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The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Your memories

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Culture, The Matrix Online, Roleplaying, The Game Archaeologist

What can you trust when your memories are merely the by-product of intelligent machines tinkering with your brain? When you come right down to it, who's to say that our alleged recollections of The Matrix Online weren't just computer viruses uploaded into our cerebral cortexes -- and that the game never existed at all?

Real or not, The Matrix Online is in no danger of being forgotten. Whether it's because of the meta setting, the too-hip-to-stay-on-cows fashion, or the interactive stories, MxO never fails to evoke passionate testimonies. After speaking with developer Ben Chamberlain last week, today we're going to turn the tables on the players themselves to see what they have to say.

Was The Matrix Online really all that and a bag of computer chips? Was it merely a good-looking graphical chat room or something more? And how will it be remembered many years from now when we sit our grandchildren on our laps and tell them about how we took the blue pill? Or was it red... I can never remember!

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The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Your memories originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Ether Saga Online's Maven class has been unleashed

Larry Everett — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Races, Ether Saga Online

Our friends over at Perfect World Entertainment are giving Ether Saga Online a major spring update by adding new content and classes. Last week, they gave us insight into the Hellion class, the Mogui who wield dual-bladed axe and a hot temper. Over time, knowledge of the Mogui has been forgotten, even knowledge of the spell-casting Maven -- this week's reveal!

This class is capable of teleporting short distances, keeping its allies alive, and dealing ferocious damage to enemies. As with the Hellion class, the Maven is also breaks into two separate advanced classes at level 75: Seraph and Magus.

Massively has gained an exclusive first look at this powerful ranged class. Below, we have added eight new screenshots featuring the Maven class. Check 'em out.

Gallery: Ether Saga Online

Exclusive: Ether Saga Online's Maven class has been unleashed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet declassifies Guild Wars 2's Human military files

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Previews, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-Play, Races

The Humans in Guild Wars 2 may be down on their luck (and population) but they're certainly not out. As ArenaNet continues Human Week, a new blog entry titled The Line of Duty introduces us to the three main military forces representing our spunky cousins -- and why they don't necessarily get along.

First and foremost are the Seraph, who act as both the backbone of the military and the police force for the Human settlements. While the Seraph are widespread in Kryta, the Ministry Guard -- the protectors of the Human government and nobility -- mainly focus their efforts in the capital of Divinity's Reach. However, watching over the Royal Family is the responsibility of the Shining Blade, an elite force of warriors and spies. The Shining Blade should be familiar to those who fought in Guild Wars' War in Kryta campaign.

Each of these military branches vies for influence and authority over the others, although the Shining Blade tends to be at the top of the pecking order while the Seraph take up position as the whipping boys (and girls). As ArenaNet writes, this causes "a tug-of-war for influence and control" amongst the beleaguered armed forces.

You can read about the clash of politics, position and power between these forces on the ArenaNet blog -- and stay tuned for this coming Monday, when Flameseeker Chronicles will give a colorful commentary on the whole of Human Week.

ArenaNet declassifies Guild Wars 2's Human military files originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Mabinogi

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Culture, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Crafting, Tips and tricks, Quests, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Humor, Mabinogi, Hands-On (Massively's), First Impressions

Mabinogi is an engaging MMO by Nexon, the makers of Maple Story, Audition, and Kart Rider. The name is derived from the Mabinogion, a collection of old Welsh stories. In that sense, it's well-named; Mabinogi is billed as 'your fantasy life', and much of what happens in the game follows a gentle, pastoral atmosphere -- even the combat, to a certain degree. We had the chance to check this out, now that it's in open beta, and here's what we found. Keep in mind that this is not a guide -- we have no insider knowledge to report. This is merely a record of our opinions and experience playing this game for the first few hours. Excelsior!

Gallery: First Impressions: Mabinogi

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First Impressions: Mabinogi originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TR's PAUs: batteries included, some assembly required

Chris Chester — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Screenshots, Forums, Game Mechanics, Tabula Rasa

Giant, walking, robotic instruments of death. There's just something about them that appeals to us as geeks. Sure, it might be more practical to build a tank or an airplane as an instrument of war, but you don't get that same rush as you do when you see a bipedal weapons platform in motion. As we've reported to you recently, Tabula Rasa's own bipedal instruments of death have made an appearance on the public test server, and, even in their unassembled form, we couldn't be more excited to see them.

A poster by the name of Seraph on the Planet TR forums went even further than we did, using his photoshop-fu to put together what the Grendel might look like fully assembled, just from looking at the parts sitting around the garage in Foreas Base. While we'd rather like to believe that it would be slightly taller and imposing, it seems like a pretty accurate mock-up from what we can tell at this point. But then, that's just the Grenadier's PAU. We've still got seven more to go!

TR's PAUs: batteries included, some assembly required originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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