the PLEX items and donate their full purchase value to charity. The scheme has been very successful at raising money in previous disasters, raising over 40,000 USD for the Haitian earthquake fund and roughly a further 20,000 USD for the flooding in Pakistan.

In a new devblog, CCP Fallout has released the final results of EVE's charity drive. A total of 2549 PLEX, each worth 17.5 USD, was donated to the scheme by players. CCP will be donating the full value of 44,607.50 USD to the Red Cross in the name the EVE Online community, and will be paying for all of the tax and management costs themselves. EVE players have now donated a total of 108,000 USD through the PLEX for Good scheme. Head over to the devblog for the details of the charity drive and some interesting information on three players who helped make it a success.

EVE Online players raise over $44,000 for Japan relief fund originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE rewards players for aiding Japan's relief effort

Larry Everett — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events (Real-World), News Items, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, Clone Wars Adventures, EverQuest Next

In case you haven't been paying attention to the world, Japan was hit with a devastating tsunami a couple of weeks ago. Since then, multiple MMO companies have donated to the restoration. According to a post on the EverQuest II site, the Sony Corporation has donated 300 million yen (3.6 million U.S. dollars) to the Central Community Chest of Japan and hopes to donate more as needed.

Sony Online Entertainment is encouraging its players to donate to the cause as well. The game development team has designed special in-game gifts for those who would like to donate through Station Cash. EverQuest, Free Realms, and Clone Wars Adventures players can purchase a cherry blossom tree (the national tree of Japan) for 500 Station Cash. EQII players can purchase a Memory of Spring statue, also for 500 Station Cash. Lastly, Star Wars Galaxies players can buy a $5 stuffed Tauntaun toy TCG loot card. With each of these purchases, SOE will donate $10 to the American Red Cross relief efforts.

Monday will mark the last day you'll be able to make these purchases, so if you play any of these games or would just like to make a donation, the sooner the better!

SOE rewards players for aiding Japan's relief effort originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft makes multi-million dollar Japanese relief donation

Jef Reahard — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous

Earlier we told you about Hi-Rez Studios and its efforts to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. NCsoft is also throwing a considerable contribution into the relief drive in the form of 500 million Yen (or 4.5 million Euros/6.3 million USD, for those of you counting along at home).

NCsoft's Sung Joon Park explained that the sum equals a month's worth of sales, adding that the South Korean gaming giant would not be shutting off game services. "We'll maintain the service with minimal electricity and personnel. Maintaining daily life is also important, therefore we plan to uphold the service."

Kotaku puts NCsoft's gift into perspective, noting that the South Korean MMO maker is a big deal in Asia, where its contributions to the Japanese recovery outstrip notables including Nintendo, Sony, and Hyundai.

[Thanks to cic for the tip!]

NCsoft makes multi-million dollar Japanese relief donation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi-Rez puts Global Agenda on sale, 100% of proceeds going to disaster victims

Jef Reahard — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Global Agenda

Lots of game companies are stepping up to offer financial support to the victims of the recent disasters that have devastated Japan. Atlanta-based Hi-Rez Studios is going one better, as the indie MMO developer has placed its flagship title on sale for the weekend and is donating 100% of the resulting proceeds to Red Cross relief efforts.

That's right, we said 100%, and from March 18th through March 20th, purchasing Global Agenda from the Hi-Rez online store will not only net you the premier MMO shooter at a $20.00 discount but send much-needed funds to our friends in the Pacific.

Global Agenda is completely free-to-play after the initial client purchase, and Hi-Rez offers booster packs to speed your in-game advancement and credit/token acquisition.

Hi-Rez puts Global Agenda on sale, 100% of proceeds going to disaster victims originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The MMO Report: Guilds, crafting, and craft beer edition

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, News Items, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous

It's St. Patrick's day, and what better time to discuss craft beers on The MMO Report than today? Mind you, for those of you who don't imbibe frosty adult beverages, there's also a huge serving of corned MMO news, and the lilting smell of cabbage you're picking up... is probably coming from the mailbag. Shall we move on to the tasty news of the week? Let's!

First up, Casey jumps straight on to the Guild Wars 2 news that many have been buzzing about this week: professions! Next up, it's Star Wars: The Old Republic's trailer made of completely delicious in-game footage, as well as the ongoing rush to get guilds set up before launch. Casey zooms straight into Jagex's partnership with Hasbro to create the upcoming Transformers MMO for the West, and he notes that Free Realms on PS3 will probably be just as popular as it is on PC.

Casey also takes a moment to note the Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV server downtime and asks anyone who can to please donate to help those in Japan. Moving on from there, it's a look into the ever-enlightening mailbag, where this week Casey is both praised and derided for his choice in beers and we are treated to another dose of photoshop magic. Finally, it is revealed that G4TV landed an exclusive fly-over of Perfect World International's new area, Dragon Mountain.

As always, you can catch this week's episode behind the break, or every Thursday on G4TV.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Guilds, crafting, and craft beer edition

The MMO Report: Guilds, crafting, and craft beer edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthquake interruption delays Final Fantasy updates

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events (Real-World), Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

With the massive earthquake that shut down both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, players of both games are awaiting news on when service is expected to resume while the nation of Japan struggles to recover. But there have been other repercussions for Square-Enix, and in wake of the disaster, coming patches for both games have been pushed back. Final Fantasy XI's next major update, previously scheduled for mid-April, has been pushed back to a provisional date in May depending on further developments.

Naoki Yoshida has put together a producer's letter explaining some of the situation in the country now, noting that while the Tokyo-based employees were unharmed, many of the staff members had family in the affected regions, not to mention power outages rendering several team members unable to get to work. The next two patches have subsequently been delayed until April, with a promise that Final Fantasy XIV players will learn more about the upcoming Grand Companies (formerly called public companies) before too long. As always, we hope that the staff and families of Square-Enix remain safe through this unforeseen crisis.

Earthquake interruption delays Final Fantasy updates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donate EVE ISK to help disaster relief efforts in Japan

Brendan Drain — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items

When it comes to collecting aid for disaster relief, EVE Online developer CCP Games has a unique way of helping players donate. While many MMOs ask for donations or release limited-edition cash shop items, CCP has managed to devise a way for players to donate in-game currency to help people in the real world. During the relief effort for last year's earthquake in Haiti, CCP began accepting donations of 30-day Pilot's License EXtensions (PLEX) for their full monetary value in game time. With the recent devestation in Japan, CCP has once again asked for the EVE community's help to raise money for relief aid.

Each PLEX bought on the in-game market and donated to charity represents 30 days of game time that someone in the world originally paid for with cash but that won't be redeemed into game time. Because of this, CCP can donate the full cash value of that game time to a registered relief charity without taking a big loss. CCP absorbs all management and tax fees to ensure that 100% of the donated game time's value is passed on to registered charities (in this case, the Red Cross).

To donate to the relief effort in Japan, EVE players are encouraged to buy PLEX on the open market and contract them to the character "CCP PLEX For Good" before March 31st. As usual, EVE Online's normally permissive rules on scamming have been suspended in relation to the charity drive. Anyone attempting to scam players out of ISK or PLEX using this charity drive will be dealt with harshly. With notable rich players and corporations able to potentially donate thousands of dollars' worth of PLEX, this charity drive is sure to raise a substantial amount of money for disaster-stricken Japan.

Donate EVE ISK to help disaster relief efforts in Japan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan's earthquake having aftershocks in the MMO world

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, Miscellaneous

Unless you've deliberately avoiding learning about what's going on in the world, you've doubtlessly heard of the massive earthquake that hit Japan on Friday. Our thoughts and good wishes go to any and all of our readers, and their friends and families, directly affected by the disaster. But it hits people in many ways, and it's even reaching into the MMO sphere, with both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV shutting down completely for at least a week of service.

While the servers for both games had been kept running briefly after the disaster, the massive power failures across Japan resulted in widespread shortages. The service is expected to be down for at least a week from today, and players will receive no bills for the month due to the interruption. Sony Online Entertainment has no games based out of the island nation, but it has also suspended billing for all players in the region and has pointed players to disaster relief centers. We can only hope that other companies follow suit where possible, as a tragedy of this scale demands a response.

Japan's earthquake having aftershocks in the MMO world originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FFXIV gameplay footage explores cities, chocobos and emotes

Kyle Horner — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New Titles, News Items, Final Fantasy XIV

A lot of news has been coming out for Final Fantasy XIV lately, and we're quite happy to see it. Today we've got what appears to be (the first episode of what's sure to be recurring) in-game footage of players exploring one of Eorzea's cities on the game's official Japanese YouTube channel. There's a moment in the clip where the Japanese players speaking throughout are amazed to find a Chocobo and well, it's pretty entertaining to watch -- especially when the video gets to the part where it reveals that old Tarutaru emotes are fully intact. Panic!

We're also getting another tiny peek at the user interface for Final Fantasy XIV in the video. From what we can see here, Square Enix is keeping the memorable "Send/Receive" graphic, which blinks with a strange hypnotic rhythm. The mini-map and health/mana bars both look quite useful yet unobtrusive, too. Overall, everything about this game screams, "Final Fantasy XI, but newer and hopefully improved." We hope that proves to be wholly true in the coming months.

FFXIV gameplay footage explores cities, chocobos and emotes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spellborn dropping out of the Japanese market

Kyle Horner — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, The Chronicles of Spellborn, News Items

The somewhat European inspired fantasy MMO The Chronicles of Spellborn is shutting down its Japanese service, causing a stir of worry and discussion about the title's future in other territories within the community at large. To make matters worse, the one person who could've cleared up any confusion, TheHistorian, is no longer with publisher Acclaim as community manager for the game. Given that he was the sole link between the community and developers, it's no wonder people are feeling a bit unsettled by the whole affair.

While the closure of The Chronicles of Spellborn Japan isn't a good thing, it doesn't necessarily spell out a dark future for the title. A business deal could've gone sour, or perhaps the audience in Japan just wasn't strong enough to maintain the title. Just in cast something does happen, however, we'll be keeping an eye out for any further development.

Spellborn dropping out of the Japanese market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square-Enix announces VanaFest 2010

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Events (Real-World), News Items, Final Fantasy XIV

With Final Fantasy XI entering its eighth year of operation and Final Fantasy XIV just around the corner, fans of Square-Enix have plenty to be excited about. But there's even more good news -- the company has just announced VanaFest 2010, the official fan gathering for the game, on February 28th in Tokyo.

The official announcement, mirrored on Pet Food Alpha, makes a strong point that there will be a great deal of information about upcoming job changes and game updates coming for Final Fantasy XI. It seems that even with its big brother on the horizon, Square is still committed to its older game, a welcome sight for many fans. There's also an undisclosed "special announcement" rumored to be coming at the convention.

Pet Food Alpha also has a few additional pieces of information. The tickets for the event will be free of charge, but will only be available to players with an active Japanese POL ID since December 2008. Attendees will be lucky enough to receive the pictured chocobo cap, while those unable to attend will have to be content with the new information coming out of the convention. With any luck, a similar event will be held for American and European players, but even just knowing that new facts are incoming for the game should be enough to get fans worked up.

Square-Enix announces VanaFest 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: Tokyo, still not for you!

James Egan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, Hellgate: London

Let's just get this out of the way right off the bat -- there is no word on a Hellgate game release for, or return to, any of the Western markets. Still, some of us quite enjoyed playing Hellgate: London or saw the potential in it, and would like to see this happen. Back when Hellgate: London was new and held some promise as a good mix of horror and sci-fi, a few of the writers here envisioned how the game might expand if it were successful. Monikers like Hellgate: Hong Kong, Hellgate: New York, and such were mentioned. As was Hellgate: Tokyo, only it seems this one is actually going to happen... for Asia.

Our Korean is ~~rusty~~ non-existent but the (very brief) Hellgate: Tokyo teaser indicates a 2010 release. Fans of Hellgate: London -- we know there must be a few of you out there somewhere -- can find the video over at GameTrailers.

Hellgate: Tokyo, still not for you! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online extending reach into Russia and Japan

James Egan — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Business Models, Culture, News Items

The sci-fi massively multiplayer online title EVE Online is very much a game of galactic conquest. In that spirit of world domination, CCP Games has been working on establishing the title's presence in both Russia and Japan. EVE developer CCP Caedmon is part of the company's localization team, and has written a dev blog titled "Machine Translation's Bad, M'kay?", dealing with CCP's efforts to reach out to Russian and Japanese gamers.

Both Japanese and Russian localizations of the EVE client are now up on the Singularity test server. By all indications, the Russian client's localization is further along, as CCP Games opened up the client for public testing in 2008. However, they're interested in pushing ahead with Japanese localization as well. CCP Caedmon writes, "We know there is a highly dedicated community of Japanese players out there who have been with EVE since the early days and we are excited to hear your feedback."

For more on the status of EVE Online as it applies to other markets, see CCP Caedmon's "Machine Translation's Bad, M'kay?".

EVE Online extending reach into Russia and Japan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan's online games industry steps up security

James Egan — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items

The potential for having a hacked game account clearly goes hand in hand with online games, regardless of which country you're in. Japan is taking aim at this particular issue through a rather significant partnership with Visa International, reports Nicholas Aaron Khoo for CNET Asia.

The Japan Online Game Association (JOGA) has pushed for the industry-wide adoption of Verified by Visa by year's end. Verified by Visa uses SSL encryption as part of its Three-Domain (3-D) Secure platform, and it's hoped that establishing this industry standard will reduce the frequency of stolen accounts. Khoo writes, "According to JOGA, Verified by Visa has already been implemented by over 60 percent of online gaming companies in Japan -- the highest among any online retail and service provider industry categories." You can check out the full story in Khoo's "Peace of mind for Japanese gamers?" as part of his Geekonomics column at CNET Asia.

[Via PlayNoEvil]

Japan's online games industry steps up security originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A tale of geek purgatory

Kyle Horner — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, News Items, Humor

What's it like being stuck in the Japanese equivalence of a Korean cybercafe? Apparently, it's like hell, or at least it was for one gamer who wrote an article on Eurogamer discussing his several-hours within just such a place. We began reading the article with a twinge of inner pain as the place is described in such a way that would make anyone feel claustrophobic. Not very far into it though, you'll learn about some of the oddities of Japanese MMO players and their tendancy to be really, well, obsessive compulsive.

We're not gonna lie, the typical Japanese MMO game and player scares the living daylights out of us -- mostly because they seem like machines. And we all know what happens when machines start posing as humans, right? The entire world is either bombed, or the human race is enslaved and sent back into time repeatedly until a paradox destorys time itself. Bad stuff.

A tale of geek purgatory originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vengeful online paramour deletes MMO account, gets arrested IRL

Tateru Nino — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: MapleStory, News Items, Legal

The AP reports that a Japanese woman who had an online-only marriage with a Japanese man has been arrested for taking unlawful action against his avatar. We were talking about this sort of thing only this-morning, actually. You might want to refer back to that.

When her online hubbie broke off the relationship, she retaliated by using her ex's password to get into his Maplestory account and deleted his avatar/character there. AP doesn't say what the charges are likely to be, but we can take a good guess. It passes the dishonesty and deprivation tests (Dishonest appropriation of property with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it), so that's criminal theft right there. Likely "destruction of property" will also be added as a rider. At the very least, we imagine that unlawful accessing of a computer and illegal data manipulation will wind up on the list.

The 43 year-old woman has been remanded into custody in Sappporo, the jurisdiction where the 33 year-old man lives. AP says that she may face a prison term of up to five years, or a fine of up to US$5,000, though without any formal charges being laid, that seems a touch premature. Though the AP also bandies about the terms 'divorce' and 'murder', both of which are clearly inapplicable to the current case.

Vengeful online paramour deletes MMO account, gets arrested IRL originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 gets some MMO lovin' in Japan

Samuel Axon — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Consoles

There's a thread over at NeoGaf reporting that Japanese game publisher Koei, which is famous for its Dynasty Warriors beat-em-up/battlefield-strategy hybrid games, might be developing an MMO. The company's Tokyo Game Show page was briefly updated with an entry for an MMO title for both PC and PS3. When the mistake was caught the entry was immediately taken down. Fans of Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms are very excited. Everyone else can probably move on, because Koei has done pretty little that wasn't at least mostly the same concept as one of those.

Also, our friends at PS3 Fanboy have celebrated the launch of the free-to-play Asian PS3 MMO Angel Love Online (a veritable cute fest, that one) by writing up a guide to getting the game running for non-Japanese users. Angel Love is currently available only through the Japanese PlayStation Network store, but that sort of thing has never stopped anyone smart and resourceful, has it? If you succeed, you'll get to play it entirely in Japanese! Oh, yay! It looks very Secret of Mana-esque.

Due to the language barrier, most Western PS3 owners will probably want to wait for The Agency, Free Realms, and DC Universe Online, but if you can't wait, here you go. And remember, if seeing Japanese culture Lost in Translation is what you want, there's always TV. In Japan. Read on below the cut for a look at Angel Love Online.

Continue reading PS3 gets some MMO lovin' in Japan

PS3 gets some MMO lovin' in Japan originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan to open virtual disaster prevention museum

Tateru Nino — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: News Items, Second Life, Education, Virtual Worlds

No, not actually for the prevention of virtual disasters. The Daily Yomiuri tells us that the Japanese government is planning a virtual museum in Second Life focusing on disaster prevention in order to promote awareness of disaster management and techniques and technologies to mitigate the impact of a wide range of disasters.

Initial exhibits will demonstrate how non-earthquake hardened buildings respond to seismic events, and the impact of tornados on urban settings. Unfortunately, we think that it's unlikely to include such disasters as Godzilla, Orga, Mothra or Rodan.

Nonetheless, the potential educational benefits of such an installation are hard to deny -- the impact and effects of natural disasters can be almost inconceivable to those who have not directly experienced such events or their aftereffects themselves.

Japan to open virtual disaster prevention museum originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Western MMOs go East

Michael Zenke — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry

Gamasutra is featuring an insightful piece on the challenges and pitfalls of Western game developers looking to move their games to the extremely productive Eastern gaming markets. China, Japan, and especially Korea are world-renowned for their appreciation of videogames, and recent years have seen a number of Eastern games make the move to Europe and the US with varying degrees of success. According to article author Tim Allison, a key to addressing new marketplaces is to not only localize content and design but business models as well.

Allison runs through a number of points in this space, covering issues like console success in the region, the almost mandatory nature of online distribution, and the always-thorny issue of monetization. Possibly most interesting is the author's statement that the Korean marketplace "made" the MMO genre. "The South Korean government, both through its late 1990s subsidies for game development and rollout of the broadband network, became the key driver of this segment. Even in 2008 where overall the Korean MMOG content is not up to its usual high standard the Korean companies are still setting the industry terms."

When Western MMOs go East originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Headlock's ai sp@ce virtual world to launch this year

Tateru Nino — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Real-Life, New Titles, News Items, Virtual Worlds

It's always a thrill when one of your favorite game-developers announces that they're working on an MMO or virtual world or when a developer takes on one of your favorite properties. Developer Headlock is well along on one such virtual world now.

Japanese developers are working on a number of virtual worlds (which we hope to get more of a handle on over time). This one, ai-sp@ce, is set in Akihabara and will also feature characters from Visual Novels Clannad (????????????), Shuffle!, and Da Capo 2 (D.C.II). Yes, it's the world of Japanese Visual Novels come-to-life in a 3D virtual world!

Continue reading Headlock's ai sp@ce virtual world to launch this year

Headlock's ai sp@ce virtual world to launch this year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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