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New Darkfall development blog touches on key points

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Sandbox

Development on the next incarnation of Darkfall continues, promising big changes to the game's core mechanics. The latest update on the official blog addresses a variety of systems that hadn't previously been covered, starting with the game's large-scale UI improvements. The biggest revelation and item of interest, however, is the promise of the upcoming point system, which allows players to receive rewards for accomplishments that in turn fuel new play options.

Although the terminology used in the blog is a bit vague due to the fact that specifics on the system are under wraps, it's made very clear that the point system is not simply an achievement system (which will also be added). Rather, using points in-game will fuel certain abilities or grant access to new abilities, allowing players to open new paths as a reward for their accomplishments. There's also a few updates on the future of crafting, all of which should give Darkfall players something to look forward to when version 2.0 finally goes live.

New Darkfall development blog touches on key points originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythos Global wants you to play your way

Matt Daniel — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, News items, Mythos, Free-to-play

Mythos Global has been on one crazy rollercoaster ride throughout its lifespan, and the latest incarnation of the free-to-play Diablo-esque dungeon-crawler has been in open beta for a little over a month now. But T3Fun wants players to know that there's more to Mythos than just dungeon-delving, and the studio has released a trio of new videos to prove it.

Whether you're a loot fiend, an achievement chaser, or a master crafter, Mythos has something for you. As with most Diablo-alikes, Mythos features a plethora of randomized loot for players to hoard like there's no tomorrow, while the artisans among us can become masters of their trades with the help of the game's unique crafting skill tree system. And of course, achievements and titles abound for those who just love showing off their heroic accomplishments. If any of these playstyles tickles your fancy, just head on over to the game's official site to get in on the action for yourself.

[Source: T3Fun press release]

Continue reading Mythos Global wants you to play your way

Mythos Global wants you to play your way originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Video, Previews, The Secret World, Massively Event Coverage

If you found your appetite whetted for The Secret World after reading Jef's writeup from GDC, then make room in your life for 35 minutes of Funcom's full presentation from the conference! Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist, Lead Designer Martin Bruusgaard, and Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos take turns showing off in-game footage and discussing the game mechanics at play.

Topics covered in the presentation include character creation, the creepy/sexy Dragon starter experience, how achievements work, story, crafting, and the lands of Transylvania.

While the video isn't 100% pristine -- Funcom apologized for the less-than-perfect lighting during the presentation -- it's so chock-full of information and footage that you won't even notice. Give it a whirl after the jump!

Continue reading GDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation

GDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012

Jef Reahard — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Anvil of Crom

This week's Anvil of Crom took a bit of thought because honestly, I haven't felt very motivated to play lately. It's one part burnout and two parts wandering eye, as there are a lot of MMOs out there that I keep hoping Age of Conan will emulate in the interests of becoming a more complete game.

It's certainly not a bad game as is; I've been traveling Hyboria for four years now (and writing about it for two), and you don't do that with titles you have to force yourself to play. Like most things, though, AoC could be better.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012

The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Game mechanics, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles

Well, ArenaNet certainly didn't let 2011 go out on a quiet note. The team had a few last tricks up its sleeve before closing down shop until the new year. We chatted with Eric Flannum about the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer, and the newest ArenaNet blog post contained some exciting talk of combat, achievements, and some tweaking to the Thief class.

I loved hearing about the updates to the Thief and to combat because the fact that the developers are talking about fine-tuning says good things to me about the development process. However, it was the talk of achievements that really caught my attention because it's such a sweeping, game-wide system. Follow along after the jump and let's take a closer look!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers

Flameseeker Chronicles: High achievers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts

Brendan Drain — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Giveaways, Guides

If you've been checking out this year's Christmas Steam sales, you'll undoubtedly have seen the Great Gift Pile giveaway. By completing various game achievements and objectives, Steam users unlock prizes that can be anything from a lump of coal to discount vouchers or even a full copy of any game on Steam. There are reports of people winning massive prizes like Skyrim or the Valve complete pack, and even if you just get a lump of coal, it's still a valuable prize; seven lumps can be exchanged for a new random prize, and those left over at the end of the holiday event will count as tickets in a lottery to win a copy of every single game on Steam.

While many of the achievements require the purchase of cheap indie titles, there are several ways to get your hands on a gift from the great pile absolutely free. Checking your Steam inventory page and trading any item with another user will get you two free gifts, and joining the 2011 Holiday Group will net you a third. Two more prizes can be collected by completing the Son of a Nutcracker! achievement in Spiral Knights and the All I Want for Christmas is Sewers achievement in Rusty Hearts, both of which are free-to-play MMOs available through Steam.

Skip past the cut for details on how to beat the Steam gift achievements for Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts, including full walkthrough videos.

Continue reading Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts

Win free Steam games with Spiral Knights and Rusty Hearts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy's 1.20 patch brings class changes, achievements, and more

Jef Reahard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Final Fantasy XIV

According to the latest email blurb from Square-Enix, the 1.20 patch for Final Fantasy XIV contains a "cornucopia of new content, gameplay enhancements, system overhauls, and more adjustments than you can wave a moogle at!"

Flowery language aside, the update does seem rather substantial given that it features a refined party search mechanic as well as the ability to purchase items directly from the market ward's item search. There's a new achievement system too, and it's stuffed with upwards of 300 tasks to complete, many of which lead to exclusive gear and items.

Last but certainly not least, there's an extensive amount of class reform contained in the patch, and you can read the finer details on that at the official FFXIV forums.

[Source: Square-Enix email blast]

Final Fantasy's 1.20 patch brings class changes, achievements, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 dev blog talks achievements, Thief tweaks

Jef Reahard — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2

It's been a trying year for impatient Guild Wars 2 fans, but 2011 is closing on something of a high note due to recent beta rumblings as well as an increase in the ArenaNet information trickle. The latest blurb is a year-end development update courtesy of Eric Flannum and Jon Peters, and Flannum kicks things off with a fairly detailed look at the game's achievement system.

As it turns out, GW2's achievements come in three flavors, and they comprise long-term goals, dailies, and monthly tasks that "encourage a variety of play and reward you with gold and experience."

Peters details recent changes to Thief class gameplay, and he pays particular attention to the steal and backstab abilities. He also spends a bit of time talking about improvements to combat timing and animations. "Making these improvements has been really interesting and fun because it has shown us how our game can feel appropriately action-oriented without taking away the familiarity of the MMO genre," Peters explains.

Guild Wars 2 dev blog talks achievements, Thief tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

As I write this, patch 1.20 is not actually live just yet. All I have to go on is a monster list of patch notes and the various previews we've been given thus far. Of course, by the time you're reading this, the patch will have released, and I have no doubt that some people will have played through everything it has to offer a couple of times over. So I'm working at a bit of a disadvantage.

In some ways I'm actually not in that terrible a spot. The last two patches have done great things for Final Fantasy XIV, and the patch notes are long enough that I can at least make some reasonable guesses about how things will play out. So I'm going to do precisely that, with the obvious caveat that I might be punching at the wind. Long story short: I'm confident about this patch; only a few bits irritate me.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20

The Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV previews in-game achievement system

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV has had a method for tracking achievements since launch via the Lodestone site, but they were treated largely as milestones for characters and provided no tangible rewards. The upcoming patch 1.20, however, is bringing the system into the game proper, complete with a full set of benefits for players. And the system comes with more than a few rewards for players to pick up along the way, as you might expect.

Each achievement category starts out locked, but once players speak with a specified NPC, the category will be unlocked for viewing. Both titles and special items can be unlocked, and the system will also reward achievement points to help give you an idea how much you've accomplished through the game. Bringing the system off the site and into the game might produce a few hiccups, but it looks as if the implementation will give Final Fantasy XIV players some interesting goals to chase.

Final Fantasy XIV previews in-game achievement system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Hero Squad Online's challenge system offers a new way to earn special characters

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Casual, Super Hero Squad Online

If you're playing Super Hero Squad Online, chances are you have the collecting bug already -- you want to collect every cool hero you can find. With a new feature, Gazillion's players can now flesh out their roster for free (as long as they're willing to put in some effort!).

Dubbed the Challenge System, this feature opens a series of achievements for players to tackle. Successfully completed challenges earn money and tickets, and span the entire game world. The best rewards, of course, are new heroes that are exclusive to this system, so if you want any of them, you're going to have to step up and knock out these challenges.

The new heroes coming as Challenge System rewards include Colossus, Daredevil, Firestar, Future Foundation Spider-Man, and Sentry.

[Source: Gazillion press release]

Super Hero Squad Online's challenge system offers a new way to earn special characters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What's your end-of-the-year MMO to-do list?

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

With only a little less than three months left in 2011, it's time to start thinking about what we want to accomplish before 2012's crop of MMOs arrives. Maybe you want to reach level cap in some of 2011's launches like Allods Online or DC Universe Online or dive into the newest shinies like Lord of the Rings Online's Rise of Isengard. Either way, there's a good chance you're completing your goals with one eye on 2012, which looks to be quite a year for the MMO industry.

So tell us what your end-of-the-year goals are. Is it something related to completing a current game or some kind of rigorous sleep-deprivation exercise that gets you ready for the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, or another anticipated MMO?

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

The Daily Grind: What's your end-of-the-year MMO to-do list? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SG Interactive launching GameRage portal

Jef Reahard — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous

SG Interactive is in the news today thanks to its new GameRage online portal. Who the heck is SG Interactive? Well, the company was originally called Ntreev USA and is headquartered in southern California. Its portfolio includes Trickster Online, Grand Chase, and Pangya, as well as several other free-to-play titles.

GameRage will provide centralized contests and events, giving players a sort of one-stop shop for all of the happenings across SG's catalog. There's also a mission zone which allows achievement comparisons across titles, and a reward zone where in-game event winners will be immortalized. GameRage is currently live, and you can sign up at the service's official website.

[Source: SG Interactive press release]

SG Interactive launching GameRage portal originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Achievements to be included in Star Wars: The Old Republic at launch

Matt Daniel — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Are you the sort of person who absolutely will not rest until you've achieved every goal a game has set before you? Are you a Star Wars: The Old Republic fan? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then boy are you in luck.

Everyone's favorite time-wasters have been confirmed for The Old Republic's launch. That's right, we're talking about achievements. It's important to note, however, that these aren't the esoteric, wacky achievements that reward you for dancing on a mailbox with rubber cow udders strapped to your head. The "level one" achievement system will primarily focus on feats of heroism, such as taking down a big boss and other things of that nature. For the full details, check out the interview excerpt at Ask A Jedi.

Achievements to be included in Star Wars: The Old Republic at launch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you an achievement junkie?

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

If you're an Xbox Live player, you're well aware of the power of achievements. They help you show off your versatility, dedication, and overall badassery to your friends. In MMOs, these achievements can unlock certain skills, cosmetic items, or even content. We love our carrot-on-a-stick, but we love it even more if we can grab a bite every so often.

These achievements don't always mean everything to everyone. Many players couldn't care less about a gamer score or special unlocks; they just want to play the game and enjoy themselves. So we're curious to know how you feel. Do you live for achievements, or could you do without them altogether?

[Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes forums]

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

The Daily Grind: Are you an achievement junkie? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

I first started to notice it in Champions Online. Cryptic gave us the ability to broadcast our achievements in the game over Twitter: "CapnCrunch has reached level 10!" At the time, it felt like a silly idea that wouldn't catch on, but for some reason, it has. More and more we're seeing studios working hard to integrate popular social networks into their MMOs, and more and more I'm wondering... why?

RIFT has been big on doing this, implementing the ability not only to set your account to automatically tweet achievements ("Hey guys, I jumped off a bridge and didn't die!") but also to post them in Facebook. The game also allows you to record video and take screenshots to post online, which seems to me to be more useful but still probably not as captivating to a potential personal audience as one might hope.

So my question today concerns these social media connections in MMOs -- are they useless? Are they just a fad that few people use? Do the ones who do use them end up annoying their followers with a stream of spam messages? Or do people actually enjoy the ability to have their games tie in with their social networks and see how their friends are progressing?

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

The Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Angels Online's Primordial Paradise expansion brings new maps, achievements

Jef Reahard — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

There's a new expansion for Angels Online, and IGG's latest press release details a bit of what players can expect. The Primordial Paradise awaits, and intrepid explorers will "make their way through native villages, thick jungles and ancient ruins to battle scores of new, frightening monsters."

The region boasts a slew of new quests, many of them revolving around the "unimaginable evil" that lurks in the deep, dark recesses of the area. Seven new maps are also ripe for plundering, and Primordial Paradise offers new achievement and title systems as well as various itemization updates to assist players in tweaking their characters.

To celebrate the expansion, which is now live, Angels Online is hosting a seven-day double XP event. Head to the game's official forums for more details.

Angels Online's Primordial Paradise expansion brings new maps, achievements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alter-Ego: Featuring Feats

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, PvE, Opinion, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego

With its tie to the PS3 as well as the emergence of achievement systems in other MMOGs, the presence of achievements in DC Universe Online probably doesn't come as much of a surprise. With that said, unless you've taken the time to poke around in the Feat section, you may not be aware just how many there are for players to complete. You also may not be aware that completing feats doesn't just get you bragging rights; it also grants you additional skill points to improve your character. Whether you're the type that enjoys exploring the open world, prefers soloing, or gets into PvP matches and beats the snot out of other players, there's a little something for everyone in terms of things to unlock.

And if you happen to be on a realm where getting a group is a bit tricky and you simply love running around in the world of DC comics, feats give you something to pursue while you're waiting for friends to log in or for a group instance to pop. Additionally, in looking through the rather in-depth feat listings, you might be surprised to realize just how much lateral content you missed while you were following the main storyline for your side. From hunting iconic characters, roaming the world, and completing missions at high-speed onward to sillier things like breaking hundreds of barrels, there are tons of opportunities to further enrich your experience in DC Universe Online.

So if you've been looking for something new to try or simply want a way to continue improving your character after you hit level cap, then join me behind the break. I'll be taking a look at the many different feat types available in-game as well as offering some tips and tricks I've picked up from my own feat-mad achievement-chasing sessions.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Featuring Feats

Alter-Ego: Featuring Feats originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enter at Your Own Rift: The little things

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift

For me, it's all about the little things in life: the smell of a good cup of coffee, the enthusiastic hug of my two-year-old, an illicit pack of Lemonheads candy, or throwing punny tags into Massively articles. While big things are essential to have and get right, it's the little things I find that give life its unique flavor.

So when I enter MMORPGs, I'm always on the lookout for little things. Oh, sure, PvP and raiding and overarching epic stories are all well and good, but it's from the little things that the soul and flavor of a game emerges. I'm often far more delighted when I stumble upon a funny little Easter egg in a game than if I win that roll for a purple piece of armor.

Today I want to look at 10 little things in RIFT that I've come to appreciate and savor over the past month or so. Maybe these elements don't get all of the glory, and maybe they're even seen as superfluous to some, but without them the game would be far less to me. So while we rush between rifts and struggle with expert dungeons, I'd encourage all of us to take some time to reflect on all of the supporting cast of features that are just as important to the overall effort.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The little things

Enter at Your Own Rift: The little things originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ten levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Hands-on, RIFT, Guides

With two RIFT beta events under my belt, I was given the supreme honor of creating a guide to the first 10 levels of the game. Naturally, I fell apart under the stress, assumed the fetal position for a couple days while whimpering about "frame rates," and then was prodded into action by our editors. That's quite literally "prodded," mind you -- Massively purchased a pair of cattle prods last year at a police auction. It's going to be years until the scorch marks fade from my spine.

The purpose of this guide is two-fold. First, we want to give anyone who's interested in RIFT but couldn't get into the beta a chance to vicariously experience RIFT's newbie path. Second, while RIFT is careful to hold your hand during your first steps into Telara, there are always a lot of things that can be easily missed while one is partaking in the wonders of a new virtual world. So this guide is here to share a few tips and pointers that beta testers may have missed.

What are you waiting for? Roll up a new character by hitting the jump!

Continue reading Ten levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara

Ten levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Let me stand next to your fire

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Guild Wars, One Shots

It appears that our own Massively Mob members are chasing those crazy achievements in Guild Wars of late. The good news is that since everyone is questing so much, it's taking people into gorgeous areas. As such, they're reporting back to us with amazing screenshots from within Guild Wars! Today's awesome One Shots comes to us from Mob member Reg, who writes in to explain this fiery scene: "My quest for 30 points on the Guild Wars 2 calculator sent me into Sorrow's Furnace to unlock the Black Moa Chick mini-pet. This was my first time there, so when I saw this view I just sorta stopped and was amazed at it all -- figured it was time for a screenshot! I did go on to beat the Iron Forgeman, unlocking the Black Moa Chick AND the Eternal Conquerer of Sorrow's Forge MoH statue AND completing a Zaishen Bounty; 30 Points!!! Now for that Obsidian armor set."

From large to small, we love MMOs. We know you love them too, or you wouldn't be here. So, while you're out adventuring, why not snap a screenshot for us? Email those in to oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Yours could wind up being the next one we feature here on Massively!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Let me stand next to your fire originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What's your greatest MMO achievement?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Abraham Lincoln, possibly thinking about World of Warcraft, once said, "That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." Nido Qubein, who was later pwned by Lincoln in PvP, retorted, "Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people."

Achievements: We live to fulfill them. While many MMOs have tacked on an achievement system to motivate us to accomplish bizarre, tough, or unlikely goals, many gamers come up with their own goals all the time. What is your greatest MMO achievement? What are you most proud of accomplishing in your long (or perhaps short) career as an online gamer? Was it a goal that few if any others ever attained? Did you finally cross a finish line you never thought you'd reach?

It's OK to boast in the comments today -- actually, we downright demand that you do. Pat yourself on the back and share with us your greatest personal MMO achievement. If it made you happy and satisfied, we want to hear about it!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What's your greatest MMO achievement? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How important are achievements to you?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Achievements and I have had a rocky past, but we've kissed and made up since then. I never quite "got" the badge system in City of Heroes, and thus did not alter my playstyle one bit to get them. But when I dove into Lord of the Rings Online, I found that snagging deeds was tied to real rewards (titles, virtues), and I started working through them methodically. In 2008, the dual achievement systems of Warhammer Online and World of Warcraft piqued my interest, and I finally crossed over to the dark side to become an achievement junkie.

There's something about that virtual pat on the back that's so addicting for many. Some people love them for the bragging rights, some because of those usable in-game rewards, and some because it gives them new, game-sanctioned goals to achieve.

So how important are achievements to you? Do you avoid them on principle, or chase after them with all of the restraint of a goofy dog who sees something he really, really must check out right now?

The Daily Grind: How important are achievements to you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Brianna Royce — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Classes, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, RIFT

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda's Todd Harris talks player loyalty and the future

Jef Reahard — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, News items, Global Agenda

Global Agenda is fairly unique in the massive genre, not only for its blend of sci-fi setting and shooter mechanics but also for the fact that the development team at Hi-Rez Studios is renowned for actually listening to its playerbase. Producer Todd Harris recently sat down with Lorehound for an interesting interview that shows the Atlanta-based game-makers still have their finger on the pulse of Global Agenda's communal desires.

Harris touches on crafting additions, endgame raid content, and new PvP maps as specific community ideas actively being kicked around in the dev cave, and also goes into a bit of detail regarding the team's appreciation for the loyalty shown by Global Agenda's early adopters. "The folks playing AvA are our most dedicated and accomplished players, and we've changed the rules on them a lot! I know that has led to some player burnout or frustration," he says. Harris goes on to illustrate how the title's evolving endgame wouldn't be possible without player feedback, and concludes by dropping a hint regarding the game's forthcoming achievement system.

Be sure and check out the full interview over at Lorehound.

Global Agenda's Todd Harris talks player loyalty and the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Great achievements

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor

Here in the States we're celebrating one of the great achievements in our nation's history -- the adoption of our Declaration of Independence! However, as we're a site that spans more than just the shores of one nation, we thought today we'd take the time instead to talk about achievements in the MMOs we all know and love. From leveling in World of Warcraft, to managing to level without dying in Lord of the Rings Online, to clicking on your own avatar 5,000,000 times in Warhammer Online, people really seem to enjoy chasing those little badges that say "I came, I saw, I did something!"

Today, in honor of great achievements everywhere, we thought we'd talk about MMO achievements. Whether it's the more formalized ones that come with banners or Facebook status updates, or just a personal milestone you managed to accomplish after a long period of planning and working at it, there are many things to celebrate. So jump down to the comments below and tell us -- what is your greatest MMO achievement?

The Daily Grind: Great achievements originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 unveils the game's lighter side

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars 2

We've learned a lot of core news about Guild Wars 2 lately -- everything from class reveals to character creation has been served up to eager fans.

The latest batch of new information about Guild Wars 2 takes a look at some of the lighter aspects of gameplay. IGN spent some time chatting with the developers and came away with a wealth of new information on events outside the central storyline.

Bar brawls, daily achievements, kill counts, and interaction with NPCs were all covered. We even got hints of some possible side games or minigames, such as a shooting gallery.

Check out the full interview at IGN.

Guild Wars 2 unveils the game's lighter side originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: What not to expect from EVE Online

Brendan Drain — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Hands-on, EVE Evolved

Of all the MMOs on the market today, few are as polarising as EVE Online. While the game has over 330,000 active subscriptions and I've absolutely loved it for over six years, I still find myself introducing new people to it with the words "It's not for everyone." It does seem to be the case that EVE just doesn't mesh with some gamers. The user interface can look overwhelming, the combat can seem detached and the gameplay is often written off as boring.

Players coming from other MMOs are at risk of bringing some fundamental preconceptions about MMO design with them that don't really apply to EVE. These basic misunderstandings in how the game works can be a source of frustration or confusion for people who genuinely want to get into EVE. I find myself answering the same barrage of questions each time I introduce someone to the game, ranging in complexity from "What's the best race?" or "What's the best ship?" to the inevitable "How can I catch up to older players?" or "What should I do now?"

In this article, I look at three key ways EVE differs from the MMO norm and what new players can do to overcome these potential stumbling blocks.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: What not to expect from EVE Online

EVE Evolved: What not to expect from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth launches the new achievement system

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

While they're not universally loved, achievements in a game add a sense of accomplishment to almost everything, even if it's just as simple as being one step closer to the "Kill 1000 rats" benchmark. Fallen Earth didn't suffer from lack of an achievement system at launch, but it certainly stands to benefit from the addition of one. And with the system now live, if the other elements of the recent patch 1.4 aren't enough for you, you can start hunting down the most obscure accomplishments the game cares to list.

As further detailed on Curse, the system is split into five general categories. Crafter and Explorer both are self-evident in terms of how they're earned. Mercenary achievements require players to get into the hard reality of the PvP scene and take down some opponents, Survivalist achievements measure use of abilities and reputation with factions, and Wastelander achievements come with exploring the plotline of the game. There are more details available, but we're betting that most Fallen Earth players are already well on their way to getting their new marks of survival in the wasteland.

Fallen Earth launches the new achievement system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wasteland Diaries: One point four, baby!

Edward Marshall — Fri, 07 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

Fallen Earth patch 1.4 hits today. This is a big deal. I can't overstate how insanely important this patch is. The combat system has been revamped, and we get the requisite respec. There's Blood Sports in which clones are pitted against one another for glory and Death Toll. You will no longer lose Death Toll for dying, and will receive some just for showing up. Death Toll is now a type of currency which can be spent on gas, ammo and gear. There are new mounts and pets. There is a new area called Deadfall which lies west of Deadfall Point and Warhall. Clan wars are now a reality. The battles will spill out of the conflict towns and into the more civilized areas. We will have an achievement system that chronicles our adventures in the wasteland. The level cap will be increased to 50 and we will get all the new stuff that comes with it. This will all be happening today.

Also, today May 7th, 2010, Massively and Fallen Earth will be holding the Blood Sports Brawl in Embry Crossroads. Come on out and say hello with bullets and knives. You must be at least level 5 to take part in the actual Blood Sports, but all levels are welcomed to the party in the bunker bar.

Want more information on today's patch? Click the "read more" button.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: One point four, baby!

Wasteland Diaries: One point four, baby! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth's huge Blood Sports patch dated

Jef Reahard — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, News items

Icarus Studios, makers of the post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG Fallen Earth, have announced the release date for their Blood Sports content patch. The update, version 1.4 of the game client if you're keeping score, is heavily focused on player versus player conflict and includes four new PvP areas, over 500 related achievements, a Clan War system, and the updated region of Deadfall.

The 1.4 update will launch on May 7 and will also feature an expanded level cap (up to 50), a one-time character respec option, and a boatload of refinements including animation tweaks, effect revamps, and of course the new Blood Sport PvP matches. These matches include Survival, Capture the Flag, Assault, and Deathmatch, and allow players to queue up for PvP action regardless of their world location. Participatory and victory points will also be awarded and can be used on end-game armor and assorted gear.

Current subscribers can access the live content on May 7, while new players can purchase Fallen Earth Blood Sports from retail and digital download outlets and receive a full copy of the original game along with the content update. "We are thrilled to be able to launch all of the new content in one major patch," said Colin Dwan, Fallen Earth Project Manager. "The team has worked very hard to make this happen and we're sure players will enjoy all of the new gameplay enhancements."

Check out the official site for more info, and be sure to sign up for the test server if you can't wait until May 7 to get your hands on the new content.

Fallen Earth's huge Blood Sports patch dated originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you a collector?

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classes, Game mechanics, Leveling, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Races

In most MMOs on the market today, there are several different classes and races. Even if you're in the rare game that arguably has neither, there are still skills to be leveled, achievements to be earned, missions to be played. For some people, all of these things are mostly means to an end. But others look at a list of ten classes, or nine races, or even eleven summon spells as a to-do list. If it can be leveled, they will level it; if it can be acquired, it will be theirs.

The joy of MMOs is in part the fact that many goals are set by players, and the collectors do a marvelous job of setting one for themselves. Some goals, like collecting every little vanity pet in a game that offers them, can be accomplished as a side-goal to the core leveling process. Others, like leveling every class, can even require more character spaces than the game normally gives you. Do you have overarcing collection goals when you play games? What are they? Do they interfere with your normal play, or are they the whole reason you keep playing?

The Daily Grind: Are you a collector? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: When are in-game titles too much?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

Take, for instance, the guy up there from LotRO. He looks as though he's an accomplished fellow, with many miles under his belt. He probably wants something to show for it, too. Could you blame him for wanting to extend his name somewhat, particularly if the MMO promotes such embellishments, even if his name becomes a full paragraph of reading?

As many modern MMOs use titles as a reward for character achievements -- particularly since they're relatively easy to implement -- we're long since used to seeing folks collect and display their greatest reference. Yet do MMO titles become too much after a while? Do you occasionally fear for your life when you see a literal wall of text running right for you on the battlefield? At what point do you draw the line in the sand, look the developers in the eye, and pronounce that this is all just getting silly?

The Daily Grind: When are in-game titles too much? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items

When it comes to transparency regarding patches, Fallen Earth might have just won that category in spades. The latest State of the Game article on their site is more than just an overview of the direction they want to take the game in, it's a patch by patch listing of the features that the development team will be bringing to the table.

Patch 1.3 will be expanding the game with the introduction of Kaibab Forest and Deadfall Point, as players will run a brand new plotline to push back the radiation zone and find more secrets hidden in the wasteland. The new areas come with a brand new level added to the cap, so all of that experience gained from the new area won't go to waste.

Continue reading Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more

Fallen Earth's State of the Game: Upcoming additions and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player rewards versus character rewards

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion

Rewards have, more often than not, been things that make your character better. You complete a quest and you get a new piece of equipment, or access to a new area, or even just a nice handful of experience toward the next level. But we've recently talked a bit about how leveling, and progression by extension, can get rather tedious. Spinksville also talked about this, discussing the differences between player rewards and character rewards, with the former being general rewards that stick with the player and aren't contingent upon or related to power level.

An excellent example is that of Klingons in Star Trek Online. The race has been a staple of the series ever since it began, and the Klingon Empire is one of the major political factions in the game... but it's not initially accessible to players. You have to complete a mission or reach Level 6 in order to unlock the option of playing a Klingon. Similarly, World of Warcraft gates its first hero class, the Death Knight, by requiring a level 55 character before one can be created.

Player rewards contribue less to a sense of avatar progress, but they also help keep the power level slightly lower, as well as providing benefits that you can take with you, so to speak. On the other hand, they're vulnerable to feeling less like rewards because they're unrelated to the character who obtained them. We've all been well-versed in the endgame grind for gear acquisition, however, so the post's call for more player rewards might be a welcome change for many of us.

Player rewards versus character rewards originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulkageddon II event begins in EVE today, miners despair

James Egan — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Contests, Events, in-game, PvP

A player-run event called "Hulkageddon" kicked off in EVE Online today, the second such event to be held in the game. Hulkageddon II is the brainchild of EVE player Helicity Boson, a pirate who flies with The Python Cartel, and is essentially a contest that rewards the destruction of exhumer (Hulk and Mackinaw) mining ships. The most recent Quarterly Economic Newsletter released by EVE developer CCP Games indicated that the Hulk is the most flown ship in the game, which provides plenty of targets for gankers in the contest.

Hulkageddon exists much to the detriment of the game's numerous miners, seeing as it's a galaxy-wide demolition derby using the very ships they pilot, but has proven very popular with other players the first time around in 2009. Although it's only been a matter of hours since Hulkageddon II began, the event's killboard shows over 250 mining ships destroyed (along with 40 of their pilots). That number will, no doubt, climb over the course of this week. Also, the tears may be just a bit sweeter given the fact that Hulk prices rose sharply in the weeks preceding Hulkageddon II, the result of changes made to Tech II manufacturing requirements with the Dominion expansion.

Whether you're interested in taking part in the contest or want to know what you're in for over the next week, here are a few details about Hulkageddon II:

Continue reading Hulkageddon II event begins in EVE today, miners despair

Hulkageddon II event begins in EVE today, miners despair originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Achievements across the genre

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Academic

By now, you've likely heard of the World of Warcraft player who managed to fill out every single achievement in the game, covering every single currently measurable objective. (If not, well, there you go.) Bio Break recently took the opportunity to discuss achievements as an interesting social feature in MMOs, a way of building community, while Overly Positive took the news as incentive to expound on achievements as an alternate venue for advancement. Most of the major titles out at the moment have some form of achievement system in place, ranging from Warhammer Online's Tome of Knowledge to City of Heroes and its variety of badges.

The problems with the system are brought up in the comments of the above entries -- achievements can often wind up being used as a form of highly-prohibitive gating, where someone lacking the completion achievement isn't capable of getting a group to move through it. As a whole, though, it allows for people to enjoy an entirely different venue of the game, and offers motivation to perform content that would otherwise be gathering dust after a certain point. Wherever you play, achievement markers are becoming more and more ubiquitous, and the fact that clearing them out is newsworthy just shows the degree to which they've permeated our consciousness and the genre.

Achievements across the genre originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II adds new achievements of challenging nature

Kyle Horner — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, News items

What's makes beating raids in Ruins of Kunark and The Shadow Odyssey even better? Achievements, of course. That's why SOE is adding brand new achievements to several heroic zones and raids to those two expansions. Players will be challenged by several new goals, such as Flawless Victory, which requires finishing an encounter without losing a single party member. Other achievements involve winning a raid encounter with three or more people less than the maximum and clearing a raid or heroic zone within a set time limit.

Obviously, these challenging new achievements wouldn't be worthwhile without a reward. The form of said reward comes as three new titles: the Dragonslayer, the Urgent and the Flawless. We'd point out which titles go with which rewards, but we're pretty sure you've got it figured out. In our opinion, the Dragonslayer title is probably the coolest sounding, what with the dragon murdering and all that. Being "Urgent" sounds kind of cool but in a confusing way, like when your friends tell you they blew up a car, until they reveal it was, in fact, your car.

[via WarCry]

EverQuest II adds new achievements of challenging nature originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online achievements via Avatars United

James Egan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online

CCP Games may not feel that an Achievements system (beyond the bragging rights with Certificates) really fits the setting of EVE Online, but it's something players can get via Avatars United, a social network for MMO gamers. More specifically, Avatars United is a social network for your avatars across a wide range of MMOs.

We mentioned Avatars United and its growing EVE Online community a while back. The guys at Enemy Unknown -- the people behind Avatars United -- have built some EVE-specific apps for their users which might be of some interest our readers. These apps make use of a player's (full) API allowing the apps to access and display all sorts of character information within the Avatars United social network.

Continue reading EVE Online achievements via Avatars United

EVE Online achievements via Avatars United originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II's Shards of Destiny game update goes live

William Dobson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, Patches, Raiding, Grouping, News items

EverQuest II's next game update Shards of Destiny is now live, and that means that players can take advantage of a number of new features. We've summed up the biggest ones just below:

Chronomagic: Visit some new "mysterious erudites" that have moved into Freeport, Kelethin, Neriak, Qeynos and Gorothyn, to lower your adventuring level for a small cost. This allows for grouping with lower levels, and a lot of older content has been revamped with more frequent bosses and changed loot rarities to make this option more attractive. There are also 37 new missions related to going back and seeing dungeons of differing levels.
Achievements: A new way to compete with other players. Most achievements will just give Achievement Points, but some will offer non-stat item rewards. Achievement categories include Exploring, Dungeons, Quests, Raids, Player versus Player, and Tradeskills.
Miragul's Planar Shard: a x4 raid zone and the first in EverQuest II to have a scaled difficulty feature.
The Shard of Love: Choose to help or hinder the Sisters of Erollisi, beginning by visiting either a Disciple of Love or a Disciple of Hate.
Teleportation Spires Event: Rewards are up for grabs for those who can assist the Quellithulians with the reactivation of the Ulterian Teleportation Spires.

Check out the full patch notes here, and before you head in-game, dip past the break to see the official Shards of Destiny trailer.

Continue reading EverQuest II's Shards of Destiny game update goes live

EverQuest II's Shards of Destiny game update goes live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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