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[WoW Archivist: 3.0.8, the 'disaster' patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/wow-archivist-3-0-8-the-disaster-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/wow-archivist-3-0-8-the-disaster-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/wow-archivist-3-0-8-the-disaster-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

A Wintergrasp battle
WoW Archivist is a biweekly column by WoW Insider's Scott Andrews, who explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? It first appeared on our sister site on January 2nd, 2015, and is included here by permission.

Any game that survives for 10 years and counting will have its growing pains. There will be moments when the urge to deliver the best possible content gets the better of the developers, when they reach too far but only figure that out after it's too late.

Wrath of the Lich King was so ambitious in scope as originally conceived that Blizzard simply couldn't deliver what it announced. Blizzard cut major features before the expansion even went into beta testing. Wrath's systems went live with patch 3.0.2 in October 2008, and the expansion hit live realms two months later. As with most expansions, there were early problems.

In patch 3.0.8, Blizzard tried to fix those problems. Instead, it made them worse. Far worse. WoW Insider itself called the patch a "disaster."

Continue reading WoW Archivist: 3.0.8, the 'disaster' patch

MassivelyWoW Archivist: 3.0.8, the 'disaster' patch originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdisaster-patchscott-andrewswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-archivistwow-insiderwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingSat, 03 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Expansion names are important!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/25/eve-evolved-expansion-names-are-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/25/eve-evolved-expansion-names-are-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/25/eve-evolved-expansion-names-are-important/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Since its launch in 2003, EVE Online has adhered to a rough schedule of releasing two free expansions per year, one at the game's peak play time in the summer and one to tide players over during the long winter lull in activity. Each expansion has had a particular theme and a descriptive name, launching with several major features and then being followed up with a series of smaller sub-releases. At EVE Fanfest 2014 we discovered that CCP plans to change that strategy and instead produce around ten smaller releases each year, aiming to release one every six weeks.

Putting aside the mathematical impossibility of meeting that target with only 52 weeks in the year, the plan for smaller but more regular releases has been generally well-received. Players were very happy to hear that unfinished features will no longer be pushed out the door before they're ready just to meet an arbitrary expansion deadline, and it's great news that completed features and fixes will now wait a maximum of six weeks before deployment. There's no doubt that it's a great development strategy, but the more I think about it, the less sense it makes as a media strategy.

In this EVE Evolved opinion piece, I look at why expansion names are important, the problems with CCP's new development schedule, and what can be done to fix them.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Expansion names are important!

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Expansion names are important! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 May 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW
A new raiding game will be coming to World of Warcraft with this fall's Warlords of Draenor, and as part of this transition Blizzard is penning a series of dev blogs looking at the past and future of raiding design. The first one is up on the site, covering everything from launch through Wrath of the Lich King.

"In many ways, that was the most challenging aspect of classic WoW raiding: the logistics of assembling and maintaining a sufficient roster with sufficient gear," the studio posted.

Blizzard said that reducing the maximum size of raids in The Burning Crusade had two objectives: to improve the gameplay experience for members of raid groups and to make raiding more accessible in terms of requirements. But it was Wrath of the Lich King's many patches that really shaped the raiding scene into what it's become today, the studio said.

MassivelyBlizzard reviews World of Warcraft raiding history originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdev-blogdev-diarydungeondungeonsfantasyraidraidingraidsthe-burning-crusadewarcraftwarlords-of-draenorworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 28 Apr 2014 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was the best WoW expansion?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-wow-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-wow-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/11/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-wow-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Dalaran
Last November, Massively's sister site WoW Insider posed this very simple question to its readers: What was your favorite World of Warcraft expansion? Wrath of the Lich King took over half the vote, with Burning Crusade trailing far behind, which surprised me. I'd consider Wrath to have been the game's peak myself, but I always assumed TBC would beat it in a straight-up poll.

But maybe the difference here is that WoW Insider's fanbase is made up mostly of current players, whereas on Massively we're catering to more of a pre-and-post-WoW community. So today, we're asking you: What was the best WoW expansion?

View Poll


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 was the best WoW expansion? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-expansionbrianna-royce-tdgBurning-Crusadedaily-grindexpansionopinionpollpollstbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingTue, 11 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Old content should stay relevant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/11/the-soapbox-old-content-should-stay-relevant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/11/the-soapbox-old-content-should-stay-relevant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/11/the-soapbox-old-content-should-stay-relevant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox title image
The archetypal themepark MMO model, as popularised by World of Warcraft, is a race to the level cap in order to unlock the best content on offer. New content is tacked onto the endgame regularly, accompanied by improved gear and perhaps a higher level cap. It's a system that's designed to keep people playing by keeping them on a progression climb that's constantly getting steeper. As a consequence, endgame activities render older content obsolete since these outdated activities carry little real benefit for fully leveled characters.

Exploring old content for the sake of experiencing it is not enough of a motivator for many players since this content simply cannot present the same challenge as it once did. Although you can technically go back and play through old dungeons, they will never be as fulfilling when tactics become optional and you can solo once-formidable opponents. In this week's Soapbox, I will mourn the loss of fantastic older content that was rendered obsolete through vertical progression, using WoW as a key example. I'll go on to suggest a solution that I think might allow for both old and new content to exist together in relevancy without significantly compromising the themepark MMO's existing progression mechanics.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Old content should stay relevant

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Old content should stay relevant originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft
In 1999, Blizzard Entertainment was well on its way to becoming something of a titan in the PC gaming space. Riding high on hits like Diablo, Warcraft II, and the barely-a-year-old StarCraft, Blizzard had established itself as a purveyor of quirky, well-made, and entertaining games mostly of the RTS variety.

However, something else was brewing behind closed doors at Blizzard's Irvine campus. While sequels to Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo were all in development (and hotly anticipated), the company had also quietly started work on a brand-new massively-multiplayer online game set in one of the studio's existing game universes. That game, of course, was World of Warcraft. And nine years ago tomorrow, it completely changed the face of MMO gaming.

Continue reading Azeroth and beyond: Nine years of World of Warcraft

MassivelyAzeroth and beyond: Nine years of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard adds Cataclysm to Battle Chest deal
You may have noticed that it's been a little while since that little game called World of Warcraft released -- almost nine years to be exact. And in that time, there have been four major expansions, each adding quite a bit to the game (not to mention their own price tags). So what's a new or long-absent returning player to do? Thanks to Blizzard adding the Cataclysm expansion to the basic Battle Chest edition, it won't be shelling out tons of cash to get caught up.

As the previous expansions were already bundled into the basic edition, the $19.99 price tag now nets a player The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and Cataclysm on top of the base game. Also included is one full month of subscription play time. Only the most recent expansion, Mists of Pandaria, must still be purchased separately. So if you've been thinking about jumping (back) into WoW, now is a good time to take the plunge.

MassivelyBlizzard adds Cataclysm to WoW Battle Chest deal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentCataclysmdealexpansionfantasymistsmists-of-pandariaMists-of-panderiamoppandariapandasThe-Burning-Crusadewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 16 Oct 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/03/jukebox-heroes-world-of-warcrafts-mosaic-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/03/jukebox-heroes-world-of-warcrafts-mosaic-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/03/jukebox-heroes-world-of-warcrafts-mosaic-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack
If you were one of the lucky ducks who went to BlizzCon in 2009 and you were a soundtrack fan, then life smiled upon you. It was there and there only that Blizzard sold a now-rare World of Warcraft soundtrack called Mosaic. I guess "Mosaic" sounded better than "Leftovers," although that's really what it was: a collection of leftover tracks that hadn't been included in an official WoW soundtrack to date.

The amazing thing is, Mosaic is quite good -- better, I think, than The Burning Crusade. I was pretty shocked to discover it a year or so ago, although I wasn't as shocked considering how much I've come to realize that studios just don't put out a lot of their game's music.

So what we have here is a hodge-podge of 16 tracks ranging from the silly to the sublime. They might not be as famous as some of the featured tunes from the other soundtracks, but chances are that if you played WoW, you'll recognize them even so. Here are my picks for the best of the litter.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jukebox Heroes Wrath of the Lich King's soundtrack
After my so-so review of The Burning Crusade's score a few months ago, I'm sure a few of you thought I was barking mad. World of Warcraft is well-known for great orchestra pieces, but I stick by saying that most of the brilliant stuff stayed the heck away from Outland. Fortunately, the sound quality got a lot better when we went up north for Wrath of the Lich King in 2008.

The score was composed and arranged by Russell Brower, Derek Duke, Matt Uelmen, Neal Acree, and Glenn Stafford. As to be expected by that name sandwich, the score features a lot of variety. While there are epic chants and the like that are to be expected from WoW, there's also a lonely, savage feel to the music that represents these far-off lands. There's also a lot of blowing wind that segues between tracks if you listen to the album straight through, and if that doesn't make you envision a snow-blasted landscape, I don't know what would.

The liner notes say that "this is the music of ice and despair, a dirge and a call to arms." I couldn't put it better myself. Let's dive into my picks for the best tracks from this score, shall we?

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Wrath of the Lich King's soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Wrath of the Lich King's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
If you've been following the development of upcoming crowdfunded sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen with interest, Massively has a brand-new column you might enjoy. The Diablo III test realm hinted at upcoming boosts to life regeneration and the damage output of a few spells, but Blizzard also suggested that a nerf to the Wizard Archon Form might be on the way. Path of Exile started its second season of race events, with over 200 events to take part in and massive prizes to be won.

Third-person MOBA SMITE added the 34th god to its roster this week with acrobatic assassin Ne Zha entering the fray, and Guardians of Middle-Earth released new DLC character Kili the Dwarf. Rise of Immortals added support for game replays and introduced and interesting new White Knight feature that lets players take over from characters who have disconnected or quit in the middle of a game.

Heroes of Newerth announced a huge upcoming balance patch that may finally get rid of the paid-for early hero access and promises to rebalance much of the game's expansive roster of characters. Dota 2's streamlined abuse report update backfired when players discovered they could use the report feature itself to abuse other players. And Firefall may finally be edging toward release with the announcement of a date for the start of open beta.

Continue reading Not So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: New Star Citizen column, Path of Exile Season Two, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
It's been a huge week for MOBAs, with the release of several new characters, a ton of balance changes, and even a game closing down for good. League of Legends announced that it will start officially supporting Mac and released a new Smart Ping system designed to help players work together as a team despite language barriers. SMITE showed off its new crowd-controlling water god, Poseidon, and console MOBA Guardians of Middle-Earth released a new Survival game mode DLC.

We heard the unfortunate news that Wrath of Heroes will be closing its doors at the end of the month, and it's not the only game going out of business. Online FPS Bullet Run, formerly known as Hedone, is due to shut down on Friday, March 8th, in a big final event. It's not all doom and gloom, though, as Dota 2 has hit another impressive milestone, passing 300,000 peak concurrent players. The first season of Heroes of Newerth's HoN Tour league is soon to draw to a close, and developers are planning a huge balance patch before the next season kicks off.

Blizzard enraged Diablo III fans this week with the announcement that the console version will not feature the controversial always-online DRM and can be played offline. Path of Exile detailed its next open beta patch, which is due to introduce a new fire skill, a 3v3 dueling arena, and significant Duelist class buffs. Online FPS Firefall produced a new trailer this week showing off its flight gameplay amidst criticism from fans over its lack of beta content. Finally, sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen gave fans a look behind the curtain of game development in its biggest development update video yet.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's console constroversy and Wrath of Heroes' shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft
When I originally started playing World of Warcraft, things were different. Priests were still waiting on their first big class patch. Regular mounts required level 40; most players couldn't afford the 100ish gold fee without a loan from their guild. Epic mounts were so prohibitively expensive as to be considered rare. Raids required the dedication and skill of 40 players, and only a couple of guilds per realm actually even bothered to run high-end content. WoW was, as they say, srs bsns.

But that was eight years ago. Since then, World of Warcraft has seen four enormous expansions (Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria) and countless minor content updates. Edges have been softened, skills refined, classes reinvented. Subs have ballooned to a peak of over 12 million, waffled up and down for a few years, then fallen most recently to 9.6 million.

Some would argue that the World of Warcraft of 2013 bears only a passing resemblance to the one we played in 2005. Others would claim it's still the same excellent/terrible game, just gussied up with fresh paint.

As a longtime WoW lover but recently lapsed subscriber, I ventured into Mists of Pandaria to sort it out for myself.

Continue reading Second Wind: World of Warcraft

MassivelySecond Wind: World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft sale banner
Blizzard, in a move that we're certain has nothing to do with an upcoming high-profile game launch, has decided to cut, slash, and otherwise mutilate the prices for World of Warcraft and its many expansions. The World of Warcraft Battle Chest, which includes the original game and the Burning Crusade expansion, is on sale for a paltry $5 US, while the Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm expansions are reduced to $5 and $10, respectively.

If you have somehow managed to resist playing WoW for the past however-many years, now's the perfect time to succumb to the temptation and give the game a go, especially considering that patch 5.0 goes live in a week, and Mists of Pandaria soon after that. Surely you don't have any other plans for the 28th, right? If you wanna capitalize on the savings, though, just head on over to the Blizzard store, but do so quickly! The sale ends on August 27th.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft series 75% off until August 27th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdealdealsfantasymists-of-pandariamopsalesalestbcthe-burning-crusadewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 21 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III launch day roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/diablo-iii-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/diablo-iii-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/diablo-iii-launch-day-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Diablo III title image
It's been a decade in the making, but today Diablo III finally arrived. The past few months have been filled with Diablo III news and more data than you can imagine, from speculation on the release date to details of gameplay and the different difficulty modes available. We've seen five epic class reveals on the Darkness Falls, Heroes Rise launch site and a series of unlocks that ended with the awesome animated Wrath of Angels short.

In this launch article, we pull together some of the top Diablo III news from the past few months. If you're playing the game today (or not!), be sure to check out our top five tips for making the most of your first few days in Diablo III.

Continue reading Diablo III launch day roundup

MassivelyDiablo III launch day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasyfeaturedgothic-fantasylaunchlaunch-daylaunch-day-round-uplaunch-day-roundupmultiplayernewsonline-multiplayerrpgtrailervideowrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Diablo III became potentially the most pre-ordered PC game in history this week, breaking both Blizzard's personal pre-order records and online retailer Amazon's. The game is set to launch at midnight tonight, unlocking physical copies and digital installers. Diablo-inspired free-to-play dungeon crawler Path of Exile approaches its own launch this week with the release of its penultimate version 0.9.9 patch.

League of Legends announced its upcoming MSI Beat IT tournament at DreamHack Summer 2012, with a prize fund of $40,000 US and a series of public online qualifiers. Bloodline Champions revealed its own $10,000 DreamHack tournament, with open in-game qualifiers scheduled for next weekend. Valve announced details of the second Dota 2 world championship, a series that started with last year's $1.6 million US tournament.

Blizzard settled its lawsuit with Valve this week, renaming Blizzard DOTA to Blizzard All-Stars but securing the continued non-commercial use of the DotA name for the fan community. Heroes of Newerth released its incredibly successful new Midwars game mode, and Rise of Immortals put forth its official immortal spotlight for new immortal Nauria.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championschampion-spotlightcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidiablo-iii-launchdotadota-2dreamhackdreamhack-2012dreamhack-summerdreamhack-summer-2012e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgameplaygothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheroes-of-newerthhonimmortal-spotlightlaunchleague-of-legendslolmid-warsmidwarsmobamsimsi-beat-itmultiplayernaurianewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesspotlightstunlockstunlock-studiosthe-internationaltournamentvalvevarusvideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 14 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Meet Diablo III's demon hunter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/not-so-massively-meet-diablo-iiis-demon-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/not-so-massively-meet-diablo-iiis-demon-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/not-so-massively-meet-diablo-iiis-demon-hunter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
With five weeks left until Diablo III launches, Blizzard started its pre-launch marketing campaign this week with a new series exploring each of the five classes. This week kicks off with a preview of the Demon Hunter. Meanwhile, Torchlight II revealed details of a new charge bar mechanic designed to keep a rapid pace of action, and dungeon crawler Path of Exile started gearing up for release with some tempting pre-order packages.

Penny Arcade made a guest appearance in League of Legends this week with a special comic introducing upcoming champion Varus. Riot also revealed the next champion due for release, armoured spectral warrior Hecarim. Rise of Immortals got the Penny Arcade treatment this week too when joke character Karapyss the Crabomancer was actually released. Bloodline Champions launched an Easter egg painting contest this week and asked players whether grades should be reset for the current competitive season.

Blacklight: Retribution officially launched this week and celebrated with the release of its first new gun, the heavy assault rifle. Finally, Wrath of heroes released its first hero spotlight video this week, introducing hybrid damage-dealer Nethys.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Meet Diablo III's demon hunter

MassivelyNot So Massively: Meet Diablo III's demon hunter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetbiowareblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championschampionchampionscomiccompetitive-gamingcrabomancercrabomancyd3demon-hunterdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportseaeasterelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheavy-assault-riflehecarimkarapysskarapyss-the-crabomancerleague-of-legendslolMicrotransactionsmmofpsmobamultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnethysnewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepenny-arcadeperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamesstunlockstunlock-studiosvanusvideowarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroeswrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 09 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
When Cataclysm launched, a friend of mine who hadn't played since the days of Vanilla World of Warcraft wanted to join in the fun, but when he saw the cost of catching up -- nearly full box prices for The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, on top of Cataclysm itself -- he balked and decided to stick with cheaper games. Blizzard's policy on charging for full expansions long after they were new always did seem weird to me, since I grew up on Ultima Online and EverQuest, whose earlier expansions usually came bundled for free along with the newest one. Why keep barriers to entry (or re-entry) unnecessarily high?

So I'm happy to see recent sales on WoW's earlier expansions and a free Cataclysm for returning players via the new scroll of resurrection deal, but I can't help but wonder whether it's too late. How many of you have skipped over a game because of the cost of "catching up"? Do you think new expansions should always include the previous ones gratis?

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 new expansions include old expansions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmdaily-grindeqeverquestexpansionexpansionsfantasyopiniontbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindUltima-Onlineuovanilla-wowwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are heirloom items bad for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I may have chosen this image because it provided me the opportunity to make a 'you have a dead bird on your head' joke in the alt text
In its Wrath of the Lich King expansion, World of Warcraft introduced a new class of items: the heirloom. Heirlooms can be transferred between all of the characters on your account, even your alts belonging to "enemy" factions. While a cloth-bedecked caster can't exactly wear the heavy platemail of his older Paladin brother, the hand-me-downs are pretty useful for twinking if you plan it out a bit.

The trouble is that heirlooms effectively level up with the player, so an alt who has a truckload of heirlooms has no need to take part in the player market. Why would he need to buy a crafted staff from a Weaponsmith? He's got one that he can use for 80 (85, now) levels. And in that case, why bother crafting as a lowbie Weaponsmith at all?

What do you think -- do the conveniences of heirloom items outweigh their negative impact on MMO economies?

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 heirloom items bad for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsbind-on-accountBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcraftingdaily-grindeconomyheirloomheirloomsopinionplayer-economytdgthe-daily-grindtwinkWorld-of-WarcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of course, if you're playing WoW and don't have the expansions, something seriously weird is going on, but whatever.
Reports of the demise of World of Warcraft have been greatly exaggerated, but the price of the game is falling. This isn't entirely unexpected, but the game's two more recent expansions have just seen a significant drop in their EU prices, with Wrath of the Lich King dropping to €19.99 and Cataclysm dropping to €29.99. If you've been playing the game in Europe but have yet to pick up the later expansions, this might be your incentive.

While some retailers have instituted their own price cuts in the time since the release of these expansions, these latest price drops come from the upper management at the company rather than being a limited-time sale or a reduction of overstock. The price move seems to be a result of the newly free-to-play nature of the early game and the upcoming Mists of Pandaria. No word yet on whether or not a similar official price drop will be mirrored in the US.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsmists-of-pandariamopnewspriceprice-dropsprice-reductionpricesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW Holiday Sale banner
The holidays are here, and you know what that means: holiday sales! Blizzard is joining the fun with a number of (rather good) deals. The World of Warcraft Battle Chest, which includes vanilla WoW and The Burning Crusade, is on sale for a measly $5 US. Wrath of the Lich King is on sale for $10, and Cataclysm's price has been reduced to $20.

And as if that's not enough, Blizzard is also providing discounts for two of its cash shop items. Players can get their hands on a sparklepony for $10 or a Pandaren Monk non-combat pet for $5. The sale lasts until December 19th, so act now. For the full details, check out the news on WoW's official site.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-chestblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcatacataclysmchristmasholidayholiday-saleholiday-salesholidayspandaren-monksparkles the fire safety dogSparklesTheFireSafetyDogtbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-soapbox-how-raiding-turns-you-into-a-horrible-person/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most of the armor was bought with tokens. The shoulders were bought with a ten-minute argument between myself and a hunter about whether or not I rolled fairly.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I remember raiding at the start of Wrath of the Lich King very well. My Shaman was one of the first people in my guild geared up to run Naxxramas, and the oft-mentioned Ms. Lady was herself one of the first tanks to be ready to last through the boss fights. We were a casual guild, sure, but even in a casual grouping you have stars, and we were stars. We were experts on the content, we destroyed the fights, we marched around dripping in epics. I was the highest DPS in the guild, she was the tank there for nearly every session, and we were known and respected.

It was absolutely awful.

Of course, it didn't start like that. But there was a very good reason we finally decided that this was not only unfun but actively harmful to our relationship. We left and didn't look back, and we never moved back into raiding in a real way -- nor did we want to. Our time at the top made it very clear how raiding changes you and how you move from not caring about a stupid pretend sword to being absolutely livid when someone else wins a roll for that pretend sword. It's not a case of taking the game too seriously or not having a grip on reality -- it's the way that endgame raiding is structured that drives you, inexorably, to that point.

Continue reading The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person

MassivelyThe Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncultureendgameendgame-designfeaturedopinionraidingsoapboxthe-soapboxwotlkwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 20 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-guild-counsel-why-the-raid-is-worth-seeing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Raid's Double Dragons
Over the weekend, Gary Gannon from Gamebreaker.TV hosted a unique event in the world of MMOs: a film premiere, complete with fancy suits and ties and even an afterparty (albeit in the form of a chat room). The film is The Raid, which followed the World of Warcraft guild Double Dragons as it worked through the raid content from Wrath of the Lich King. There has been a lot of feedback from those who saw the premiere, but it's been decidedly mixed so far. Furthermore, viewers had such strong reactions to certain parts of the documentary that director Kevin Michael Johnson made a post on the site to try to address some of the criticism.

But is the mixed review simply the cynical gamer at his best, or is it legit? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at The Raid, and I'll explain why I think it's definitely worth seeing.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbonnie-nardidouble-dragonsedward-castronovafeaturedgamebreakergamebreaker.tvgary-gannonguildguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-warsguildsjesse-schellkaren-bryankevin-johnsonlich-kingloremonths-behindraidingraidsthe-raidWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-movieswotlkwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First there was The Burning Crusade, then Wrath of the Lich King, and, most recently, Cataclysm. World of Warcraft's expansions have been the lifeblood of literally millions of gamers' playtime, which is why many fans are anxiously awaiting word of the fourth expansion pack to the hit MMO.

Today we may know the name of the expansion: Mists of Pandaria. According to MMO Champion, Blizzard filed a trademark with this title on July 28th, which is exactly in line with how the company has procured titles for the previous expansions. The trademark specifies that this is for "computer game software."

The Pandarens are one of the more light-hearted races in the Warcraft franchise, with kung fu panda bears from a secret empire somewhere in Azeroth. Despite being fan favorites, the Pandarens have been rarely seen in WoW, while Blizzard has used them in a couple different April Fool's jokes in the past.

We'll be keeping our eyes on Blizzard for any official confirmation.

MassivelyRumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-foolsazerothblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionexpansionskung-fu-pandamists-of-pandariapandarenpandarenspandariarumorthe-burning-crusadetrademarkwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everyone knows that a good mascot can make a difference between a video game's death and rabid popularity. Mario, Master Chief, Duke Nuke 'Em, Pac-Man, Samus Aran, Pyramid Head -- each one of these mascots isn't merely an aspect of the game, they are the virtual spokesperson (or spokesthing) which represents the game itself.

Yet when you think about it, MMOs have had a tougher time producing mascots than other video game genres, partially because unlike other games, you don't play as the mascots, and partially because when you have a cast of thousands of NPCs, picking out one to elevate above the rest is a difficult job.

Difficult, that is, but not impossible. Today we're going to look at ten MMO mascots (MMOscots?) that studios have tried to promote as the face of these games, to varying degrees of success.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO mascots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13371337-speakanarchy-onlineanetangelaoapril-foolsarenanetarthasbatmanbe-the-broccoliblizzardbroccolicharrchatdycity-of-heroescohddodevildungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-mythicelfy-mcnoclotheseqeverquesteye-of-the-northf2pfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-eye-of-the-northgwgwenjack-emmertleetleet-speakleetslich-kinglistlistsmascotmascotsmythicmythic-entertainmentperfect-10perfect-tenplayboyprince-arthasretconretconningsarah-morrisonsoesquigsquigsstatesmantabula-rasathe-jokerthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbinewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft coming to Brazil]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A fully localized World of Warcraft is on its way to Brazil, complete with a Portuguese client and customer service platform. This marks Blizzard's ninth officially supported language according to a press blurb on the company's website, and the third supported language in Latin America (following the English and Spanish versions).

Blizzard is providing a full suite of payment options for Brazilian customers, with the base game (plus the Burning Crusade expansion) available for BRL 29.90, while Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm will retail for BRL 99.90 each. If retail boxes aren't your thing, the Brazilian version of WoW will also be available through Battle.net.

Finally, subscription plans come in 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day flavors, and 60-day time cards will be available in retail stores. North American players who wish to play on the dedicated Brazilian realms may install a language pack or purchase the Portuguese client, and Blizzard says that "additional pricing details and an official release date [...] will be announced closer to launch."

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft coming to Brazil originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrazilburning-crusadebusiness-modelscataclysmfantasylatin-americammo-industryportugueseportuguese-clientworld-of-warcraftwowwow-brasilWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Frolicking in Forochel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/the-road-to-mordor-frolicking-in-forochel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/the-road-to-mordor-frolicking-in-forochel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/the-road-to-mordor-frolicking-in-forochel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Call me weird, but I am an absolute sucker for winter zones in MMORPGs. For me, the season of winter always evokes a lot of powerful feelings as the landscape is transformed, homes are a sanctuaries for warmth, and hardiness becomes a desirable trait. A zone filled with ice and snow screams to me desolation and death -- more so than a fire or volcano one -- but in a beautiful way.

It's no wonder, then, that I've become entranced with Forochel in Lord of the Rings Online.

Added to the game in April of 2008, Forochel became a bit of an anomaly in the LotRO experience. It was a (then) max-level area that was off the beaten path, created to cater to solo players seeking adventure. In fact, if the epic story hadn't taken us to Forochel in Volume 1 Book 13, I doubt many players would have sought it out on their own. It's a shame if that's the case, because Forochel offers both breathtaking vistas and a unique questing experience that should be encountered at least once in your LotRO career.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Frolicking in Forochel

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Frolicking in Forochel originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicken-playered-luineskimoevendimfeaturedforochelfrontiericeice-bayice-ice-babyice-sledice-to-meet-youinuitlord-of-the-rings-onlinelossothlotromiddle-earthmisty-mountainsnorthrendsnowthe-road-to-mordorturbinewinter-zonesworld-of-warcraftWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 16 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard assures more growth to come for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blizzard-assures-more-growth-to-come-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blizzard-assures-more-growth-to-come-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/blizzard-assures-more-growth-to-come-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,


World of Warcraft has been stagnating for the past few years, even though it doesn't seem like such a word could be applied to a game with 11.5 million subscribers. While the number is certainly impressive, it's stayed the same since 2008 -- something that no developer likes to see.

Frank Pearce, Blizzard's EVP of Product Development, says he anticipates that changing very soon for several reasons. Eighteen-month-old expansion Wrath of the Lich King is not yet released in China, but when it is Blizzard expects to see good things: "...once we get that approval and launch Wrath in China then I think we will see growth." Cataclysm is on the way later this year as well, and Pearce says that it will probably bring "win-back" from former players.

Add that to the upcoming announcement of a new Blizzard MMO on the horizon, and the developers have high hopes for the future. You can check out the rest of what Pearce had to say over at vg247.

MassivelyBlizzard assures more growth to come for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcataclysmfrank-pearcevg247world-of-warcraftWoWwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 25 May 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PC Gamer's reader poll honors EVE as the #3 PC game of all time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/pc-gamers-reader-poll-honors-eve-as-the-3-pc-game-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/pc-gamers-reader-poll-honors-eve-as-the-3-pc-game-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/pc-gamers-reader-poll-honors-eve-as-the-3-pc-game-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Reader polls always tend to be an exercise in popularity, bucking conventional wisdom and surprise upsets -- and perhaps never so much as a recent annual PC Gamer poll that asked readers to rank the top 100 PC games of all time. EVE Online scored a surprising #3 spot on the list (falling from last year's #2 position), behind only Fallout 3 and Half-Life 2. This certainly is a testament to EVE's devoted and outspoken fans.

Several other MMOs appeared in the top 100, including World of Warcraft (#10), WURM Online (#20), World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (#25), Lord of the Rings Online: The Mines of Moria (#31), Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (#36), RuneScape (#45), Guild Wars (#72), World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (#97) and EverQuest (#100).

Of course, reader polls should always be taken with a grain of salt (mmm... salty goodness), as large organizational efforts and promotion from one studio or group of fans is often enough to create a skewed result. Still, it's a decent list, and terrific to see so many MMOs given the top honors.

MassivelyPC Gamer's reader poll honors EVE as the #3 PC game of all time originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 May 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetblizzardccpeve-onlineeverquestfallout-3guild-warshalf-life-2jagexlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaonetoofreepc-gamerreader-pollsrunescapeshadows-of-angmarsoethe-burning-crusadetop-100turbineworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingwurm-onlineFri, 14 May 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/netease-starts-road-back-to-operating-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's time for World of Warcraft players in mainland China to break out the party hats and streamers, because things are finally... well, they're not entirely back on track, but they're at least a blessed sight closer to being back on track. Digital East Asia is reporting that NetEase has finally obtained the license to operate World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade in China after a struggle spanning an insane amount of time.

On the down side, yes, that does appear to be the last expansion, rather than the present one. On the up side, it means that the seemingly interminable bickering between government agencies has finally been sorted out, and players can finally get back to the business of enjoying the game. No word, however, on what this may or may not mean for Wrath of the Lich King, which has allegedly run afoul of Chinese censors.

The entire fiasco may be clearing, but it may have far-reaching consequences even beyond the MMO arena. A recent Chinese fan video has been making the rounds and getting mentions in the Wall Street Journal for its summary and satire of the entire mess, with some rather sharp critiques of censorship and the government's actions in the affair. This post contains background and links to subtitled versions of the video on YouTube, which might prove interesting to those who've been following the madness since the beginning.

MassivelyNetEase starts road back to operating World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcensorscensorshipchinachinese-censorsgappneteasetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingyoutubeThu, 18 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/world-of-warcraft-in-china-remains-hopelessly-mired/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In much of the world, current complaints about World of Warcraft center around the resolution of the storyline of the latest expansion and whether or not it's had a negative effect on MMOs as a whole. In China, current complaints about World of Warcraft are more focused on the fact that the game is still mired knee-deep in government infighting to try and make it playable again. After the last salvo, it seemed as if an end was close in sight... but as it turns out, NetEase has been forced to suspend any new player registrations for a week.

The studio is re-applying for a license to host World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, with no mention being made of Wrath of the Lich King, which doesn't bode very well for the hopes of that expansion ever seeing release in China. Having been stuck in the middle of two squabbling agencies for quite some time, and with no clear resolution in sight, it seems like a stretch to assume that the expansion will be released in China before the next one is due to arrive stateside. Our condolences to Chinese players affected by the latest round of bickering, and we can only hope that this long struggle will soon come to a conclusion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft in China remains hopelessly mired originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While World of Warcraft China remains in turmoil, the government has loosened their grip on the game slightly, allowing former account holders to jump back into Azeroth once more.

The Chinese government has given NetEase, the new operator of World of Warcraft, the ok to re-open the servers on July 30th. This relaunch is being labeled as a "testing phase," however, as no new accounts will be allowed until the government completes their review of the game. NetEase is also barred from changing the cost of the subscriptions during this phase to ensure a smooth transition from the former operator, The9.

Continue reading World of Warcraft allowed a "partial relaunch" in China

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft allowed a "partial relaunch" in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>163.combreakingchinagappgovernmentneteaserelaunchreviewtestingthe9warcraft-chinaworld-of-warcraftwow-chinawrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think of the WoW downtime in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-the-wow-downtime-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For the citizens of China, Azeroth is silent. During the transition from The9 to NetEase, the servers have been taken offline leaving millions of people with nothing to do. There are other MMOs, plenty in fact. Some from the west and loads with that distinctly eastern vibe. Yet I'm sure WoW has the vast majority of the Chinese MMO player base suffering major withdrawal and pining for Azeroth. Of course, many will have transferred to Taiwanese servers where Wrath is already live, up to date and there is no downtime but the vast majority will be left waiting.

The most contact we have with Chinese players is usually through whispers asking if you want to buy gold, gnome corpses in Ironforge linking to websites, phishing scams and bots. I admit, I've noticed a marked decrease on my own server and the corpses have moved to Stormwind instead. Gold farmers aren't exactly the most positive form of contact and most Chinese players seem to be branded gold farmers regardless (guilty until proven innocent) and treated with disdain. So readers, how have you found the last couple of weeks in Azeroth? What do you think of the forced downtime? How do you think this will effect Chinese players (and I mean players, not farmers or bots)? Do you play on a Chinese realm? Have you migrated and rerolled or are you playing the waiting game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think of the WoW downtime in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botschinadowntimegold-farmersneteasethe-daily-grindthe9world-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/13/blizzard-gives-preview-of-the-isle-of-conquest-battleground/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard community manager Nethaera has announced some more details of the new battleground coming to World of Warcraft with Patch 3.2, Call of the Crusade.The "Isle of Conquest" will be a new place for Horde and Alliance to face off in forty-vs.-forty PvP across different locations offering their own unique challenges and rewards.

Blizzard has put together a preview site for the Isle of Conquest explaining about the battleground and its objectives and resources that the Horde and Alliance will struggle over. Each location will have a certain advantage, ranging from Glaive Throwers and Catapults to an airship that allows players to parachute into the enemy keep. Have a look at the Isle of Conquest preview site for more on what to expect from Call of the Crusade's battleground.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBlizzard gives preview of the Isle of Conquest battleground originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Druids all over the planet (including my night elf Serisa and WoW.com's Allison Robert) are currently squeeing with delight. Blizzard have just announced that the long awaited, much talked about druid forms will be dropping with the next major content patch 3.2 (aka Call of the Crusade). Blue Zahrym made the announcement a short time ago on the forums and Blizzard also updated their development pages, revealing the first look at the six choices tauren will have for their bears. A peek are the night elf forms is incoming 'soon' and Druids will also be able to get new cat forms as well.

The development page also explains how the new forms will work: "In our next major content patch, druids will find a host of new textures for two major forms, cat and bear. There will be five different designs for each of these forms for the Horde and Alliance. Night elves can choose to change their cat and bear look at any time by visiting the barber shop and changing their character's hair color, while tauren will be able to change which look they use by switching skin tones in the barber shop -- a new feature for tauren in the next major content patch. Given that there are more hair colors and skin tones than unique form looks, some colors and tones will overlap with these new textures. The hair and skin colors chosen will, in most cases, correspond with the color seen in the look of each form. Some similar colors that may share a particular cat texture will not necessarily share the same bear texture."

MassivelyUpdated druid forms coming with next WoW patch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-the-crusadedruid-formdruid-formsdruidspatch-3.2world-of-warcraftwow-patch-3.2wow-patch-call-of-the-crusadewrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 26 May 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Next World of Warcraft patch announced: Call of the Crusade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/next-world-of-warcraft-patch-announced-call-of-the-crusade/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard has announced that the next major content patch in the works for World of Warcraft is Patch 3.2: Call of the Crusade. Patch 3.2 will expand upon the features of Wrath of the Lich King, and Blizzard lists a few highlights:

  • The Argent Tournament expands: With the help of Azeroth's heroes, the Argent Crusade will finish the Argent Coliseum just in time to call for all brave citizens to prepare for battle with the Lich King. New dailies, rewards, and more will be available at the Argent Tournament grounds to lure adventurers into the coliseum.
  • Crusader's Coliseum: In order to prepare for a siege on Icecrown Citadel, players will be called by the Argent Crusade to test their mettle in the Coliseum. 5-player, 10-player, and 25-player challenges await inside.
  • New Battleground: Isle of Conquest, a new large-scale siege Battleground, will be open. The Horde and Alliance will battle head-to-head for control of strategic resources to lay siege to the keeps of their opponents.
  • New Arena Season: Season 7 will officially start, paving the way for all-new items and challenges.

The full details of Call of the Crusade, as they stand right now, can be found in the public test realm patch notes. We'll keep you informed when more details of World of Warcraft's Patch 3.2 are released.

[Via VG247]
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyNext World of Warcraft patch announced: Call of the Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Develop Magazine releases a list every year of the 100 most bankable game studios in the world, known as the Develop 100. The list for 2009 has just gone out, and guess who has moved up in the world? Going from #47 last year all the way to the top this year is Blizzard Entertainment -- you know, those chaps that are responsible for World of Warcraft, among other things. Fellow money-printing outfit Nintendo was relegated to second place due to this mighty ascension.

Our sister-site WoW Insider did a bit of digging to find out why Blizzard jumped so much in a single year. It seems to be due to a few things combined; Blizzard's Activision merger, the release of Wrath of the Lich King, and a change in the way Develop is calculating their figures, particularly in relation to MMOs. Here's a summary of the judging standards found on the Develop 100 page:

Develop 100 ranks the world's most bankable games development studios based on a variety of key criteria including sales data, critical success and industry standing.

Things get a bit wonky when it comes to sales data and MMOs, due to significant revenue coming from subscriptions and online purchases instead of retail sales. WotLK's release and resulting retail sales undoubtedly had a great deal to do with Blizzard's new number one standing, and we wonder how old Blizz' would have fared on the Develop 100 without a new box to put on store shelves. Regardless, they're the champions for 2009. For those interested, the top 5 in order are: Blizzard Entertainment, Nintendo, Rockstar North, EA Canada, and Capcom.

MassivelyBlizzard bumps Nintendo off #1 spot on Develop's top 100 studios list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankableblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcapcomdevelopdevelop-100develop-magazineeaea-canadaelectronic-artsmost-bankable-studionintendoretail-salesrockstar-northsalessubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftwow-insiderwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 12 May 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/the9-is-out-netease-is-in-for-chinese-world-of-warcraft-operato/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yesterday, we reported the rumor that it looked like Chinese World of Warcraft operator The9 might be losing the licensing rights to a competitor, and today we can confirm that rumor to be 100% true. Rival company NetEase has purchased the rights to operate World of Warcraft in China, starting once The9's current contract is up with Blizzard on June 8th.

NetEase is already the operator of Battle.net in China, supporting Warcraft III and the to-be-released Starcraft II. They have been operating with Blizzard since last August, when they acquired all of the rights to the other Blizzard games. This acquisition only brings NetEase and Blizzard closer together in their business arrangement.

What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of Wrath of the Lich King. DoNews, a Chinese news site, has reported that Wrath has been licensed by NetEase, although no formal announcement has yet been made.

[Via JLM Pacific Epoch]

MassivelyThe9 is out, NetEase is in for Chinese World of Warcraft operator originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netblizzardlegallicensingneteasepatch-3.0rightsstarcraft-2starcraft-iithe9transitionwarcraft-3warcraft-iiiworld-of-warcraftwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 16 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/blizzard-nominated-for-6-awards-at-mi6-conference/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Massively's sister site WoW Insider pointed out some news regarding Blizzard today. WoW Insider's Mike Schramm writes that Blizzard Entertainment seems to have made a big impact on the MI6 Conference, which is focused on the marketing and monetization of games. Blizzard is a nominee in six award categories for the 2009 MI6 Awards, most of them for World of Warcraft:

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL AD
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft 2008 "What's your Game?" TV Campaign

BEST WRAPPING - PRODUCT PACKAGING
Wrath of the Lich King Standard Edition

OUTSTANDING OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Launch Campaign

SHARPEST PEN AWARD - BEST COPYWRITING/TV OR THEATRICAL
Ozzy Osborne - "Prince of Darkness"

BEST PRODUCT LOGO DESIGN
Diablo 3 Animated Logo

The MI6 Conference will be held on April 8th in San Francisco.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyBlizzard nominated for 6 awards at MI6 Conference originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we've reported on earlier, Wrath of the Lich King isn't heading towards a speedy approval for Chinese audiences, leading to problems for The9 if they can't get Wrath approved by the government. However, unlike The9, Blizzard is downplaying the issues Wrath may be facing.

Blizzard has told GamesIndustry.biz that "World of Warcraft continues to operate as normal in mainland China, and we're continuing to work with our local partner, The9, toward the launch of Wrath of the Lich King there. An official announcement will be made once it's ready to go."

It seems that everything is on track for Wrath's launch in China according to the company, but only time will ultimately tell when Wrath will be able to get away from the new stringent regulations holding it back.

MassivelyBlizzard downplays Wrath's issues in China originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardchinadisapprovalgamesindustry.bizregulationsskeletonsthe9world-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingzombiesSun, 22 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST