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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Nine reasons for nine years of City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-nine-reasons-for-nine-years-of-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-nine-reasons-for-nine-years-of-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/a-mild-mannered-reporter-nine-reasons-for-nine-years-of-city-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bree says this header makes her cry.
This is not timed perfectly to coincide with what would have been the ninth anniversary of City of Heroes. It couldn't be, honestly; trying to do so would have resulted in a worse column. There's also the simple fact that the ninth anniversary did not actually happen, the game was gone before then. Sanctifying the date will not bring the game back, nor will it assuage the fact that it's not there any longer.

Despite all of that, I liked the thematic structure put forth on the Titan boards, nine reasons for nine years. But since I'm incapable of doing things any way but the wrong way, I'm approaching this in my own style with my own nine reasons that I wish we'd had a ninth year. Even if the game comes back tomorrow in some form, it's never going to have the life that it should have had, and here's my nine reasons why I wish that weren't the case.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Nine reasons for nine years of City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Nine reasons for nine years of City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversariesanniversary-but-notcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftnine-yearsopinionparagonparagon-studiossave-cohsuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 08 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-super-news-super-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Incidentally, I want to visit a screen door factory.
It's been a fairly quiet month on the superhero front, which is the way of things. Some months it seems as if you can't go a day without a new launch; others you realize belatedly that it's the end of the month because another round of bills are due. Possibly including subscription fees. It all ties together.

Of course, the superhero arena has been quiet for a little while now, but we're seeing signs of life cropping up once again. There are titles in development, new content approaching, and a launch in about a month that should really be getting a bit more marketing support. That's a topic for another article.

So as we do once per month at A Mild-Mannered Reporter, it's time to look back over the past month or so and talk about the news stories that have cropped up relating to the genre of men and women in spandex punching robots.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Super news, super review originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteractionaction-mmocity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconsoleconsolescovcoxdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgazilliongazillion-entertainmentheroes-and-villainsinfinite-crisismarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemild-mannered-reportermuoncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplan-z-virtual-studioplaystation-3playstation3ps3secret-identitysoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 01 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Heroes and Villains releases trailer, revamps website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/heroes-and-villains-releases-trailer-revamps-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/heroes-and-villains-releases-trailer-revamps-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/heroes-and-villains-releases-trailer-revamps-website/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Heroes and Villains releases trailer, revamps website
Spiritual successor Heroes and Villains is marking City of Heroes' ninth anniversary with several new updates. These include a revamp of the website and forums and the launch of the game's first teaser trailer and first official screenshot.

Heroes and Villains aims "to create a casual, community-focused game that will allow players with even limited amounts of time to still be able to log in and achieve something, or just hang out with their friends."

Head past the cut to view the teaser trailer.

[Thanks Amanda!]

Continue reading Heroes and Villains releases trailer, revamps website

MassivelyHeroes and Villains releases trailer, revamps website originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomheroes-and-villainsheroes-and-villains-trailerncsoftparagonparagon-studiossuperherosuperheroestrailervideoMon, 29 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Players commemorate City of Heroes' 9th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/players-commemorate-city-of-heroes-9th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/players-commemorate-city-of-heroes-9th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/players-commemorate-city-of-heroes-9th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Players celebrate City of Heroes' 9th anniversary
While City of Heroes is no longer with us -- you might not have heard, sorry -- the spirit lives on in its former players' hearts. As this week would have been the ninth anniversary of the superhero MMO, the community has decided to celebrate by remembering all of the greatest aspects about it.

On the CoHTitan boards, the call has gone out for players to share specific City of Heroes favorite aspects over a seven-day 10-day span on Twitter. Each day has a particular theme, starting with ways that CoH innovated and going on to include favorite missions, unsolved plots, why players want the game back, and more.

"This isn't a time for negativity," the post's author writes. "This is about celebrating what was and what could have been. Join me in this celebration of love towards our beloved City of Heroes."

MassivelyPlayers commemorate City of Heroes' 9th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9th-anniversaryanniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcohtitancommunitycovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomncsoftninth-anniversaryparagonparagon-studiossuperherosuperheroestwitterFri, 26 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Final moments of MMOs, part 2
LAST TIME ON THE PERFECT TEN: Games were shut down, tears were shed, memories were dragged unwillingly from long-term storage, and videos were shown. Also, Marty totally suckered Biff into driving into a truck full of manure and then got his parents to kiss at a dance so that he wouldn't be erased from the space-time continuum.

AND NOW FOR THE EXCITING CONCLUSION!

Is it completely morbid to want to revisit (or see for the first time) the final moments of MMOs? Yes, but also no. Really, it's just interesting to me, and I have no great agenda at play here. Sometimes seeing how a game goes out can tell you a lot about its community and dev team. So join us now as we hit the second half of 10 videos showing the last few minutes of these online RPGs.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 2

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedapbrback-to-betabetabrowserbrowser-basedcasualcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconsoleconsolescovcoxcrimef2pfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivflashfree-to-playfreedomg1gamersfirstglitchhipsterhumorlego-universencsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenpvproundupsandboxsquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentinyspecktop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listunlauncheningThu, 25 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Stop digging up the grave]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-stop-digging-up-the-grave/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-stop-digging-up-the-grave/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-stop-digging-up-the-grave/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sometimes you just have to pull off the bandage.
My original plan for this week's column was to discuss themes and tone in superheroic games, but that got pushed to the side when Jack Emmert's comments about City of Heroes lit up the imagination of pretty much everyone still pining for Paragon City. For those who haven't already seen it, here's a helpful link to the video of the PAX East panel wherein Emmert makes a brief statement that the shutdown was not a good thing and that NCsoft should call him.

Friends of mine from the City of Heroes community let me know about this. People I don't know from the City of Heroes community let me know about this. Random strangers let the entire Massively team know about this. Never mind that I was at the PAX East panel where it happened and thereby already knew about this beforehand, that's not really important right now.

You are probably expecting me to join the crowd of the hopefuls, but no. We're long past that point, and even if we weren't, this is not a chance to start hoping that the game will return from the grave. Fact is, it's past time to stop hoping.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Stop digging up the grave

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Stop digging up the grave originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosdearly-departedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosshutdownssunsetssuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 10 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview peeks behind the curtain of City of Heroes' final act]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/interview-peeks-behind-the-curtain-of-city-of-heroes-final-act/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/interview-peeks-behind-the-curtain-of-city-of-heroes-final-act/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/interview-peeks-behind-the-curtain-of-city-of-heroes-final-act/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Interview peeks behind the curtain of Paragon Studio's of final act
Yes, City of Heroes is gone. And it was as surprising to the Paragon Studios staff as it was to players. A recent interview with Matt Miller, former lead designer, explores the effort that management put into saving the studio and the game right up until the last minute. It also highlights the content that barely missed release.

In speaking about the buyout plan that Paragon management was negotiating, Miller stated, "We all were really working as if things were going to work out... it was business as usual right up until the last day.

"On the night before we all got the notice of the studio shutting down, Brian, Ross, and Destin were in there still trying to work out that deal," Miller continued. "We were a signature away from things going through or not -- and we unfortunately fell on the not side."

But did the team try everything? Miller acknowledged all of the great ideas that fans proposed and he says that each and every avenue was already explored. And what of the fans who'd like to see the developers come together under their own banner? While it's a good idea in theory, Miller says that in reality, many employees had already lined up new jobs by November 1st, and starting a new studio became increasingly impossible as time went on.

MassivelyInterview peeks behind the curtain of City of Heroes' final act originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buyout-plancity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedominterviewMatt-Millerncsoftnegotiationsparagonparagon-studiossunsetsuperherosuperheroesWed, 10 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Dancing with my homies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/one-shots-dancing-with-my-homies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/one-shots-dancing-with-my-homies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/one-shots-dancing-with-my-homies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One Shots Dancing with my homies
First of all, thank you guys so much for responding to our One Shots rallying cry and absolutely flooding us with screenshots! My cup overfloweth, and that's a delightful change of pace for this column. Even though we're quite literally set for months now, please keep sending in your favorite old or new screencaps!

To kick us off this week is Jerry, who's showing off how Anarchy Online can party down with the best of them: "This is Yardsale, a level 220 Trader, dancing with his trader pets in Borealis."

At first glance, I almost thought we were in the Matrix. But even with polygons so sharp that you can cut yourself on them, this title definitely has a style all its own. Hit the jump to see this and other wonders of the screenshotted world.

Continue reading One Shots: Dancing with my homies

MassivelyOne Shots: Dancing with my homies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaobring-back-one-shotsbuy-to-playcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomgalleriesgallerygameforgegameforge-berlinhorrormythologyncsoftone-shotsparagonparagon-studiospics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsci-fantasysci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlesssuperherosuperheroestaboreathe-secret-worldtswuser-submissionsSun, 10 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/a-mild-mannered-reporter-shall-i-play-the-villain/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm not such a bad guy once you get to know me. For a given value of bad.
Superheroes are defined by their villains. A lot of what makes Spider-man and Batman such celebrated characters is the fact that they've got no shortage of interesting opponents. DC Universe Online knew this when it launched and gave players a villainous option right from the beginning, something that even City of Heroes didn't manage until its first expansion.

Not that this is the norm. Admittedly, calling anything the "norm" in a subgenre with only three launched games to go by is a bit complicated, but that's not the point. Champions Online doesn't let you take a walk on the villain side, and Marvel Heroes will launch without the ability to play a villain now or (presumably) ever.

This seems a bit odd on some level. We like villains, we interact with villains as readers, we enjoy seeing what the villains will do. But does it diminish a game to lack the option, or does it diminish villains as a whole when you can play as one?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain?

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Shall I play the villain? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I really need to settle on a header instead of randomly pulling old ones. Thoughts, oh handful of readers who look at the alt text?
2012 was probably the worst year ever for fans of superheroes in the MMO space. The best months of the year were just kind of there, and then the biggest game in the genre unexpectedly closed. Unpacking what caused the City of Heroes closure is something that's ongoing to the moment, and I'd be remiss to not talk about the recent anonymous claims that City of Heroes was profitable up to its closure combined with a denial that... isn't, really.

At the same time, I'm a firm believer in the idea that bad things can have positive outcomes. So I think that for all the bad that happened in 2012, we might be looking at 2013 as a banner year for superheroes. Not that it's certain by any means, but between last year's media and the current state of affairs, there's space for some awesome possibilities. And a lot of screwups, too, but isn't that always the case?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How superheroes died and why it's good

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: How superheroes died and why it's good originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgenreheroes-and-villainslincoln-davismild-mannered-reportermissing-worlds-mediancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplan-z-studiossave-cohsuperherosuperhero-culturesuperhero-genresuperhero-mediasuperheroesthe-phoenix-projectWed, 16 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter Extra: Interviews with Champions Online and The Phoenix Project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-extra-interviews-with-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-extra-interviews-with-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/a-mild-mannered-reporter-extra-interviews-with-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Still sad? Still sad.
I promised you that we would be doing interviews next time, but astute readers would note that I did not say "next week." So welcome to our special extra installment of the column looking at two different sides following the City of Heroes shutdown.

We've already seen two projects coming from the ashes of CoH; The Phoenix Project and Heroes and Villains are both currently being assembled by passionate fans of the now-departed game. But we'd be remiss if we failed to note the impact that the game's closure has had on existing games like Champions Online and DC Universe Online. Rather than just speculating on any of this, we decided to just ask.

So today you've got two interviews. One is with Brad Stokan, Executive Producer at Cryptic Studios, about how the City of Heroes shutdown has affected Champions Online and the studio that helped bring the game to life in the first place. The other is with the lead staff at Missing Worlds Media, the team behind The Phoenix Project. So let's take a look behind the scenes, yes?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter Extra: Interviews with Champions Online and The Phoenix Project

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter Extra: Interviews with Champions Online and The Phoenix Project originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportera-mild-mannered-reporter-extrabrad-stokanchampionschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclosurecocohcoh-shutdowncovcoxcrypticcryptic-studioscultureextra-editionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedominterviewinterviewsmild-mannered-reportermild-mannered-reporter-extramissing-worldsmissing-worlds-medancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentphoenixphoenix-projectpwesave-cohshutdownsuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesthe-phoenix-projectThu, 10 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anonymous source sounds off on City of Heroes profitability, NCsoft responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/anonymous-source-sounds-off-on-city-of-heroes-profitability-ncs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/anonymous-source-sounds-off-on-city-of-heroes-profitability-ncs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/anonymous-source-sounds-off-on-city-of-heroes-profitability-ncs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I have only heartbreaking pictures on my current PC's hard drive. Sorry.
The chance to prevent City of Heroes from being shut down may have passed, but the debates about the game's profitability and the merit of that shutdown aren't going anywhere. An anonymous source has come forward reaffirming several previous data points but also elaborating on some of the details surrounding the closure, including Paragon Studios' plan to pull away from NCsoft entirely and why NCsoft wouldn't greenlight a sequel to the game. Surprisingly, NCsoft's Chief of Corporate Communications, Lincoln Davis, responded to the information, denying all claims but still shedding some light on the issue.

Davis mentions repeatedly that Paragon Studios was not profitable, but at no point does he state that City of Heroes itself was not profitable. He also avoids saying that the company was unable to find a buyer for the game but simply that the company was unable to find a buyer that NCsoft thought would support the game "in a manner [players] were accustomed to for years to come." While it won't bring the game back, it certainly sheds some interesting light on the whole situation, albeit light that will likely be of cold comfort to the game's fans.

[Update: We've reached out to NCsoft for a more detailed statement; we'll keep you posted when we hear more.]

MassivelyAnonymous source sounds off on City of Heroes profitability, NCsoft responds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'm fond of this header. So fond of it that I'm using it twice.
So I've spent a month in Champions Online, and I've taken enough time to understand most of how the game fits together on a conceptual level. This is from equal parts playing and reading about the game in various places because I just do that for fun. Those of you who were here for my first outing will remember that I was pleased with the game as a whole. Upon further play, though, my impression has... well, remained pretty darn positive. This is not one of those twist endings.

Of course, I can also see why the game never quite hit the level of widespread popularity that City of Heroes managed, and some of the problems that plague it are a direct result of what I like about it. So with my first outing in the game out of the way, I'm going to offer a more complete look at the game, starting with the bad and ending with the good.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Farewell for now, Champions Online

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Farewell for now, Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescocohcrypticcryptic-studiosdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmild-mannered-reporteropinionparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwerecapstaffsuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesthe-good-and-the-badWed, 02 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/the-game-archaeologists-top-mmo-stories-of-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist seals up 2012
As another gaming year spins to a close, we here at the Institute for Digital Interactive Entertainment have been holding our archaeological department hostage with a trained buffy-tufted marmoset until it delivered a final report. After hours of begging and infected monkey bites, the head of that department, Prof. Justin Olivetti, Ph.D., handed us a scrap of urine-soaked paper with the following article inscribed.

While the Institute strongly suggests that you ignore this report and instead work on your button-mashing exercises, the board of directors stated that all such papers must be posted for the public to see.

This report is presented in the Yetbari typeface and contains a sequential series of items that number between 11 and 13.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist's top MMO stories of 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanarchy-onlineaoasherons-callasherons-call-2blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicscohcovcoxeaelectronic-artseqeq-maceq1eqmaceqoaeverquesteverquest-online-adventuresexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifree-to-playfreedomfuncomgame-archaelogistlord-britishmeridian-59mythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftnostalgiaopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsci-fiSeekers-of-Adoulinshadowbanesoasoesonysony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroestelonthe-game-archaeologistturbineultimaultima onlineuovanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 29 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes fan videos pay tribute to the game's legacy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/city-of-heroes-fan-videos-pay-tribute-to-the-games-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/city-of-heroes-fan-videos-pay-tribute-to-the-games-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/city-of-heroes-fan-videos-pay-tribute-to-the-games-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Heroes fan videos pay tribute to the end
The game may be cold and gone at this point, but City of Heroes still lives in the warm, beating hearts of its fans. Two players endeavored to create tributes to the game that would endure long past its expiration date, and Massively thinks they should be shared with the larger community.

The first video, City of Heroes Remains, sees Paragon City being pummeled into the ground by a fiery meteor shower, only to be rebuilt by its heroes after the event. It's a movie-quality production full of special effects and stunning views of the city, set to a couple of perfect songs.

The second video, Memories, is a longer, quieter look at the end. In it, a costumed crusader pays a final visit to City Hall where he hangs up his tights for good -- but refuses to let go of a backpack full of memories.

We've got both videos for you after the jump, but be warned: You may need hankies.

Continue reading City of Heroes fan videos pay tribute to the game's legacy

MassivelyCity of Heroes fan videos pay tribute to the game's legacy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfan-videosfree-to-playfreedomncsoftparagonparagon-studiossunsetsuperherosuperheroesthe-endtributetributesvideovideosFri, 28 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: My biggest gaming moments in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-perfect-ten-my-biggest-gaming-moments-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-perfect-ten-my-biggest-gaming-moments-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-perfect-ten-my-biggest-gaming-moments-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten My biggest gaming moments in 2012
I am a complete sucker for three things: novelty soft drink flavors, Tom Servo's singing voice in MST3K, and end-of-the-year lists. Egads, I love the end of the year just for the lists alone. Everyone does them (copycats!), and I like to see how my opinions stack up against them. Plus, often I learn of cool things that happened or came out during the past year that I missed.

So this is my list. My end-of-2012 list. I am devoting the 26th Perfect Ten of 2012 to the top 10 moments in MMO gaming and blogging. It was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and looking back, I don't think I could've predicted half of the major events that happened in this industry. That's what I like about this gig: It keeps me on my toes.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: My biggest gaming moments in 2012

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: My biggest gaming moments in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosanetarenanetbiowarebuy-to-playcamelotcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artseqeq1eqmaceverquesteverquest-macintoshf2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomfuncomguild-wars-2gw2horrorhumorjohn-smedleylucasartsmst3kmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenproject-copernicuspvprounduprvrsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscriptionlesssuperherosuperheroesswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldtom-servotop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtortswThu, 20 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Everyone wants PvP arenas and tournaments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/not-so-massively-everyone-wants-pvp-arenas-and-tournaments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/not-so-massively-everyone-wants-pvp-arenas-and-tournaments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/not-so-massively-everyone-wants-pvp-arenas-and-tournaments/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Diablo III's lead game designer Jay Wilson raised a few eyebrows this week with a retraction of his previous statement about an upcoming blog on PvP arenas, stating that complications have once again delayed the feature. Livestreamer Kripparian took a break from the world of Sanctuary to try Path of Exile's PvP arena system, which is due to go live with the start of open beta. The open beta date has also unfortunately been pushed back from December to January 24th to allow for the holiday season.

Dota 2's focus on competitive PvP tournaments continued this week with an interesting experiment in selling virtual tournament tickets bundled with exclusive cosmetic items. If successful, the new system could be used to organically fund player-run competitive tournaments. Heroes of Newerth's competitive players know every trick in the book, and in an interesting new video series, one player aims to reveal many of them in the run-up to Christmas.

League of Legends released its new support hero, Nami, the Tidecaller, and detailed the massive changes coming to the game to keep competitive season three fresh. Upcoming MOBA Prime World discussed its talent system, which merges active spells and passive bonuses with a collectable card game mechanic, and Rise of Immortals celebrated its impending re-release with its new immortal Ustat.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Everyone wants PvP arenas and tournaments

MassivelyNot So Massively: Everyone wants PvP arenas and tournaments originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgarenasbattle-for-graxiabattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3delaydelaysdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasygraxiagrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheroes-of-newerthhonKripparrianleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernaminewsnivalnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerparagon-studiospath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoeprime-worldpvevppvppvp-arenasriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessteamtalenttalent-systemtalentstidecallertiptip-of-the-daytipsvalvevideoMon, 10 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Absolutely ridiculous cash shop selections]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-perfect-ten-absolutely-ridiculous-cash-shop-selections/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-perfect-ten-absolutely-ridiculous-cash-shop-selections/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-perfect-ten-absolutely-ridiculous-cash-shop-selections/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Absolutely ridiculous cash shop sales
This past week, the Money Gnomes at Turbine tested the waters with the idea of selling a $50 horse in Lord of the Rings Online. Oh, not just any horse, mind you: It's a toy hobby horse. For $50.

The representative who asked for feedback on the item and price-point probably caused herself internal hemorrhaging by stating, "This is not a joke." The fans responded, "Of course, and the sky is made out of blue cheese." At the very least, it allowed the more creative players to come up with humorous expressions of incredulity. The fun finally came to an end when the studio announced that the "experimental" price point was a failure.

Of course, this is by far not the first time a game studio's attempted to sell a ridiculous item, an item with a ridiculous price point, or both combined. If you sell it, after all, the rubes will come.

So in the spirit of a $50 hobby horse that costs something like $20 in real life to acquire, here are 10 completely ridiculous items that we've seen in MMO cash shops.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Absolutely ridiculous cash shop selections

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Absolutely ridiculous cash shop selections originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoactivisionallodsallods-onlineanetarenanetastrum-nivalbackpackbackpack-backpackbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopccpccp-gamescelestial-steedchampionschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmococohcovcow-finishercoxcrypticcryptic-studioseaelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomfreeform-character-slotgala-netgpotatoguild-wars-2gw2hobby-horsehumorinner-armorinternet-spaceshipsitem-shopligerlord-britishlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmonoclemonoclegatemythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplayer-wingspwequickbarquickbarsraised-garden-bedroundupsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentsparkleponyspreadsheets-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsuperherosuperheroesswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineuovindictuswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO do you use as a substitution for a dead one?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-do-you-use-as-a-substitution-for-a-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-do-you-use-as-a-substitution-for-a-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-do-you-use-as-a-substitution-for-a-de/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind What MMO do you use as a substitution for a dead one
The second that City of Heroes shut down last week, that domineering voice in my mind piped up, "I want to play City of Heroes!" I tried to say that it wasn't a possibility any more, but the voice wasn't having it. It also wanted Froot Loops with chocolate milk. Now I have a sugar high.

So I began hunting around for a substitution to fill the gap in my now hurting soul. DC Universe Online was first up, but I couldn't quite get into the setting or the actiony playstyle. So I swallowed my distaste for Champions Online's free-to-play restrictions and reloaded that title onto my machine. There's enough of that old Cryptic magic to soothe the loss of CoH, I think.

Have you ever done this? Have you ever used an MMO as a substitution for a title that's shut down? If so, share with us and let us know if it was a soothing balm or a weak facsimile.

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which MMO do you use as a substitution for a dead one? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscocohconsoleconsolescovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosdaily-grinddc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playfreedomncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3ps3pwesoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroestdgthe-daily-grindWed, 05 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Korea Times quotes Mercedes Lackey calling City of Heroes closure 'unethical']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/korea-times-quotes-mercedes-lackey-calling-city-of-heroes-closur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/korea-times-quotes-mercedes-lackey-calling-city-of-heroes-closur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/korea-times-quotes-mercedes-lackey-calling-city-of-heroes-closur/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hard to believe that it's possible to miss Statesman, but here we are.
NCsoft's recent closure of City of Heroes didn't win the company any fans in the US market, but it looks like the effects are being felt even over in the company's home of Korea. A new article in the Korea Times quotes fantasy author Mercedes Lackey regarding the game's shutdown. Her words on the matter were unambiguous: "I think canceling a game that is making a profit, along with destroying jobs and an online community, is entirely unethical."

The article covers several of the pieces of confusion regarding NCsoft's management of the shutdown and the perceived ambiguity about the financial side of the decision. Lackey also emphasizes in her quotes that she and other City of Heroes fans will not stop until they have exhausted every option to resurrect the game. NCsoft is clearly feeling the pinch considering the news of recent layoffs, but it looks as if the company is losing the image war on several fronts as well.

MassivelyKorea Times quotes Mercedes Lackey calling City of Heroes closure 'unethical' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-decisionscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcommunitycovcoxcultureethicsf2pfree-to-playfreedomkorea-timesmercedes-lackeyncsoftparagonparagon-studiospublic-receptionsuperherosuperheroesTue, 04 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 227: Paragons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/massively-speaking-episode-227-paragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/massively-speaking-episode-227-paragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/massively-speaking-episode-227-paragons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 227 Paragons
In this Very Special Edition of Massively Speaking, Bree and Justin hold a wake for a certain superhero MMO that's passed into the night. We were there until the bitter end, my friends, except for Justin who valued sleep and didn't want to stay up until 3:00 in the morning. But he was there in spirit -- oh yes he was!

It's not all tears and booze, of course; we have plenty of other stories to talk about, including the return of a long-lost profession, an expansion launch, a free-to-play conversion, and why MMOs are now being held up as art.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 227: Paragons

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 227: Paragons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbrantbrianna-royceccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxeqeq1eveeve-onlineeverquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomhumorinternet-spaceshipsjustin-olivettimassively-speakingncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-blackstonerain-of-fearsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesuperherosuperheroesthe-repopulationTue, 04 Dec 2012 12:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 227Massively.com Staff00:46:15podcast<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Lull in the storm edition, December 3 - 9, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-stream-team-lull-in-the-storm-edition-december-3-9-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-stream-team-lull-in-the-storm-edition-december-3-9-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-stream-team-lull-in-the-storm-edition-december-3-9-201/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team Lull in the storm edition, December 3 9, 2013
From horror movies to storms, there is always a lull before the stuff really hits the fan. And right now is the lull in the storm that is holiday preparation. It's just a short span of time that offers a breather between the insanity that is Black Friday and the rush of all else that comes with the season, so take advantage of it! Before all the decorating, holiday parties, shopping, cooking, and everything else, settle back and watch some Massively TV!

While you relax and enjoy your lull, The Stream Team will treat you to a bit of beta action, some heroic antics, plenty of shooting, and possibly even the final moments of one title. Then, if you can muster the energy for it, share your favorite relaxation ritual. Can you guess one of mine?

Continue reading The Stream Team: Lull in the storm edition, December 3 - 9, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Lull in the storm edition, December 3 - 9, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionallodsallods-onlineanetarenanetascensionastrum-nivalback-to-betabetabiowarebrowserbrowser-basedcasualccpccp-gameschampionschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescity-of-steamcity-of-villainscocohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studioseaelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfactionfamilyfantasyfeaturedflashfpsfree-to-playfreedomfuncomgala-netglitchgoblingpotatoguild-wars-2gw2hi-rezhi-rez-studioshipsterhistoricalhorrorinternet-spaceshipskid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamslucasartsmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmassively-metamassively-tvmechanistmechanist-gamesmetammo-shootermmofpsmobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenamv-guidemv-tvmvguidemvtvmythologyncsoftparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpiratepirate101piratesplanetsideplanetside-2pollps2pvppwerelaxationsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldshooterskill-basedSmitesoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlineStar-Stablestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteampunkstreamstream-schedulestream-teamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsuperherosuperheroesswtorTaikodomtanktankstelonthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldthe-stream-teamtinyspecktortruly-freetswtwitchtwitch-tvunlauncheningvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotMon, 03 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Dearly departed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/one-shots-dearly-departed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/one-shots-dearly-departed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/02/one-shots-dearly-departed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One Shots Dearly departed
Today's One Shots will be a more somber one, as we strive to honor two MMOs that are passing into history. First up is the dearly departed City of Heroes, which Reader Michelle apparently loved quite a bit. She sent us in several screenshots, including one of her supergroup, Part Time Heroes.

"Here's a group of my friends during the Mortimer Kal Strike Force," Michelle writes. "My character is Astral Black, a Warshade who should be my last level 50. She's the one in the purple and black crop top."

Head onward for more personal dedications, but be warned: You may be misty-eyed by the end.

Continue reading One Shots: Dearly departed

MassivelyOne Shots: Dearly departed originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabetabring-back-one-shotsbrowserbrowser-basedcasualcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfantasyflashfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryglitchhipsterncsoftone-shotsparagonparagon-studiospics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxscreenshotscreenshotssuperherosuperheroestinyspeckunlauncheninguser-submissionsSun, 02 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Join Massively tonight as we stream City of Heroes' final hour [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/join-massively-tonight-as-we-stream-city-of-heroes-final-hour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/join-massively-tonight-as-we-stream-city-of-heroes-final-hour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/join-massively-tonight-as-we-stream-city-of-heroes-final-hour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

We're heroes. This is what we do.
November 30th is a dark day for City of Heroes fans. Three months ago, NCsoft announced that it would be pulling the plug on the popular superhero MMO and shuttering Paragon Studios, the team behind the magic. The game's date of execution has now arrived; the MMO will draw its final breath tonight -- or tomorrow, depending on your time zone. The servers will shut down at 3:00 a.m. EST Saturday morning (midnight tonight on the West Coast).

Never the type to go quietly, the Titan Network crew has organized a final Unity Rally; it will begin at 2:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning (11:00 p.m. PST tonight) and take place at Atlas Park's City Hall on every server. Join Massively tonight as we livestream a final farewell to the game and record the event for posterity (or just people who fell asleep). And while you wait, you can go join the latest #SaveCoH campaign, this one a Hail Mary pitch to Disney.

Farewell, Paragon City. Your innovation and creativity will be missed.

[Update: It's gone, heroes. We've uploaded the stream after the cut for those who couldn't be there in person.]

Continue reading Join Massively tonight as we stream City of Heroes' final hour [Updated]

MassivelyJoin Massively tonight as we stream City of Heroes' final hour [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainsclosurecohcovcoxdisneyf2pfree-to-playfreedomhail-marylivestreamncsoftparagonparagon-studiosposterityseriously-this-game-doesnt-deserve-to-dieshutdownshutdownsstreamsunsetsuperherosuperheroesunity-rallyFri, 30 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The end of the city of heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-end-of-the-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-end-of-the-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-end-of-the-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

All illustrations by A. Fienemann, words by me, sorrow by a lot of people.
"Name?"

"Mr. Swift."

The small man on the other end of the table sighed as if he'd heard the punchline too many times already. "Sir, I understand that you're unhappy about recent events, but this is a necessity. I don't want to keep you here longer than necessary, but I can throw you in jail for a night for obstructing this audit. I'm not asking for your moniker; I'm asking for your name, and it's only out of politeness." He tapped the side of his laptop for emphasis. "Now before I have to look it up -- your name."

It was a little thing, really. But it felt huge. "Orson Herschel Siegal," Swift replied, purposely looking away from the auditor and searching for something in the stark white room to pull his attention away.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The end of the city of heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The end of the city of heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconclusioncovcoxendingf2pfarewellfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgoodbyei-was-promised-cakemild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossadsave-cohshutdownsunsetsuperherosuperheroesthe-endWed, 28 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: City of Heroes' soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/jukebox-heroes-city-of-heroes-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/jukebox-heroes-city-of-heroes-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/jukebox-heroes-city-of-heroes-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes City of Heroes' soundtrack
Really, how could it be anything else this week? By the first of December, a major MMO influence on my life will be gone for good. We will talk about it in the past tense with wistful tones, remembering the superheroic escapades and villainous schemes. It will be given a place of honor in many of our memories, and I truly believe that City of Heroes will echo throughout the industry and community for years to come.

One of those echoes is the game's score, which will endure, as does every MMO's soundtrack. When I first started playing City of Heroes in 2004, the music made a big impression on me. It painted a picture of the game's locale and atmosphere perhaps better than anything else. Heck, you could play the game with your eyes closed and know which zone you were in by the music cues. That's how integral the score was to the game.

So this is my final send-off to City of Heroes: a look at the highlight from its soundtrack from the launch through Freedom. Goodbye, City of Heroes... I'm going to really miss you. I won't miss the whine from the force field bubble, but I'll miss almost everything else.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: City of Heroes' soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: City of Heroes' soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots This is the end, my friend
What do you imagine the end of the world looking like? I'm willing to bet it's nothing like the following technicolor nightmare ripped straight from the finale of the first version of Final Fantasy XIV.

Reader Focant delivers this haunting image with a description of the videopocalypse: "The Garlean forces held nothing back in their battle against us, and attacked with their most destructive weaponry. The most powerful enemy we saw on the battlefield that night was the level 100 (the player cap is 50) Imperial Juggernaut, an enemy that is only seen one other time in game. I made sure to include a player character in the shot as well for size comparison. These things are massive!"

And with that we're off to another wild and wooly edition of One Shots! Please put your tray tables in their full upright and locked position.

Continue reading One Shots: This is the end, my friend

MassivelyOne Shots: This is the end, my friend originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetback-to-betabetabring-back-one-shotsbrowserbrowser-basedcasualcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconsoleconsolescovcoxf2pfantasyffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivflashfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryglitchguild-wars-2gw2hipsterncsoftone-shotsparagonparagon-studiospics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxscreenshotscreenshotssquaresquare-enixsuperherosuperheroestinyspeckunlauncheninguser-submissionsSun, 25 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do sunsetted games owe us refunds?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind Do sunsetted games owe us refunds
When Tiny Speck announced last week that Glitch would be shutting down come December 9th, the studio simultaneously did something that few closed MMOs do: It offered complete refunds for past subs. Sure, some companies have offered free game time or bonus cash-shop currency for their other games, but that's usually small consolation. NCsoft grudgingly provided refunds for unused timecards and long-term recurring subs when it set City of Heroes' closure date, but virtually no one provides a complete refund of all the subscription money you ever paid for the game.

On Black Friday, it seems as if half the world is out shopping, looking for a good deal and with money on the brain, so today's an appropriate day to ask: Do sunsetted games owe us refunds? And if you were offered one, would you take it?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do sunsetted games owe us refunds? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabetabrianna-royce-tdgbrowserbrowser-basedcasualcharitycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdaily-grindf2pfantasyflashfree-to-playfreedomgenerosityglitchhipsterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosrefundrefundssandboxsuperherosuperheroestdgthe-daily-grindtinyspeckunlauncheningFri, 23 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer
With Thanksgiving almost under wraps in the states (Canada got an earlier patch of Thanksgiving because the devs love that country), the starter pistol is about to go off for the busiest shopping season of the year. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and oh-crap-it's-Christmas-Eve-and-only-a-gas-station-is-open are all shopping experiences ahead on the calendar, but perhaps the most challenging experience is that of buying the perfect gift for an MMO gamer.

Sure, you could just phone it in and buy a time card, some cash shop points, a subscription or two, or even a Prima strategy guide if you really hated the person, but a proper MMO gift goes beyond that. For a great gift, you need to put in some effort and actually research the field... or just be lazy and use my following guide. We both know which option you're going to choose.

So while you slowly digest that turkey and moan about having to waddle your butt down to Best Buy at 3:00 a.m., why not allow me to help you with a few shopping suggestions? For this list, I wanted to focus on game-specific merchandise that isn't t-shirts, game cards, or CafePress coffee mugs. I mean, this shirt is the bomb and all, but we can do better!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanetaocaoc-unchainedarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconanconsoleconsolescovcoxeaelectronic-artseqeq1eveeve-onlineeverquestf2pfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomgameforgegameforge-berlinguild-wars-2gw2humorhyboriainternet-spaceshipslucasartsncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenromrounduprunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortaboreathe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-realmthe-realm-onlinetop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorunchainedwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The cost of closing City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-cost-of-closing-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-cost-of-closing-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-cost-of-closing-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Almost goodbye.
Shuttering a game carries a heavy cost. This seems counterproductive from a math standpoint; after all, you aren't spending money on a game's servers any longer, so how can it be costing you more? But gamers have long if inaccurate memories, and there are a lot of ripple effects that spread slowly outward after the game has gone dark. Some of these costs aren't even obvious when the game closes, and the full effect won't be felt for months.

With only a little while left until the end of City of Heroes, I think it's only fair to look at these costs. Obviously, I've discussed some of the unseen costs already, but all of those have been looking at the cost of losing City of Heroes for the players and the developers. Today, I want to see what it actually offers NCsoft because there's a long list of things that are getting burned away by this closure, and I'm having trouble pointing to any given element as actually being a benefit for the company in the long run.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The cost of closing City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The cost of closing City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbusiness-costsbusiness-designbusiness-sidecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossave-cohsuperherosuperheroesWed, 21 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The passion for City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-passion-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-passion-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-passion-for-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Call me in to talk.
Chronicling the last months of City of Heroes has been a strange ride. A sad one, certainly, and that's part of it, but it's also just been strange in certain ways, such as how every single column on the subject -- and I do mean every single one -- has garnered at least one person acting shocked that this column would continue to cover the game on the way to its shutdown instead of just throwing in the towel back in October or something.

I really don't get that, considering that this column has been running for nearly three years without interruption, even when I had to send the text off to someone else because I was out of power due to a hurricane. There's no way I'm not going the last few feet. But I think some of it comes down to not understanding what about the game makes some of the players so passionate about the city.

Passion is a lot of things, none of them logical. It's not possible to just point to items on a list and say, "I'm passionate because of that." But I can try to outline what's made the game so special beyond just its length of operation, and I'll do the best I can with today's column.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The passion for City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The passion for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbrandingcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdesignendgamef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgame-loyaltygame-mechanicsloyaltymechanicsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospassionsave-cohsuperherosuperheroesWed, 14 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/mmo-blender-larrys-anti-power-creep-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender Larry's no power creep MMO
On Tuesday, I suggested ways to get rid of power creep in MMOs. You know power creep: the constant treadmill of stats that keep getting better and strong but ultimately start to feel like more of a grind? It's very annoying to long-term players, and I'd imagine that it's frustrating to game designers because it's time and talent wasted when game content is no longer useful to anyone.

In my quest to find the ultimate MMO, I have searched for game elements that reduce the amount of power creep but still come together to support a themepark game. Let's be honest: Sandbox games might suffer power creep, but because most sandboxes are skill-based, that power creep is not as prevalent or can easily be mitigated by tweaking classes. But themeparks are linear by design, and to remain fun, they have to retain part of that linear quality. Progression and continually racking up numbers and achievements is enjoyable to a large number of MMO players, otherwise it would be games like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies dominating the market, not World of Warcraft.

Believe it or not, there are online games that have done a tremendous job of trying to defeat power creep, but unfortunately, they do not exist as one game... until now in my Anti-Power-Creep MMO!

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's anti-power-creep MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The stories that could have been, as well.
I started playing City of Heroes for one reason and one reason alone: I love superheroes. Yes, the game entranced me afterward, and there were a lot of things to like aside from the superhero aspect, but I came first and foremost expecting a game of superheroes. And while I've occasionally taken issue with the way the game tries to model superheroes, that doesn't extend to the game's lore in the slightest.

Lore is an important part of what makes superheroes work, after all. That sense of a bigger world, that sequence of big events that rewrite the world as a whole every so often, the cadence of enemies rising and falling. There's a certain feel to superhero universes, one that City of Heroes had to replicate without shamelessly copying another world -- and the team at Paragon Studios succeeded in doing just that.

Unfortunately, we're never going to see all of the revelations in the game that could have stretched on for many more years, but the recent lore AMA answered a lot of lingering questions about the game's universe and backstory. So as we enter our final month, yeah, I'd like to look at that.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The story of City of Heroes that wasn't

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The story of City of Heroes that wasn't originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbackstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcomic-bookscovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgame-loreloremild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-cityparagon-studiossave-cohsuperherosuperheroesWed, 07 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which underground area do you like the most?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-daily-grind-which-underground-area-do-you-like-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-daily-grind-which-underground-area-do-you-like-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/the-daily-grind-which-underground-area-do-you-like-the-most/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind Which underground area do you like the most
I'm far too prone to claustrophobia in real life to attempt any sort of spelunking (plus I saw The Descent, which solidified that feeling), but I'm the opposite in MMOs. I love exploring underground regions in games, whether they be little hidey-holes for Hobbits or grand cities that never see the sunlight.

As of late, I've come to greatly appreciate the wide variety of caves and caverns in Guild Wars 2, all of which manage to be interesting without feeling restrictive or overly rock-themed. It feels like we've come a long way from some MMOs' ideas of underground usage (I'm looking at you, City of Heroes, and your oh-so-bland caves).

Obviously, the topic du jour is MMO underground areas and which ones you like the most. Lay it on us where the sun doesn't shine, OK?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which underground area do you like the most? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreedomguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossuperherosuperheroestdgthe-daily-grindWed, 07 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox Power creep! How to keep MMO progression fun and interesting
We've all seen it. You might not have put a name to it, but it's there. As MMOs get older, certain dungeons become obsolete. Or maybe that fantastic top-level gear you once had to have is completely worthless now and isn't even in normal gear progression anymore. That is power creep, the phenomenon by which content becomes completely worthless as a game ages. I can't imagine being on the developer's side when power creep starts rearing its ugly head. All that time a developer spent sculpting the content to be the perfect match of mechanics and story becomes wasted.

Power creep can't be avoided, right? Developers have to make new content to keep people interested in the game. And themepark games have to have a linear progression, right? We also don't want the disparity between the new players and the old players to be too great because it will discourage population growth. Then how in the world do we stop this never-ending cycle? How do we keep MMO progression fun and interesting without content falling off the end of the treadmill?

Continue reading The Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist A City of Heroes memorial, part 2
Following the last column's memorial for players' City of Heroes characters, I received an email from Cryptic's Al Rivera. He wanted to share his own memories from the game, here are a few choice quotes from that email:

"I was there from the beginning when Cryptic was just 23 people working in a busted office and I was the only system designer. I made the player powers, archetypes and critters while the game was at Cryptic. The game has evolved tremendously since it left Cryptic... I was very sad to see CoH sold off, and now I am again saddened to see this wonderful piece of game history come to an end.

"What was most rewarding was to see all those players log into Atlas Park. To see so many people just so happy with what we made was something impossible to put into words. Thank you, City of Heroes, for all the fond memories. And a special thank you to all the heroes that made me laugh and made me proud. You will be missed."

Let's wrap up this memorial series by visiting the remainder of player-submitted superheroes and their stories.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: A City of Heroes memorial, part 2

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: A City of Heroes memorial, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First person to mention Black Heaven in the comments gets a cookie. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up.
I'm upset with bards in MMOs.

Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that they exist. But every single game that features bards uses them wrong. The bard is always a back-line character, someone who sits in the back and heals people through gently strumming on a lute. And that depresses me, because I want to see some bards that actually rock. I want to see some music used offensively. I want to have the option of making my bard kill things through careful use of sweet riffs.

You can say it sounds ridiculous, but tell me that it's somehow more ridiculous than having a bard heal you via magical singing and I will call you a liar.

So let's go for it. Let's dedicate an entire MMO to bards who aren't about muzak and nurturing new age songs, but bards that are going to defeat things through the unmitigated power of rock. My only regret is that this is a week too late for Rocktober.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's rock odyssey

MassivelyMMO Blender: Eliot's rock odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few weeks left.
It's been about a year since Star Wars Galaxies was shut down, and for a lot of people that wound is still fresh. For a sadly vocal minority, that wound is so fresh as to provoke a lot of groundless vitriol toward any available target -- but that's not the point. The point is that what happened to that game is happening again, to City of Heroes, and the players are just as powerless to stop it.

Except that it's not the same thing, not really. There are different reasons behind the closure of City of Heroes, different protests, and different player organizing taking place. The result is a scenario that's both a clear parallel to an earlier tragedy and its own unique blend of awful circumstances at the same time.

When we first heard the announcement, fellow City of Heroes player and former Star Wars Galaxies player Brianna Royce asked me if I felt the same way about CoH as I had about SWG. As we talked about it, though, it became clear that there were certain parallels being drawn that just didn't work. So I'm going to talk about what happened to both games, starting with the very significant difference between the two games shutting down.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbusinessbusiness-decisionscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcorporate-managementcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslegallucasartsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsave-cohsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgswgoWed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Potential new homes after City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-potential-new-homes-after-city-of-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-potential-new-homes-after-city-of-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-potential-new-homes-after-city-of-hero/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't want to move out, I just moved in.
Despite what many of us might feel, the world is not ending when City of Heroes shuts down. Just our world. But the sun will continue shining, other games will continue running, and most likely your interest in video games will not evaporate. So after an appropriate period of mourning, it's going to be time to think about getting together with another game.

The problem, of course, is that nothing else can ever be City of Heroes. Like Benjamin Franklin, nothing can serve as its replacement, merely as its successor. But it's worth examining some of the more reasonable and likely destinations for the community.

I'm sure there are more, but the four I've listed seem to be the games that either are or will be hoovering up a large number of the game's former players, games that are close enough to what CoH represents to serve as a reasonable successor. So let's look at our potential new homes and see what they have to offer, both good and bad.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Potential new homes after City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Potential new homes after City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscocohconsoleconsolescovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomfuncomgazilliongazillion-entertainmenthorrormarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemild-mannered-reportermuomythologyncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3ps3pwesave-cohsci-fantasysecret-identitysecret-worldskill-basedsoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesthe-secret-worldtswWed, 24 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A video to mourn City of Heroes and celebrate the new Paragon Studios project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/a-video-to-mourn-city-of-heroes-and-celebrate-the-new-paragon-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/a-video-to-mourn-city-of-heroes-and-celebrate-the-new-paragon-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/22/a-video-to-mourn-city-of-heroes-and-celebrate-the-new-paragon-st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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It's not over until it's over for City of Heroes, but that time is fast approaching. Longtime fan and noted machinima artist Samuraiko decided that the city deserved to go out with an appropriate tribute and has put together a last video memorializing the game's environments and players. If you're a veteran player, you owe it to yourself to sit through the whole video just past the break, although you may get misty-eyed toward the end.

But all is not doom and gloom for the fine folks from Paragon Studios, as they've taken it upon themselves to begin a new project, one that will undoubtedly be just as influential in their chosen field. Or possibly not. It's still worth watching after the previous video, at the least to get a smile back on your face. Jump on past the break for both videos, and keep your eyes peeled for more coverage as we approach the City of Heroes shutdown.

[Thanks to the folks that sent these in!]

Continue reading A video to mourn City of Heroes and celebrate the new Paragon Studios project

MassivelyA video to mourn City of Heroes and celebrate the new Paragon Studios project originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfree-to-playfreedomhumorimpending-shutdownmachinimancsoftparagonparagon-studiossave-cohshutdownsuperherosuperheroestributetribute-videosvideovideosMon, 22 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST