Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[WildStar launches the Protogames Initiative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/wildstar-launches-the-protogames-initiative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/wildstar-launches-the-protogames-initiative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/03/wildstar-launches-the-protogames-initiative/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I would have liked to see how this played out.
WildStar players have fought off the machinations of the Entity, the depravities of their enemy faction, and the vicious wildlife of Nexus. Yet they've never had to face the centerpiece of the newest patch, the Protostar Corporation. Admittedly, taking part in the all-new Protogames isn't quite the same as taking on an ancient evil, but the two new dungeons added with this patch are both meant to test player abilities, with a low-level run through Protogames Academy conveying gameplay concepts while the Ultimate Protogames provide an assortment of new challenges.

Not that there aren't plenty of other things for players to experience as well. The patch also contains new housing options, allowing you to edit the terrain of your home, and the character chop shop to let you re-edit facial details and the like. Players can also take on a brand-new Shiphand mission or run the Veteran difficulties of existing Shiphand missions, earning valuable Renown to take to the new Renown vendor. There's plenty to be done with the latest patch, so get in there and enjoy the games.

Continue reading WildStar launches the Protogames Initiative

MassivelyWildStar launches the Protogames Initiative originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdungeondungeonsendgamegalleriesgallerygame-mechanicsmajor-patchncsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatchessandparksci-fantasysci-fiscreenshotscreenshotstrailertrailersupdateupdatesvideovideoswildstarwsTue, 03 Feb 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar outlines its plans for the future of PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/31/wildstar-outlines-its-plans-for-the-future-of-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/31/wildstar-outlines-its-plans-for-the-future-of-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/31/wildstar-outlines-its-plans-for-the-future-of-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Here comes the face smashing.
Do you want to smash faces on Nexus? Do you not give the smallest toss about being able to unravel ancient mysteries so long as you can find the opposite faction and crack their collective skulls? Then good news, cupcake: WildStar still has PvP on its docket. A new post outlines the game's plans for PvP in 2015, starting with new daily and weekly PvP quests in the next major patch to the game.

What else is coming in 2015? How about gear sets that can be purchased with gold, a removal of rating from higher-tier PvP sets, the end of season 1, and same-faction battlegrounds? Because those are all in the pipeline, along with bigger improvements for later in the year. If you just can't get enough of that factional warfare, check out the full post and get ready to carve up the other side.

[Thanks to Cap for the tip!]

MassivelyWildStar outlines its plans for the future of PvP originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015-planscarbinecarbine-studiosncsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatchesplanspvppvp-mechanicspvp-patchroadmapsandparksci-fantasysci-fiupdateupdateswildstarwsSat, 31 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar explores the design of Veteran Shiphand missions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/wildstar-explores-the-design-of-veteran-shiphand-missions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/wildstar-explores-the-design-of-veteran-shiphand-missions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/22/wildstar-explores-the-design-of-veteran-shiphand-missions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Better late than never, although better earlier than now.
Veteran Shiphand missions are coming to WildStar, and that's great, but their design also posed a lot of unique challenges to the design team. Those challenges are outlined in the game's most recent development diary, starting with a core set of assumptions that had to be true for these missions: They had to remain scalable, they had to still be soloable, and they had to offer appropriate rewards. This meant making challenging combat that could scale up or down for party sizes and didn't require tanks, healers, or pre-made groups.

To settle nicely into the gap between other solo content and Veteran Adventures, the Shiphand missions reward Renown even for solo play, as well as various appropriate bells and whistles for higher medal performance. Renown vendors will soon sell variety of gear as well as social items to ensure that playing through feels rewarding. Veteran difficulty will also offer remixed elements of the missions to give players a taste of something novel even if they've been through the base mission before. If you've been looking for more scaling content in the game, this one's for you.

MassivelyWildStar explores the design of Veteran Shiphand missions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioselder-gameendgamencsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatch-previewpatchespreviewsandparkscalable-contentscalescalingscaling-contentsci-fantasysci-fishiphandshiphand-missionswildstarwsThu, 22 Jan 2015 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What constitutes a 'niche' MMO feature?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/the-daily-grind-what-constitutes-a-niche-mmo-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/the-daily-grind-what-constitutes-a-niche-mmo-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/the-daily-grind-what-constitutes-a-niche-mmo-feature/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In the wake of WildStar's rocky first half year, some players have defended the game's self-destructive gameplay decisions by declaring traditional gameplay tropes "niche." It's meant to be a niche game for that tiny niche of hardcore raiders, defenders argue, and therefore criticism is unwarranted. And in the sense that apparently a very small proportion of MMORPG fans actually participate in raiding (unless forced?), they're right. But that hasn't stopped most themepark MMOs since EverQuest from brandishing raids as a mostly inadequate talisman to ward off playerbase churn. Even if we outright refuse to raid, most of the MMOs we play are designed around raiders and raiding. It's easy to not raid, but raiding is hard to ignore because it's not being treated as niche by so many of the biggest titles and studios.

The disconnect between development plans and playerbase desires is reflected in this same disconnect between what we think of as a niche MMO feature and what actually is niche by the numbers. How would you sort it out? If raids, one of the core and defining features of so many themeparks, are niche, then what isn't niche? What exactly constitutes a niche MMO feature?

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: What constitutes a 'niche' MMO feature? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindendgameeverquestgame-designnicheopinionraidraidersraidingraidstdgthe-daily-grindwildstarTue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar will reduce grind, focus on 'a multitude of playstyles' in 2015]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/wildstar-will-reduce-grind-focus-on-a-multitude-of-playstyles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/wildstar-will-reduce-grind-focus-on-a-multitude-of-playstyles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/wildstar-will-reduce-grind-focus-on-a-multitude-of-playstyles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

You can see this as something to be repaired or something beyond repair, you're going to argue about it in the comments either way.
Where does WildStar go from here? That's the question that director Mike Donatelli seeks to answer with his latest address to the community. Donatelli says this morning that while he's thankful for the praise the game received toward the end of 2014, there are several areas where the game needs to improve, and thus the team is working on making a better game experience for everyone moving forward. He lays out three chief foci for the team over the next year: listen to feedback to make the game more fun and "less grindy"; support "a multitude of playstyles," group sizes, and levels; and invest, expand, and improve the existing game.

Donatelli targets for these plans the first half of 2015, which will contain better-tuned endgame reward systems to fight fatigue along with a wider breadth of content for solo and small-group players. Over the rest of the year, the team plans to introduce a new Contract system to support different playstyles, continue tuning the rewards, and greatly expand the game's customization options. It's a lot of changes, but the Carbine team seems dedicated to making them work.

MassivelyWildStar will reduce grind, focus on 'a multitude of playstyles' in 2015 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscontentendgameendgame-mechanicsgame-contentgame-designgame-mechanicsmechanicsmike-donatellincsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatchessandparksci-fantasysci-fiupcoming-patchesupdateupdateswildstarwsThu, 15 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't want to have to say goodnight.
A year ago, I was excited for WildStar's future. Now I'm sitting here wondering how things went so very, very wrong.

That's not true, though; I know exactly how things went wrong. I don't like thinking about it, but I do know. And so here I am, with a game I was hugely excited to play out and in the wild, and so much has gone wrong. It's easy to think that I've pretty much clocked out altogether.

But that's also not true. I'll be the first to point out that I've said some decidedly unkind things about the state of the game and the choices that have been made thus far in terms of fixing them. The last column I wrote even posited that it might be too late for several of the changes being proposed to make any sort of impact when it comes to the game's image.

This is why I really want the game to prove me wrong.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedgame-mechanicshalf-featurencsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionretrospectivesandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphthe-year-aheadwildstaryear-in-reviewWed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar eyes Chinese release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/18/wildstar-eyes-chinese-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/18/wildstar-eyes-chinese-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/18/wildstar-eyes-chinese-release/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WildStar
WildStar may have a new audience for its sci-fi western ways, as 2P.com reports that the game will be headed to China somewhere between late 2015 and early 2016.

The MMO will be operated by Giant Interactive, which also handles ZT Online. However, NCsoft and Carbine have yet to officially announce the partnership.

A new market for WildStar may be just what the beleaguered title needs to shore up its financials. The Q3 2014 earnings report from NCsoft showed that the new MMO had dropped sales dramatically compared to the previous quarter.

[Thanks to Mason for the tip!]

MassivelyWildStar eyes Chinese release originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioschinachinese-releasegiant-interactivencsoftregional-releasesandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwszt-onlineThu, 18 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's next big update and holiday surprise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/wildstars-chad-moore-previews-the-games-next-big-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/wildstars-chad-moore-previews-the-games-next-big-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/16/wildstars-chad-moore-previews-the-games-next-big-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Now if you'd jut say that Glory is available from shiphands, we'd be moving somewhere!
The first major WildStar update of 2015 is available on the test servers now. Yes, there's a little time before it actually goes live for everyone. Creative Director Chad Moore took the opportunity today to explain to the community everything contained within the new update, starting with the addition of two new dungeons (the Protostar Academy and the Ultimate Protogames), a new Shiphand mission, and the addition of veteran-level Shiphand missions that can still be cleared solo or in a group as you'd like.

This update also includes new housing options, cosmetic options for characters (including the ability to edit your appearance post-character creation), and the addition of the new Glory currency for completing dungeons and raids, which can be exchanged for high-end equipment. Last but not least, it's the update that includes the long-discussed drop of the Datascape raid down to 20 players, making it less of a challenge to assemble a roster for this content. While it remains to be seen how well the update actually plays, it looks to be filled with a number of positive changes for the game.

In other WildStar news today, the studio is running holiday promotion during December. "Carbine wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and spread some cheer by giving out 12 Days of Boom Boxes," wrote Community Manager Tony Rey yesterday. "Everyone that has logged into WildStar during the month of December (12/1-12/15) will receive these sweet little bundles of potential."

MassivelyWildStar's next big update and holiday surprise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdungeondungeonsendgameendgamesgame-mechanicsncsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatch-previewpatchesraidraidssandparksci-fantasysci-fiupdateupdateswildstarwsTue, 16 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perfect Ten: Looking back at the biggest MMO news of 2014]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/13/perfect-ten-looking-back-at-the-biggest-mmo-news-of-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/13/perfect-ten-looking-back-at-the-biggest-mmo-news-of-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/13/perfect-ten-looking-back-at-the-biggest-mmo-news-of-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

landmark
Well, my chums, here we are at the tail-end of 2014, having achieved all of our goals and new year's resolutions. Even better, we've survived what's turned out to be one of the wildest, rockiest, and most exciting years of MMO news in recent memory.

This was the year of high-profile game launches, even more popular expansions, layoffs, and some epic-level studio face-palming decisions. It's easy to sit here and say that we predicted everything that was going to happen this year, but c'mon, you have to admit that you were surprised by at least one or two events in this industry.

It's incredibly difficult to sum up the biggest news of the year without coming to grips with the fact that many stories aren't one-and-done; a lot of what I'm going to be talking about in this list happened over the course of weeks or months and still may not be fully over. That's how news stories are sometimes!

Continue reading Perfect Ten: Looking back at the biggest MMO news of 2014

MassivelyPerfect Ten: Looking back at the biggest MMO news of 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014acac2archeageArenaNetasherons-callasherons-call-2blizzardBlizzConbungieccpclone-wars-adventuresdestinyelder-scrolls-onlineesoeveeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedfree-realmsguild-wars-2gw2humorlandmarkliving-storynews-storiesopinionoverwatchp10perfect-10perfect-tenproject-titanroundupsoethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentitantop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtriontrion-worldsturbinevanguardwarlords-of-draenorwildstarwizardry-onlineworld-of-darknessworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 13 Dec 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar begins testing Drop 4 and 20-player Datascape raid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/11/wildstar-begins-testing-drop-4-and-20-player-datascape-raid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/11/wildstar-begins-testing-drop-4-and-20-player-datascape-raid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/11/wildstar-begins-testing-drop-4-and-20-player-datascape-raid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

wildstar
WildStar's upcoming Drop 4 is now on the public test realm, and despite Carbine's reluctance to post patch notes, the news on the street is that this content update will be a doozy.

Among the changes and additions coming to next year's Drop 4 are new costumes for all of the races, more daily and weekly quests, an underground bunker housing option, the ability to see different armor models at character creation, a character customization vendor, loads of class changes, and a low-level shiphand mission called Fragment Zero.

Datascape, the former 40-player raid that is now being retooled as a 20-player instance, is also on the test server for those with 19 good friends.

MassivelyWildStar begins testing Drop 4 and 20-player Datascape raid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdatascapedropdrop-4ncsoftpatchpatch-previewpreviewraidsandparksci-fantasysci-fitest-serverupdatewildstarwsThu, 11 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbine's Chad Moore on WildStar's fresh focus on lore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/carbines-chad-moore-on-wildstars-fresh-focus-on-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/carbines-chad-moore-on-wildstars-fresh-focus-on-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/09/carbines-chad-moore-on-wildstars-fresh-focus-on-lore/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sure, you could make some jokes about corresponding events, but that just seems like a series of cheap shots.
There's a big focus on WildStar's lore recently. Aside from the big lore drops, dubbed "Loremageddon" by Carbine Studios, the game's official site has begun releasing a series of short stories detailing important moments in the game's history, from the first space voyage of the Cassian people to dealing with the Genesis Prime now. That's a lot of storytelling, the sort that should be continuing on well into next year.

We had a chance to sit down and ask a few questions of creative director Chad Moore regarding what we've seen thus far for the game and what the goals are with this renewed focus on the game's setting and story. If you'd like to know a little more about the setting and what players can expect from the ongoing history lesson, check out the interview just past the break. There's also a new story available today detailing the first contact between the Cassians and the Eldan.

Continue reading Carbine's Chad Moore on WildStar's fresh focus on lore

MassivelyCarbine's Chad Moore on WildStar's fresh focus on lore originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycarbinecarbine-studioschad-moorefeaturedfictiongame-historyhalf-featurehistoryinterviewinterviewslorencsoftnewsnews-itemssandparksci-fantasysci-fisetting-historywildstarwsTue, 09 Dec 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Cult worship]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/one-shots-cult-worship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/one-shots-cult-worship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/one-shots-cult-worship/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

tsw
Have you ever been running along in an MMO and come screeching to a halt because other players are doing something inexplicably weird? Then perhaps you'd sympathize with reader Tyler in this situation.

"There are times in games -- especially games like The Secret World -- when one stumbles across something they simply can't explain," he submitted. "But nothing I have seen is as surreal as the sight that greeted me when I stepped into Agartha during the recent Halloween event: a circle of Atenists worshipping a girl in a bikini whilst chanting "ATEN! ATEN! ATEN!' I asked around in general. No one had any explanation for what in God's name was happening. It is a mystery for the ages."

Continue reading One Shots: Cult worship

MassivelyOne Shots: Cult worship originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW
Happy Black Friday, everyone! We've been keeping an eye on MMO-related sales and promotional events just for you. Here are a few of the bigguns that might be worth taking advantage of today and through the weekend:
  • Guild Wars 2's digital versions are 50% off through the official website until December 7th.
  • World of Warcraft -- well, the bundle with everything but Warlords of Draenor -- is 75% off through December 2nd.
  • WildStar is on sale for 50% off, so $19.99, for a "limited time" on the official site and at other retailers.
  • ArcheAge has a bunch of marketplace items on sale, along with two new mounts.
  • Today only, SOE is offering double Station Cash, spendable in most of its MMOs.
  • Star Wars: The Old Republic has hinted that a large (possibly hourly) Cartel Market sale is on the way today.
  • All of Perfect World's MMOs have sales running over the next few days; of note to us are sales in Neverwinter, Champions Online, Swordsman, and Star Trek Online, the last of which is offering not just a cash shop sale but a sale on lifetime subs.
  • Lord of the Rings Online is offering double bonus points in its cash shop and bonus XP in-game.
  • Wargaming has festivities and sales planned for World of Tanks and World of Warplanes.
  • Dungeons and Dragons Online is offering +20% XP through Sunday.
  • RIFT is not only selling the classic collector's editions, character slots, and bag slots at 50% off but making the newest expansion available to buy via credits for the first time.
  • TERA has a slew of cash shop item goodies on sale, including bundles with mounts and character slots.
  • Marvel Heroes' multiple sales extend to Cyber Monday. (Update: MJ tells us that logging in Saturday will grant you a free remote-controlled Blackbird jet pet!)

And don't forget all the MMOs and MMO bundles/DLC on sale on Steam for the fall sale, as well. Elder Scrolls Online and The Secret World are among them!

If you know of others -- and we're sure there are several -- sound off in the comments!

MassivelyMassively's Black Friday MMO sales and deals roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageblack-fridayblack-friday-2014black-friday-dealsblack-friday-mmo-dealschampions-onlineddodealdealsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineguild-wars-2marvel-heroesneverwinterriftstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicswordsmanswtorterawildstarWorld-of-WarcraftFri, 28 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar releases Voyage of the Nomad, plans story rollout]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/wildstar-releases-voyage-of-the-nomad-plans-story-rollout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/wildstar-releases-voyage-of-the-nomad-plans-story-rollout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/wildstar-releases-voyage-of-the-nomad-plans-story-rollout/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

WildStar
Carbine Studios has just announced new content for WildStar... well, for the WildStar website, anyway. Voyage of the Nomad, a short story that "recollects the tale of the Cassians' first steps into the vast world of deep-space exploration," will go live on the official site's story page today.

And it won't be a lone entry. Carbine plans to publish 11 such tales starting today and running every other Tuesday until the plots are played out. "The stories will unfold chronologically, until they reach the events that players have already experienced in WildStar's main story," says the press release.

Hey, at least the lore-fiends among the greater MMO playerbase will be happy!

MassivelyWildStar releases Voyage of the Nomad, plans story rollout originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscassiancassianslorencsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fishort-storystorystorytellingwebsitewildstarwsTue, 25 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/25/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Time to take on the stock.
In yesterday's Soapbox, I had some things to say about why it's time to dump raiding. I'm writing this before I've seen the comment responses, but I'm willing to bet that a fair amount of angry shouting was involved in the comments because that's what I usually expect. But I wasn't done, as suggested by the whole "part 1" thing in the title header.

For those don't feel like reading the whole thing, the short version is that raiding is too expensive to develop for too small a portion of the players. This is a solid argument, but it's standard: You hear it every time this debate comes up. In some ways, it's the foundation of the argument against raiding beyond the reality that most people say they just don't like raiding.

There's more to be said, though, and there are more serious issues up for discussion. Raiding isn't just expensive in terms of development. It's expensive in lots of ways.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 2

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandon-raiding-soapbox-seriesactivisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbribebriberybribescarbinecarbine-studiosconsoleconsolescontent-modelsdesigneditorialendgameendgame-contentendgame-modelsfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivncsoftop-edopinionraidraidingraidsrantrantsreward-structurerewardssandparksci-fantasysci-fisoapboxsquaresquare-enixthe-soapboxwarcraftwildstarworld-of-warcraftwowwsTue, 25 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/24/the-soapbox-six-reasons-mmos-should-abandon-raiding-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sorry, Truce. You deserve better, but you get this.
Raiding is no longer doing MMOs any favors.

I've compared raiding to open PvP in the past, and the comparison still holds up. It's something that a lot of games developed in response to a specific genre-defining game have featured. But it's not doing those games any favors, and it might be time to take a hard look at this gameplay element that games survive in spite of rather than because of. If we learn nothing else from WildStar's issues when it launched into what should have been an ideal environment, it's that raiding certainly isn't driving players into a game's waiting arms.

But I don't want to just say that and let it roll around on the floor. Let's actually break the argument down across a couple of articles this week. Why does raiding need to shuffle off of the main stage, definitely as the default endgame model, perhaps altogether? I can give you six good reasons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 1

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Six reasons MMOs should abandon raiding, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandon-raiding-soapbox-seriesactivisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcarbinecarbine-studioscontentdungeondungeonseditorialendgameendgame-modelsendgame-stylesf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftop-edopinionraidraidingraidsrantrantssandparksci-fantasysci-fisoapboxthe-soapboxturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcraftwildstarworld-of-warcraftwowwsMon, 24 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you still playing WildStar?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-playing-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

wildstar
My name is Justin, and I have a confession: I still play WildStar. I even... like it. I know! Stop spitting on me already!

It seems as though 2014 is the year of new games getting tarred and feathered (usually justly) after their much-anticipated releases, and WildStar is no different. I won't deny that the studio has a lot of work to be done on the game, but my feelings for the game haven't changed. I still really dig this weird sci-fi romp, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Maybe it's the housing system (the best I've seen, period), the memorable world, the quirky humor, or the variety of activities, but I haven't grown bored of it yet.

Are you still playing WildStar? Have you been hesitant to say so after reading so much negativity around the internet? Speak up and let me know that I'm not alone!

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: Are you still playing WildStar? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdaily-grindfeaturedncsoftopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fitdgthe-daily-grindwildstarwsWed, 19 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/17/the-nexus-telegraph-is-wildstars-raid-size-change-too-late/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

You cannot play potential. You cannot enjoy what could be fun. You can only play the game that there is, and a pile of wasted potential does not make a game worth caring about.
Very few people are going to contest that scaling WildStar's biggest raid down to 20 people is a good move. Some will, yes, but when 400 players are working on content five months after release, that's a good sign that it's not doing the most basic job of getting people to play it. Bringing Datascape's size down is an indisputable good thing.

The question, of course, isn't about that. It's about whether it's too small a change too late in the game.

Make no mistake, this is a change that is significant enough to merit an announcement, but it's one that just missed the big patch we finally received not too long ago. (My initial reaction to that is middling, for the record, neither bad nor really a break from form or something that justifies its long delay.) I would be surprised if we see this change actually live in the game before next year. And it's a change of more conceptual significance than anything else because unless someone very quietly managed to clear Datascape without telling anyone, the end of that raid has gone unseen.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late?

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar's raid size change too late? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumndungeondungeonsendgamefeaturedncsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionprogressprogressionprogression-modelsraidraid-sizeraidssandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstarMon, 17 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar is scaling Datascape down to 20 players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/wildstar-is-scaling-datascape-down-to-20-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/wildstar-is-scaling-datascape-down-to-20-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/wildstar-is-scaling-datascape-down-to-20-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Yeah, it's all right to just comment with LOL to this one.
WildStar brought 40-player raids back to the forefront. The game is now pushing said raid size back away from the forefront, as the game's 40-person raid pinnacle is getting scaled down to 20 players. The official post on the subject notes that the number of people entering was far too low and the attrition rate far too high, so the raid is being rebalanced (but not nerfed) to account for having only half of its originally designed population inside.

Several reasons are cited for the changed, such as the game's combat working best with a smaller number of people, the lowered demands on computers, and a consistent raid size for future raid content which will hopefully make guild management easier. While the topic stops shy of saying that the 40-player versions are never coming back, that is certainly the implication. So it'll at least be marginally easier to form a group for Datascape soon if you're able to get through the first raid successfully.

MassivelyWildStar is scaling Datascape down to 20 players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosendgamegreat-jobncsoftnewsnews-itemsraidraid-sizeraidsreductionssandparkscalingsci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsFri, 14 Nov 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar gold exploiters may get lifetime bans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/wildstar-gold-exploiters-may-get-lifetime-bans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/wildstar-gold-exploiters-may-get-lifetime-bans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/wildstar-gold-exploiters-may-get-lifetime-bans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Carbine is working on a hotfix for a WildStar gold exploit that many players have mentioned via social media and the game's forums. Community manager Tony Rey says a rollback isn't necessary because "the current scope of abuse is not outside of our ability to manually correct where necessary."

Rey goes on to mention the possibility of lifetime bans, though he does note that players who have used the exploit have until tomorrow to contact customer support for a reduced punishment to include the removal of ill-gotten gains.

MassivelyWildStar gold exploiters may get lifetime bans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-exploitwildstar-gold-exploitwsThu, 13 Nov 2014 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft's third quarter report is glowing; WildStar's revenues are not]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/ncsofts-third-quarter-report-is-glowing-wildstars-revenues-ar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/ncsofts-third-quarter-report-is-glowing-wildstars-revenues-ar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/ncsofts-third-quarter-report-is-glowing-wildstars-revenues-ar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

NCsoft
NCsoft's unaudited third quarter 2014 financial report is in. Do you want the good news first or the bad?

Let's get the bad out of the way. WildStar's revenues plummeted between the second and third quarters, down 42.9% (the sales units in the table above, please note, are in millions of Korean Won). Variable expense, NCsoft wrote, also fell "largely due to decreased box sales of WildStar." Guild Wars 2's revenues also fell slightly over the quarter, down 8.5%.

But the good news is that global sales and operating profit are very much up, up, up in total quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year, thanks primarily to the continuing popularity of Aion and classic Lineage.

MassivelyNCsoft's third quarter report is glowing; WildStar's revenues are not originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionblade-and-soulfinancialguild-wars-2gw2lineagelineage-2ncsoftquarterly-financialswildstarThu, 13 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar slashes box prices by 33%]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/wildstar-slashes-box-prices-by-33/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/wildstar-slashes-box-prices-by-33/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/wildstar-slashes-box-prices-by-33/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

wildstar
In a day after releasing its third major update to the game, WildStar has gone on sale by reducing the cost of both editions by 33% if purchased through the official website. This brings the standard edition down to $40 and the digital deluxe edition to $55. Both editions come with a month of game time included.

Earlier today we reported on an interview in which the studio said that its publisher was standing behind the game and that it had strong though unspecific box sales. Yesterday, WildStar released Drop 3, Mystery of Genesis Prime, a content patch with over a hundred pages of bug fixes.

MassivelyWildStar slashes box prices by 33% originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdiscountncsoftpricesalesandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsWed, 12 Nov 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft 'sees a future' for WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/ncsoft-sees-a-future-for-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/ncsoft-sees-a-future-for-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/12/ncsoft-sees-a-future-for-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I also see a future for WildStar. I'm not sure it's the same future.
Eurogamer recently spoke to WildStar Creative Director Chad Moore and Product Director Mike Donatelli to counter concerns that WildStar is a "sinking ship." Fortunately for players, NCsoft, which controls Carbine, apparently doesn't think so. "They specialise in MMOs, that's what they do. And they see a future for WildStar," Donatelli explained. "And as far as NCsoft is concerned, they're going to support us, and I take them at their word for that when they've made a commitment to us for the future, so I feel very comfortable making that statement." Moore noted that Carbine still has "hundreds" of employees in spite of recent layoffs, and while he wouldn't outright condemn negative Glassdoor reviews, he did recommend they be taken "with a grain of salt."

Regarding sales, Donatelli told Eurogamer the game sold "many, many, many times" the hoped-for 250,000 boxes, but he doesn't mention current subs. Back in October, he told Massively that the game had "hundreds of thousands of active players." NCsoft declined to clarify that ambiguous phrasing when asked.

WildStar's Mystery of the Genesis Prime patch launched yesterday.

MassivelyNCsoft 'sees a future' for WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioschad-mooreinterviewinterviewsmike-donatellincsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsWed, 12 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Why we blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/global-chat-why-we-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

tsw
Why an MMO player decides that he or she needs to take up an additional hobby of writing about these games isn't much of a mystery. We may all blog about a huge variety of topics, but the impetus behind it tends to be very common: We have so many thoughts about and so much love for these games that we can't hold it in.

To blog is to open up and share experiences, observations, and hopes. It's to connect with others and to perhaps give another layer of meaning to the time that we spend in-game. We don't blog because we have to; we blog because we simply could not not blog.

So let's see a few examples of what MMO bloggers couldn't keep inside of them! From spooky stories to rapturous tales of exploration, it's a testament to the power of words and goofy rejoinders.

Continue reading Global Chat: Why we blog

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Why we blog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaactivisionarche-agearcheageback-painblizzardblizzard-entertainmentblogbloggersbloggingblogosphereblogsbuy-to-playcolumnfactionfantasyfuncomglobal-chathalloweenhalloween-2014holidayhorrormmo-blogmmo-bloggingmmospheremythologynightmare-tideopinionpvpquotablesraidingraidsriftsandboxsandparksci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtriontrion-worldstswwarcraftwildstarworld-of-warcraftwowxl-gamesxlgamesTue, 11 Nov 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's Mystery of the Genesis Prime is live today [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/wildstars-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime-is-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/wildstars-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime-is-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/wildstars-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime-is-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It'd be nice to actually learn what Drusera has spent the entire lifespan of the game apologizing for, yes.
It's been a long road getting from there to here, but players who have been waiting patiently for the next WildStar patch can stop waiting. Mystery of the Genesis Prime adds two major new pieces of content: the Defile, a new zone extending off of Blighthaven; and Journey to Omnicore-1, a new solo instance that allows players to explore more of the story behind Nexus.

The Defile includes the Black Focus (which we toured), the Siege of the Lightspire, and a variety of solo quest chains. Journey to Omnicore-1 kicks off the game's ongoing story, exploring more of the details behind what took place on Nexus and how the events on the planet could have long-lasting consequences for everyone on the planet and off. The patch also increases loot rewards from enemies fought in groups, adds rental mount vendors for low-level players, and increases money rewards from quests and junk items. You can take the patch for a drive today; it took a while to land, but there's a lot of new stuff therein.

[Source: Carbine Studios press release]
[Update: Carbine has posted a list of known patch issues on the official site; they include currency display issues, non-functioning gardens, and borky public events.]

MassivelyWildStar's Mystery of the Genesis Prime is live today [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycarbinecarbine-studiosgalleriesgalleryinstanceinstanceslorencsoftnew-zonesnewsnews-itemsongoing-storypatchpatchessandparksci-fantasysci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssolo-instancestoryupdateupdateswildstarwszonezonesTue, 11 Nov 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should MMOs have a 'raid stat'?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-have-a-raid-stat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-have-a-raid-stat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/11/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-have-a-raid-stat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week, WildStar dev J-Tal outright apologized for the game's poor solo progression, stating that Carbine is "well aware that solo progression in WildStar is pretty much non-existent" and is working on the problem. But as I was researching that quote, what caught my eye is the post right after J-Tal's mea culpa, a benign little question by a player named Nike Online:
If progression is driven by need, why is there not a budget-hungry 'raid stat' that only provides benefit inside raid instances and keeps those drops more sedate when taken out into the open world? [...] PvP gear has its own stats to protect its environement from outside gear coming in and dominating. PvP power/defense also drain budget from those items so that it's not the optimal open-world gear.
Lots of games have tried PvP stats (for example, World of Warcraft's now-defunct spell penetration and resillience), but I've never seen the equivalent for raid gear. It's definitely a band-aid on a game with innate design and balance issues, but it does seem to solve the problem of overgeared raiders trampling the open world. What do you think: Should MMOs have a "raid stat"?

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: Should MMOs have a 'raid stat'? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcarbinedaily-grindj-talopinionpvp-statpvp-statsraidraid-gearraid-statraid-statsraidingraidstdgthe-daily-grindwildstarWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar Loremaggedon illuminates the Mordesh, Draken]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/wildstar-loremaggedon-illuminates-the-mordesh-draken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/wildstar-loremaggedon-illuminates-the-mordesh-draken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/wildstar-loremaggedon-illuminates-the-mordesh-draken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

WildStar's Loremaggedon is down to its final two races. This week's installment features the Mordesh and the Draken, and it's required reading if you're curious about how the former lived "before they because quasi-undead space zombies."

Carbine's Chad Moore says that Loremaggedon isn't quite finished, either, even though it's now covered all of WildStar's races.

MassivelyWildStar Loremaggedon illuminates the Mordesh, Draken originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioschad-mooreloremaggedonncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsMon, 10 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Whiling away my Monday in WildStar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/the-stream-team-whiling-away-my-monday-in-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/the-stream-team-whiling-away-my-monday-in-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/10/the-stream-team-whiling-away-my-monday-in-wildstar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's the continuing adventures of Emy Fluffybutt! Last episode Massively's MJ took on a group boss in WildStar with the unexpected help of a passerby who jumped into the fray. (See, there are other low-level players in the game!) But even with that accomplishment, she's far from her goal of retiring comfortably in her very little handcrafted housing hideout. That means there's plenty places to see and mobs to kill -- and hopefully housing items to plunder! What better way to while away a Monday than collecting loot? Join us live at 3:00 p.m. to continue the bouncy Aurin's adventures on Nexus.

Game: WildStar
Host: MJ Guthrie
Date: Monday, November 10th, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST

Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Whiling away my Monday in WildStar

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Whiling away my Monday in WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosEmy-Fluffybuttlivestreamlivestreaminglivestreamsmassively-metamassively-tvMJ-Guthrie-livestreammv-tvmvtvncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fistreamstream-teamstreamingstreamteamthe-stream-teamtwitchtwitch-tvwildstarwsMon, 10 Nov 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A tour of WildStar's upcoming Black Focus area]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/a-tour-of-wildstars-upcoming-black-focus-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/a-tour-of-wildstars-upcoming-black-focus-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/06/a-tour-of-wildstars-upcoming-black-focus-area/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

I can say it was about what I expected, sadly.
The next update for WildStar has some pretty big shoes to fill. Arriving on November 11th, it's the first update the game has seen since August, when the game abruptly peeled back from monthly updates to quarterly ones. It comes after a round of server merges. It needs to prove to fans who are still subscribed to the game that there's good reason to keep playing and that more content is on the way in the near future -- that there's a reason to hold out hope.

Earlier this week, I toured the Black Focus, the five-person group content releasing in the new region of The Defile in the upcoming patch. Not all of my questions about the zone as a whole were answered since I didn't get to go through all of the quests leading into this particular encounter. However, I did get a chance to form at least some first impressions and see how well this bit of content holds up. And there's a new trailer past the cut if you just want to watch that.

Continue reading A tour of WildStar's upcoming Black Focus area

MassivelyA tour of WildStar's upcoming Black Focus area originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areaareasbackstorycarbinecarbine-studioscontentdungeonsfeaturefeaturedgroup-contentlorencsoftopinionoutdoor-dungeonpatchpatchessandparksci-fantasysci-fismall-group-contenttrailertrailersupdateupdatesvideovideoswildstarwsThu, 06 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar shows off the Mystery of the Genesis Prime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/wildstar-shows-off-the-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/wildstar-shows-off-the-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/04/wildstar-shows-off-the-mystery-of-the-genesis-prime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The real mystery is why she decided to float around eternally without pants.
The nature of the Genesis Prime is one of the major elements of WildStar's story as presented to players on the road to level 50. Even once you get there, though, you still have questions, ones that will hopefully be answered by the end of the game's next update. Lucky for you, a new trailer for the Mystery of the Genesis Prime update is now available, along with a look at the Defile region that should help bring much of this storytelling to a conclusion for the time being.

Inside the Defile, players will be exploring solo content in the Sonic Plaza and the Strain Maw, taking on five-person tasks in the Black Focus, and fighting through large-group challenges with the Siege of the Lightspire. Carbine intends to have content in place for you no matter what your preference is.

The update was originally scheduled to launch in November, but no formal date has been announced. Check out the trailer past the break, scope out the locations available, and get ready to find some answers to one of the game's biggest mysteries.

[Source: Carbine Studios press release]

Continue reading WildStar shows off the Mystery of the Genesis Prime

MassivelyWildStar shows off the Mystery of the Genesis Prime originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areaareasbackstorycarbinecarbine-studiosgenesis-primelorencsoftnewsnews-itemspatchpatchesregionregionssandparksci-fantasysci-fitrailertrailersupdateupdatesvideovideoswildstarwszonezonesTue, 04 Nov 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's Loremageddon focuses on Cassians, Exile Humans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/wildstars-loremageddon-focuses-on-cassians-exile-humans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/wildstars-loremageddon-focuses-on-cassians-exile-humans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/wildstars-loremageddon-focuses-on-cassians-exile-humans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

WildStar's Loremageddon continues this week with an installment focused on the Cassians and the Exile Humans. These two groups have a healthy dislike for one another, and if you'd like to know why, you should head to their respective web pages and do a bit of reading. You'll learn about Jarec the Vigilant, Exile cologne, and the reasons behind the Cassian Civil War, among other tidbits.

MassivelyWildStar's Loremageddon focuses on Cassians, Exile Humans originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosloreloremageddonncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-lorewsMon, 03 Nov 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Employee reviews blast Carbine Studios management]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/employee-reviews-blast-carbine-studios-management/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/employee-reviews-blast-carbine-studios-management/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/03/employee-reviews-blast-carbine-studios-management/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

On the plus side, we'll give you an extra hour in the employee ball pit.
Whenever you hear of a studio laying off 60 people, you have to think things aren't going well. Sometimes it's a matter of bad luck and circumstance, but sometimes it's a case of bad management and poor decisions. Current and former employees of Carbine Studios attribute it to the latter, with the company holding a 41% rating on Glassdoor.com as reported by The Escapist. The reviews uniformly emphasize that WildStar is an excellent game, but they also point out universal flaws with management, decision-making, and communication.

Several employee reviews characterize the studio as a "boy's club" with only the top decision-makers given leeway. There are also criticisms of the studio's overall implementation of strategies and willingness to adapt. As the reviews come from both present and former employees, the negativity speaks to some underlying problems at the studio and certainly does little to alleviate the sense of general anxiety for players regarding the state of the game.

MassivelyEmployee reviews blast Carbine Studios management originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>approvalcarbinecarbine-studioscorporateemployeeslayoffsmmo-industryncsoftnewsnews-itemsratingratingssandparksci-fantasysci-fistudioswildstarwsMon, 03 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you actually use your MMO house?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-actually-use-your-mmo-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-actually-use-your-mmo-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-actually-use-your-mmo-house/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWG
Every time I go off on a tear about how Star Wars Galaxies' and Ultima Online's houses were so amazing for merchants and traders because of player vendors, one of you always snaps me back to reality: "That's great, Bree, but most MMOs don't have vendors. Most MMOs don't give houses a point at all."

Some of them have tried -- WildStar's homes can provide buffs, Lord of the Rings Online's provide teleports and cheap materials, and lots of games offer safe resource harvesting of one form or another in your home or plot or instance. But most MMO housing boils down to mini-sandboxes where you can build and decorate, so I can understand why MMO gamers might just go play Minecraft or The Sims or another offline game where they can build and decorate in peace and without the interference of grinds and cash shops.

Still, I always decorate my houses and do my best to make use of them when I get them; I like the sense of ownership I feel over that tiny piece of pixelated land. What about you -- do you actually use your MMO houses?

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 you actually use your MMO house? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindhousehousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-housingopinionstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuowildstarFri, 31 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Wrongs and rights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/global-chat-wrongs-and-rights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/global-chat-wrongs-and-rights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/global-chat-wrongs-and-rights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

trove
So often, bloggers are struggling to succinctly answer the same question in a variety of formats: What is right with this game and what is wrong with it? It gets complicated fast when biases, comparisons, and general drama enters into it, although I wouldn't have it any other way. MMOs should be filtered through our various viewpoints to gain broader understanding and (hopefully) provide better feedback.

This week in our journey around the blogosphere, we'll take a second look at Trove, see where ArcheAge messed up, and attempt to understand why PvP sandboxes will wither and die if they're not welcoming to carebears. What's wrong? What's right? That's up to them -- and you -- to decide!

Continue reading Global Chat: Wrongs and rights

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Wrongs and rights originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageblogblogospherecultureeqiieverquest-iifeaturedglobal-chathalloweenhalloween-2014lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionraidingtrovewildstarWed, 29 Oct 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar opens up free, indefinite megaserver transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/wildstar-opens-up-free-indefinite-megaserver-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/wildstar-opens-up-free-indefinite-megaserver-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/29/wildstar-opens-up-free-indefinite-megaserver-transfers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's generally seen as discouraging if your fix for a problem still leaves it broken.
How's your server's population in WildStar since the switch to megaservers? Does it still feel a little empty? Community manager Tony Rey says that the team has heard the complaints that the PvP servers are quiet, and the team is responding by opening up indefinite free transfers between the PvE and PvP megaservers in both directions. You can move your PvE character to the PvP megaserver as you wish, and vice versa.

Rey says that while the team was initially happy with the stats on the PvP realms, the EU PvP megaserver in particular had certain difficulties with player numbers after PvP-to-PvE transfers were opened up but before the megaservers went live. Having free transfers in place does carry the risk of allowing people to level on a PvE server only to transfer over at the level cap, but players are assured that the team is watching for shenanigans and will shut down untoward transfers. These transfers are currently open for an indefinite period of time; Carbine will decide whether or not these free transfers will remain in place after monitoring the health of the server system.

MassivelyWildStar opens up free, indefinite megaserver transfers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscommunityfree-transfersmegaserversncsoftnewsnews-itemspopulationpve-serverpvp-serversandparksci-fantasysci-fiserverserver-populationserver-transfersserverstony-reywildstarwsWed, 29 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 emerges unscathed by NCsoft's layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/guild-wars-2-emerges-unscathed-by-ncsofts-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/guild-wars-2-emerges-unscathed-by-ncsofts-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/24/guild-wars-2-emerges-unscathed-by-ncsofts-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

GW2
Last night's revelation that a large chunk of the WildStar team had been let go is not the only bad news to come from NCsoft this week. According to a letter sent to Polygon, the NCWest layoffs affected all of NCsoft's western branches... except ArenaNet, which runs Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars. Here's what NCsoft wrote:
Today we announced a restructuring of key operations within NC West. As a result of this restructuring, we are implementing staff reductions across our Western operations with the exclusion of ArenaNet. While decisions like this are always hard, they are necessary as we begin the implementation of a new strategy designed to strengthen our footing as a leader in global entertainment.

Moving forward, we will continue to focus on our core development capabilities and the intellectual properties (WildStar, Aion, Lineage, and Guild Wars franchises) that have made NCSOFT what it is today. However, we are looking to move into new business segments like mobile and tablet games as well as explore emerging technologies.

Again, the decision to reduce staff was not an easy one, and we sincerely wish everyone well in their next endeavors.
Polygon's unnamed source says around 60 Carbine Studios employees were let go; we don't yet know how hard the other teams were hit.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 emerges unscathed by NCsoft's layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionanetarenanetcarbinecarbine-studiosguild-warsguild-wars-2gw2layoffslineagelineage-2ncsoftncwestwildstarFri, 24 Oct 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Layoffs hit WildStar's Carbine Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/rumor-layoffs-hit-carbine-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/rumor-layoffs-hit-carbine-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/23/rumor-layoffs-hit-carbine-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

wildstar
Word is bubbling up from several sources that layoffs are impacting Carbine Studios and WildStar today. NCsoft confirmed the rumors in an official statement: "While decisions like this are always hard, they are necessary as we begin the implementation of a new strategy designed to strengthen our footing as a leader in global entertainment. Again, the decision to reduce staff was not an easy one, and we sincerely wish everyone well in their next endeavors."

Community Manager Tony Rey said that the remaining team would soldier on: "Today NC West announced staff reductions across its Western operations. While this impacted several colleagues, the teams here at Carbine are committed to supporting WildStar to ensure you get the experiences you want well into the future. We wish all of our friends well and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future."

Polygon reports that an unnamed source claims that 60 employees were let go. One employee affected was Chief Client Engineer Bitwise, who said farewell on Twitter: "My amazing time at Carbine has come to an end. I can't adequately express my appreciation to the company and players. Thank you!"

The WildStar developer recently saw several high-profile members of its team depart. Massively sends its regards to those impacted by the decision.

MassivelyLayoffs hit WildStar's Carbine Studios originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdeparturelayoffsmmo-industryncsoftpink-slipssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsThu, 23 Oct 2014 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Which 2014 MMO will be the most financially successful?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/leaderboard-which-2014-mmo-will-be-the-most-financially-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/leaderboard-which-2014-mmo-will-be-the-most-financially-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/22/leaderboard-which-2014-mmo-will-be-the-most-financially-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

2014 is winding down, and when it comes to big triple-A MMO releases, it's basically over already. The Elder Scrolls Online, WildStar, and ArcheAge all debuted this year and apart from their differing premises, mechanics, and reception, they also differed in terms of their business models.

One thing they had in common, though, was expensive production values as well as the pressure of carrying the financial flag for their respective development studios. While it's hard to accurately predict the future, that's exactly what we're going to do in today's Leaderboard. Which of 2014's big three do you think will be the most financially successful in the long run? Vote after the cut and don't forget to explain your vote in the comments!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Which 2014 MMO will be the most financially successful?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Which 2014 MMO will be the most financially successful? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageBethesda-Softworkscarbineelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofantasyleaderboardncsoftsandboxsci-fantasysci-fitesothe-elder-scrolls-onlinetriontrion-worldswildstarxl-gameszenimaxzenimax-mediaWed, 22 Oct 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's megaservers shouldn't impact addons much]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstars-megaservers-shouldnt-impact-addons-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstars-megaservers-shouldnt-impact-addons-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstars-megaservers-shouldnt-impact-addons-much/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

wildstar
Carbine Studios took to the forums earlier today to address how player addons may have been affected by WildStar's recent megaserver merge and name changes. The good news is that "most third-party addon users" will not be impacted whatsoever.

For addons that were impacted by the transition, Carbine posted tips on how to bring broken addons up to par. The team encouraged those dealing with broken mods by saying that the data is still there and that recovering it won't be difficult at all. This post is somewhat technical and relevant only to addon creators, but important to everyone who's mods are borked.

MassivelyWildStar's megaservers shouldn't impact addons much originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonaddonscarbinecarbine-studiosguidemodmodssci-fiscience-fictionscifisubscriptionwildstarTue, 21 Oct 2014 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar reveals big lore drops on the Aurin and the Mechari]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstar-reveals-big-lore-drops-on-the-aurin-and-the-mechari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstar-reveals-big-lore-drops-on-the-aurin-and-the-mechari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/wildstar-reveals-big-lore-drops-on-the-aurin-and-the-mechari/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Boy, this information could have been really useful back when the game launched, but...
It's time to learn everything about the WildStar races that you were afraid to ask. Or, more likely, that you did ask. There's a lot of lore in the game, but it's possible to miss some pieces of important information, and players always have lore questions no matter what happens. So the team at Carbine Studios asked for player questions, and creative director Chad Moore has posted the first set of answers in the form of pages for the Aurin and the Mechari.

Both pages contain an overview of the racial histories, culture, social structures, relations with other races, lifespans... everything you could want to know at a glance regarding the operations of these species. Veteran players will find some elements of this unsurprising, but there's more to learn and some longstanding theories confirmed (like the functional immortality of the Mechari or the Aurin preference for analogies). Take a look at both pages for more information.

MassivelyWildStar reveals big lore drops on the Aurin and the Mechari originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurinbackstorecarbinecarbine-studiosloremecharincsoftnewsnews-itemsraceraceswildstarwsTue, 21 Oct 2014 09:00:00 EST