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Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Eternal Blade, if you hadn't heard, is a free-to-play action MMO due out later this year from gPotato. We had a chance to preview the game briefly at GDC, and the team behind the game has stepped up promotions with the addition of a new teaser site for the game. The developers have also finalized the class lineup, but the classes aren't getting pages on the teaser site; instead, each class now has its own individual Facebook page.

The Soul Summoner, the Knight, the Archer, the Mage, the Thief, and the Berserker pages each have some photos of the relevant class in action as well as a description of why it's the best out of the six classes. If that doesn't get you interested in the game, the teaser site also features a video showing off cinematics and gameplay. More news on beta testing and launch as it develops.

[Source: gPotato press release]

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Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

As I personally have no real reservations about the impending destruction of human society by perfect killer robots, I thought I'd take the opportunity to dispel certain misunderstandings about living under the thumb of mechanical overseers. Specifically, I'd like to dispel the idea that we'll be living. Robots wouldn't be sending us to work in mines; they can build machines to do that faster than our frail organic bodies. Not to mention that those machines would whine a lot less. So don't worry! You won't be toiling for a monolithic AI for years; you'll just be obliterated or used as organic building material. Doesn't that make things better?

In unrelated news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which focuses on the question of raw, unfettered action. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition

Ask Massively: Misunderstandings about our robot overlords edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vindictus has the beatdown, and so do other players

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Vindictus

Vindictus has long given players a variety of ways to smash enemy creatures into the ground, and it's had plenty of players. But remarkably, the game has been missing ways to smash those players into the ground, an oversight that the game's new PvP patch is addressing through obvious means. Having just hit the live servers, the new patch allows for a variety of skirmishes between players as well as offers the obligatory rewards for settling disputes like violent, heavily armed men with poor impulse control.

The game offers two options for PvP. Capture the Relic is... well, replace "relic" with "flag" and you probably have a good idea. Monster Brawl, meanwhile, pits two teams against one another with each team fighting alongside a boss monster -- keep your monster alive while killing the other team's beast and you win. Players can also unlock powerful rewards in the form of buff items, a nice incentive for those not already motivated by the simple joy of smashing another player's face in.

Vindictus has the beatdown, and so do other players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend

Matt Daniel — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, TERA

Over the past months, many fans of En Masse Entertainment's upcoming "real action combat" title TERA have been wondering whether the game will ever see the light of day. Between sparse development details and word of legal troubles, TERA's future seemed to be in constant jeopardy as cries of "vaporware!" grew steadily louder. Well, those voices can finally have a bit of a reprieve because over the course of this past weekend, players were able to jump into the world of Arborea and experience TERA's action combat firsthand.

I was among those players, and after a joy-filled romp through TERA's gorgeous landscapes (thanks in no small part to my fabulous guild -- hi Territ!), I'm ready to conjure up some thoughts that will hopefully somewhat resemble my impressions of the closed beta weekend. So if you want to know whether the game's real action combat hits the mark or it's a swing and a miss, follow me past the cut and let's take a look.

Continue reading Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend

Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs

Beau Hindman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest

Look, I'm a red-blooded American gamer. I even call it 'Merica. So it should be no surprise when I feel like getting down with a melee-based chop-'em-up or have the desire to leap, jump and bounce my way through countless levels. In other words, action. We 'Mericans love our action games. I have my particular favorites, for sure, and within that list are my favorites of favorites that get the nod for different reasons. Honestly I'm not into action-based games just for the challenge. I don't need to make repeated attempts at downing a boss to have fun. I enjoy the immediate response that an action game gives me. I love to click the mouse button and see my character's sword swing or gun fire. It's satisfying.

Of course, action games can have their drawbacks. Not only do they tend to produce a euphoric haze that can only be described as "stoner glare" and an open-mouthed state of hypnosis, but they can take a toll on delicate, drum-beaten wrists like mine as well. I take the good with the bad, I guess. Click past the cut and I'll let you know my favorite F2P action MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs

Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: SD Gundam Capsule Fighters Online

Mike Schramm — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions

Like the gameplay of SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, the title of the game itself may need some translation. "Online" and "Fighter" you can probably make sense of, and even if your knowledge of Japanese cartoons ends on Saturday mornings in the '80s and '90s, "Gundam" is probably familiar -- this is a game where you drive robots around shooting at each other online. But "Capsule" might throw you a bit, and "SD" was a new one to me. "SD" means "super deformed," and Gundam Capsules are like those little plastic balls you can get from 25-cent-machines in the supermarket. They're toy versions of Gundam mechs, basically.

In other words, SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online is essentially a game about toy robots fighting. It was first released in South Korea in 2007, and it's slowly made its way around the world here to North America, where it's in closed beta and is set for a full free-to-play release in "early December" by OGPlanet.

As you might imagine, it's cute, and the mechanic of collecting and customizing these little robot machines that you can send into battle will likely appeal to quite a few players. Unfortunately, after playing a few matches of the third-person shooter at OGPlanet headquarters recently, I determined that it'll be tough to recommend the title to anyone but the most die-hard of Gundam fans.

Gallery: SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online

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First Impressions: SD Gundam Capsule Fighters Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: October 16-22, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

While almost all of our news stories and columns are game-specific, the conversation that follows in the comments often expands beyond the game in question. Discussion turns to mechanics, development styles, and industry trends. Even if the game in the original story isn't your thing, you may find some interesting conversation, so follow along after the jump to see what some of our readers had to say last week.

Continue reading Global Chat: October 16-22, 2011

Global Chat: October 16-22, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect World Entertainment announces War of the Immortals

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

If you're a fan of Perfect World Entertainment's library of games, odds are good that you've been battling against immortals for some time now. But that's being ratcheted up several steps to full-fledged war. All right, War of the Immortals isn't exactly a direct extension of Battle of the Immortals, but the upcoming action MMO certainly has some connections to the older title. Nevertheless, it's still worth a look from fans of the genre, especially with its closed beta starting on October 25th.

War of the Immortals promises guild housing and territory control as players engage in battle against both enemies and one another. Players can choose between eight different classes, with each class linked to a unique set of "soul gear" that advance as the individual character progresses through the game. If it sounds up your alley, you might want to check out the announcement trailer embedded just after the cut.

[Source: PWE press release]

Continue reading Perfect World Entertainment announces War of the Immortals

Perfect World Entertainment announces War of the Immortals originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2011: Hands-on with Firefall

Matt Daniel — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, PvE, Opinion, Hands-on, MMOFPS, Massively Hands-on

It's no secret that I like my games with more of a skill-based flavor. I enjoy games that reward player skill above superior gear or higher levels. In light of that, I was quite excited to get some hands-on time with Firefall, the new massively multiplayer shooter coming from Red 5 Studios.

There has been much talk about the upcoming title, with its status as one of the few forays into the MMO shooter space since PlanetSide and Global Agenda. There's also the small detail that the studio is headed up by former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern alongside a number of former Tribes series devs. So how is the game shaping up in preparation for its December launch? Jetpack your way past the cut to find out.

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PAX 2011: Hands-on with Firefall originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: MMO slot machines

Jeremy Stratton — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

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.

We are beginning to drown in a sea of MMOs that are shedding variety to mimic simplified slot machines. The danger in this is that MMO gameplay is becoming akin to gambling. Enjoyment of minute-to-minute gameplay is being replaced by hours of frustration unless we manage to match three-of-a-kind to get our loot drops. The success of the games isn't resting on the shoulders of enjoyable content but on the prizes to be won by schlepping through that content. We're letting developers know this not just by playing these games but by literally asking for more of the same.

The result is that money flies into developers' hands while they skirt the boundaries of ethics by supplying "gameplay" soaked in habitual greed, delivering to players only the barest skeleton of an MMO.

Continue reading The Soapbox: MMO slot machines

The Soapbox: MMO slot machines originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay

Jef Reahard — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play

Horror fans and MMOFPS aficionados have been setting their clocks back a few years courtesy of this weekend's Hellgate closed beta event. You may recall the original Hellgate: London as something of a dud when it originally debuted in the winter of 2007.

Not to worry, though, since HanbitSoft and T3Fun have revived the franchise and converted it to a new free-to-play title called Hellgate Global. MMO Culture has a trio of videos chronicling this weekend's event, and you can glimpse character creation as well as a bit of the shooter's demon-slaying gameplay.

Hellgate intrigued us with its blend of action-horror and apocalyptic stylings the first time around, and we're just as curious for chapter two. Have a look at the videos after the break and share your thoughts on the beta while you're at it.

Continue reading Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay

Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New TERA dev diary looks at genre-bending

Matt Daniel — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, TERA, Dev Diaries

The folks at En Masse assert in their latest dev diary that perhaps MMORPG isn't the best acronym to describe their upcoming game TERA. Instead, they suggest MMOACRPG, or Massively Multiplayer Online Action Combat Roleplaying Game.

The dev diary goes into detail over how TERA is unlike the typical MMORPG on the market today. It explains how each class requires "timing, aim, and precision to excel" and how "dodging, blocking, and movement play a big part in your survival," which is quite a jump from the usual target-and-begin rotation outlook we see in most games.

The full dev diary contains further information, including a small tidbit on the game's political system. If you're keeping an eye on TERA as it makes its way to the west, we recommend you take the time to read the full entry!

New TERA dev diary looks at genre-bending originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Games Campus announces new upcoming game, Scarlet Legacy

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Action-based gameplay in an MMO once sounded like a bad joke, but these days more and more games are adopting a more active set of mechanics. Scarlet Legacy, the upcoming game just announced by Games Campus, is billing itself not just as an action-based MMO but the action-based MMO, supposedly featuring a control system to make controlling the flow of actions fluid and engaging.

While that might not be everyone's cup of tea, players who are lukewarm or neutral to the idea of active gameplay can probably still get behind the idea of large-scale PvP contests or an overarching game storyline. And the game certainly sports the latter, with characters embarking on quests in hopes of ultimately saving the eponymous Princess Scarlet. Scarlet Legacy is currently set for release this summer, but if it sounds like your cup of tea, check out the gallery below or the teaser trailer just past the break.

Gallery: Scarlet Legacy

Continue reading Games Campus announces new upcoming game, Scarlet Legacy

Games Campus announces new upcoming game, Scarlet Legacy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Divine Souls

Beau Hindman — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, First Impressions, Divine Souls

Divine Souls, published by Outspark, reminds me of Vindictus in far too many ways. I only question which came first and whether more fighting games like the two are coming in the future. While I have had a lot of love for Vindictus since its release, I also have had enough issues with it that I had to stop playing it much at all. While I will save that for another article, I can use the popular Nexon release to illustrate what is wrong and right about Divine Souls. More of Massively's readers are probably familiar with Vindictus, so that will be a good point of comparison.

Think of Divine Souls as Vindictus' uglier little cousin. Granted, Vindictus is a supermodel, so that makes Divine Souls just an average beautiful person, but it should still be noted. Also, both games pit players against hordes of enemies -- massive swarms of baddies that die in spectacular ways. Well, spectacular when you see them for the first few times. After that it becomes pretty repetitive.

Join me past the cut and let's talk about what I liked and didn't like about Divine Souls. Don't worry, there are no baddies to jump you.

Continue reading First Impressions: Divine Souls

First Impressions: Divine Souls originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Divine Souls launches today

Jef Reahard — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Divine Souls

Divine Souls has been in the works for a while; we first previewed the title way back in March of 2010. Since then, the team at Outspark has been hard at work polishing, tweaking, and updating the free-to-play action MMO, and today gamers around the globe get to see the results.

Yep, it's launch day, and very soon you'll be able to indulge in the game's detailed visuals and arcade-style fighting game functionality (including complex air- and ground-based combos). Divine Souls also boasts Xbox and PlayStation controller support and is designed to run on a huge variety of hardware configurations.

The game also features a small downloadable client to get you up, running, and into the action quickly. Choose from one of three classes (Mage, Slasher, or Fighter), check out the trailer after the cut, and look for our Divine Souls first impressions later this week.

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Divine Souls launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica

Beau Hindman — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Events, in-game, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Dragonica Online, Family, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

I was so glad to get back to normal this week, logging into a new (well, newish) game to enjoy and to write about. Dragonica, from what I remember, had been shut down some time ago. Somehow, magically, the announcement of its return slipped past my eyes, but here it is. It seems gPotato EU is going to be publishing it, considering that that's where I found it. I know, I know -- I work at Massively.com, the worlds' coolest and most reliable source for all things MMO, so how did this news get past me? I have no idea.

Still, I was glad to see it sitting on my hard drive, waiting to be played. I never gave it much of a chance before, mainly because side-scroller combat games were normally good for just a weekend jaunt or two. I hate repetition, generally, and sometimes the combat in these kinds of games can be boring at best. I was pretty surprised, though, once I gave the game a chance and learned some of my moves. It grew on me really, really fast. Also, it ran like a dream and was adorable to the point of nosebleed, which always helps.

Still, there's more. Click past the cut and find out!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica

Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vindictus entices players with a dynamic new trailer

Larry Everett — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, Previews, Free-to-play, Vindictus

The creators of Vindictus, or Addictus (as it's been called by certain Editors-in-Chief), have thought to inspire us to play their action MMO by launching another trailer. The free-to-play game launched two weeks ago as the first real-physics based MMO. This game that features constant twitchy combat, also, recently announced a new ranged-class giving the gameplay a completely different dynamic. The trailer magnifies the intensity of this unique gaming engine by slowing down and reversing much of the in-game shots in the video. All creatures and player characters affect the environment, as well as their intended target. Walls are mashed. Buildings fall. The earth is crumbled beneath mighty weapons.

If violence and passion fuel your gameplay then Nexon invites you to try out Vindictus for yourself at the official website. It will cost you nothing to try it out for yourself, and you may just find a new world you'll love to explore. Fix your eyes on this film featuring a frenzied flash into this fantasy realm after the break.

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Vindictus entices players with a dynamic new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA creeps us out with a monster movie

Larry Everett — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Video, New titles, TERA

En Masse Entertainment has presented beautiful render after beautiful render of its highly anticipated action MMO TERA. We've seen revealing armor sets, robust cities, thunderous monsters, and creepy villains. The vampires of Popolion were pretty freaky when we showed them off a couple of weeks ago, but when coupled with the silent-film motif, the evil chills cause your body to shudder.

Who doesn't like the classic monster movies? Bela Lugosi's Dracula is still the best. To say Happy Halloween to the fans of TERA, the developers have put together their own version of a spine-tingling monster movie. Don't miss the baby-dolls with cleavers, clowns with sinister sneers, and, of course, the vampires with top hats. Follow after the break for the full video, and prepare to be TERA-ized.

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TERA creeps us out with a monster movie originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vindictus rips out a new trailer for the last part of beta

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Launches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Vindictus

Vindictus is set to officially launch on the 27th of October, but it could be argued that the launch has already happened. After all, while the game is currently in open beta, all levels and money will carry over from this phase of testing to the live launch. That's a fine incentive to go ahead and start playing the game early, but if you're one of the people not quite won over to the game, maybe the latest trailer will help convince you.

Focused from the point of view of the bosses and the newest beta features, the trailer shows off much of what has made players excited about the latest game to come out of Nexon. The open beta can be downloaded off the official site, and since everything earned in this phase of testing carries over, now's a fine time to start your adventures in Vindictus -- after you check out the trailer past the break.

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Vindictus rips out a new trailer for the last part of beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our tour of Fantasy Earth Zero's October update

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play, Hands-on

Fantasy Earth Zero is an interesting little title, a game that's not for everyone but will hit just the right notes for some. It isn't a graphical powerhouse or a deep PvE title, but what it does accomplish is the laudable goal of being a PvP-focused game that both lets low-level characters perform useful tasks and remains balanced despite being free-to-play. Having released this past May, it's a four-year-old title that keeps itself on solid grounding with its systems.

Still, five months out from launch there's something big coming for the game, with a major update scheduled to go live on the 19th of October. Featuring a new gameplay mode as well as a new class for players to enjoy -- and Fantasy Earth Zero players will know that a fourth class in the game's environment will have a big impact. Take a look past the break for a rundown of the game as well as the big changes coming with the October update.

Continue reading Our tour of Fantasy Earth Zero's October update

Our tour of Fantasy Earth Zero's October update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA berserker interview, part two

Jef Reahard — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, New titles, News items, TERA

TERA, the upcoming action fantasy MMORPG from En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studio, is looking to put a fresh spin on both genre combat and the traditional healer/tank/damage dynamic. One way the designers are attempting to do this is through individual classes that play a bit differently from what you might expect. Take the berserker for instance. Rather than opting for your standard meat shield, Bluehole has given the class significant DPS capabilities as well.

En Masse's Brian Knox and and Scott James Magner recently chatted about the berserker's unique features in part two of a lengthy interview with ZAM.com. "You want to be a target as a Berserker, but you also want to be targeting. And that's not a word we use a lot for this game. We talk about action and the way we play, but you are a destination for damage, just as you are an output of damage going the other direction," Magner says.

Check out the new interview segment, as well as the previous installment, at ZAM.com.

TERA berserker interview, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions

Even if you hate the ranged powers in City of Heroes with the heat of the sun, it's impossible to deny how stylish the animations for Dual Pistols look. The amount of movement in every single power makes the set feel organic and action-oriented, regardless of any other mechanical elements. But what went into making one of the marquee power sets for Going Rogue look so fluid and interesting?

Nelson Tam, an animation artist for Paragon Studios, was the mastermind behind the gun-fu on display for heroes and villains alike. In our exclusive developer diary, "How John Woo Inspired my Gun Fu," he explains how the animations came to life, from the earliest point of conception to the finished product that players can enjoy. City of Heroes players have clamored for the set nearly since the launch of the game, but as the diary explains, it wasn't necessarily quite so easy to get it to look right in the game. Click on past the cut!

Continue reading Exclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation

Exclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fantasy Earth Zero celebrates launch with special events

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Launches, News items, Free-to-play

It's launch day for Fantasy Earth Zero, the PvP-oriented free-to-play game from Gamepot USA and Square-Enix. The official launch alone would be enough reason for fans to be excited, but there's better yet to come, as the game is running several events to celebrate. The most obvious one is a week of boosted experience and money -- from today until the 25th of May, all players will receive a bonus 50% to both experience and Rings gained. It helps ensure that your time spent leveling now will be on the faster side, allowing players to dive into the high end of the game even faster.

Players are also being given five free enchantments to help boost their prowess in battle within the same timeframe. If all that weren't enough, Mission Maps will be updating at a higher clip during the week after launch -- the Mission Maps exist as an alternative to spending money in the cash shop, which makes a higher turnaround help speed up progress further. All players who took part in the second open beta will also receive a New Soldier Set as a present, containing potions as well as an experience-boosting ring. Take a look at our gallery below for some special launch-day screenshots, and if you're curious, take a closer look at Fantasy Earth Zero itself.

Gallery: Fantasy Earth Zero Launch Gallery

Fantasy Earth Zero celebrates launch with special events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA unleashes trailer on the masses

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, TERA

The upcoming action RPG fantasy MMO TERA from Bluehole Studio and En Masse Entertainment definitely caught our eyes at GDC 2010. While our fearless leader Shawn got a chance for (several) hands-on sessions with this intriguing new title, the trailer from GDC has come out today for the rest of us who weren't so fortunate as to make it to the conference.

What is most impressive about this trailer to us (beyond the fact that nobody seems to fall out of those skimpy metal bikinis) is that the footage was created using all in-game resources. If that's the case, the in-game graphics -- including facial emotes -- are quite impressive. Of course, considering how deep the game's various systems appear to go based on that hands-on at the convention, we're not surprised to find the graphics are equally as impressive.

So if you haven't had a chance to see TERA in action, be sure to check out the trailer behind the break. Between all the details we keep hearing about and luscious visuals like this, we think this is definitely going to be a game to watch.

Continue reading TERA unleashes trailer on the masses

TERA unleashes trailer on the masses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Nexon's Vindictus revealed

Beau Hindman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, New titles, Vindictus

I'll admit to being somewhat of a Nexon fanboy, and someone that considers them to be in the toy business rather than in the MMO business. They manufacture joy in my eyes. Bright, shiny joy. But the recent announcement of their new title "Vindictus" shows us a game that we are not used to seeing from Nexon. While it will follow the same business model that other Nexon games do, it promises to be a "sexy" game: a game that will make players feel like a hero. It promises to be more of an action game, or as Nexon America's Vice President Min Kim put it when he sat down with us for an interview, "an mmoACTIONrpg, epic, fierce and intense."

Want to know more? Want to see the killer trailer? Join us after the jump.

Gallery: GDC10: Vindictus

Continue reading GDC10: Nexon's Vindictus revealed

GDC10: Nexon's Vindictus revealed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Global Agenda

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMORTS, Global Agenda, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions

Global Agenda. This game has been successful in causing quite a stir on our website. It seems almost every single story we do on the game anymore turns into the inevitable "this isn't an MMO" debate. We've even tried to give the MMORTS part of it more of a perspective in past articles, but that's neither here nor there. This article isn't about the game or if it's an MMO -- it's about how this game plays.

So, is Global Agenda a worthy investment for the MMOer? Is it a worthy investiment for the FPS nut? Can a game that's a hybrid of so many genres work as well as its creators say it works? Those are all excellent questions and they're also questions that we're going to answer today.

Gallery: Global Agenda Gameplay Gallery

Continue reading First Impressions: Global Agenda

First Impressions: Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ragnarok Online creator to make new MMO in the vein of Ragnarok

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, Ragnarok Online, News items

At this year's G* Game Expo, in addition to the earlier sexy Blade & Soul gameplay video, it seems that the original creator of Ragnarok Online is working on a new MMO project that he describes as "in the same vein" as Ragnarok.

Gamasutra is reporting that Hakkyu Kim, RO's creator, is working on two new MMOs. One a more basic MMO that features the control of a single character, and another MMO that is done in the 2D sprites/3D backgrounds style of RO, except with a focus on action.

While neither of these games will be a new Ragnarok, as Gravity Interactive holds the license to the Ragnarok series, it's good to see Kim returning to his roots after his work on Granado Espada, more commonly known as Sword of the New World in the US.

Ragnarok Online creator to make new MMO in the vein of Ragnarok originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daze of Darkfall Week 3: Keep rollin', rollin', rollin', yeah pt. 2

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Culture, PvP, Opinion, Hands-on

Lucky for me one of my clanmates ran along and saw me, quickly reviving me. I jumped up, put on my polearm, and ran pretty aimlessly into combat. Two polearm swings later, I got shot in midair while jumping. I fell over dead (again) and was ganked this time. Awwww.

My game reloaded and I found myself back at the bindstone, but I was in quite a predicament. Remember the bloodwall? Yeah, well, our invaders had killed everyone on there pretty easily, as they were obviously AFK. Well, they too had respawned at the bindstone... and I spawned in the middle of them. You can't clip other people in Darkfall. You can't push them (except with certain weapons) either. I was trapped in a pile of AFK meat, unable to actually get out.

"Sera, where are you at, why aren't you defending?" one of my guild leaders asked. I took the moment to explain to him how I was unable to defend as I was stuck in a pile of AFK people. Really, really, stuck.

"If I could compare it to another MMO, I'd say it's like PlanetSide's combat crossed with EVE's rules."

"I'll be the judge of that," he gruffly responded, as if he didn't believe me. He walked over to the bindstone, found me jumping up and down in the middle of an AFK pile like an idiot, my purple hair barely making it over the heads of the many orks and mahirim (wolf people) and then lowly said over Ventrilo, "Sera's exempt from defense until we get her out..."

But not all is bad and stuck in a pile of corpses

After things had calmed down and I had been freed from the corpse pile, however, we were attacked three more times. Out of those three times we had won twice -- succeeding in driving the offenders off or killing them all. We were obviously getting better at this stuff, and it provided an interesting experience for someone like myself.

To be honest, it feels like a deathmatch, except without guns. The enemies invade and you pelt them with arrows and/or magic. They get close and you pull out two-handed weaponry or a one-handed weapon with a shield. You attempt to gang up on someone and kill them, while they attempt the same. Then, one side gets obviously defeated while the other side quickly overruns. It's all very predictable.

If I could compare it to another MMO, I'd say it's like PlanetSide's combat crossed with EVE's rules. Fighting is focused on cities (or bases) where you attack or defend to hold/steal what's there, except losing hurts and there's no fancy recall into combat. PlanetSide is snappy when it comes to combat because that's PlanetSide's focus -- Darkfall focuses on outcomes, like EVE does. Therefore, combat is not snappy in Darkfall, it's a brief experience punctuated with death and loss.

I did survive for one of the battles where we won, if that's what you're wondering. I did archery (I like archery) and even got down and dirty with my polearm. I didn't gank anyone, but perhaps I'll get that honor another time.

One more week

Well, we're winding down. There's only one more week left in The Daze of Darkfall. I can't speak too much on the clan's activities and plans, but I can say this: There will be raids. Lots and lots of raids. Perhaps now I get to see what it's like on the other side of this thing.

I know what you're looking for -- week 1 and week 2. Well, look no further than here!

The Daze of Darkfall Week 3: Keep rollin', rollin', rollin', yeah pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T mobile users to get MapleStory on their phones

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, MapleStory, Mobile

Normally we'd be somewhat cynical when talking about an MMO going to a phone. World of Warcraft on an iPhone just seems complicated, while Second Life on a phone just seems unusual. But for MapleStory going to a phone, well, we just can't see much wrong with that. It just seems to make sense, with the 2-D side scrolling action being perfectly at home on a mobile device.

However, don't jump for joy just yet, it's only a version of that's making it to the MapleStoryAT&T media mall. MapleStory: Warrior is the same MapleStory gameplay, just condensed down for your phone. It's sadly not online, but it does connect to your MapleStory account to give you a brand new in-game item. So if you ever need that MapleStory fix and you're just not anywhere near a PC or internet connection, now you have options. Downside, those options are all warrior-based options.

AT&T mobile users to get MapleStory on their phones originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online's "The Next Legend Is You" trailer

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Super-hero, Trailers, Consoles, DC Universe Online

The new DC Universe Online trailer that just recently hit the streets is one comprehensive video. In the short one minute and 23 seconds that the trailer runs, we get to see many of the highlights of DCUO, including environmental weaponry and damage, many of the game's iconic characters, a frenetic look at the game's combat, a taste of character customizations, and more!

Currently the trailer can be viewed at the main DCUO site, or over at Shacknews in standard and hi-resolution modes. HD resolution, however, is only available to those who have a Shackvideo username and password.

Now, if you can excuse us, we're going to go ponder what colors of spandex we're going to choose for when the game comes out.

DC Universe Online's "The Next Legend Is You" trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, The Secret World, Consoles, Massively Event Coverage

If you've been waiting for a chance to see what lies beyond the curtain and fall into the elegantly dark setting of The Secret World, then get ready for your first glimpse of what lurks beyond. At the GDC we got the chance to sit down and discuss The Secret World with Funcom and lay our eyes on a few cinematics of the game.

While we were unable to get our hands around a playable version of the title, we were treated to many of the game's basics and concepts. This may not be the tidal wave of information, but it is a start to the flow of The Secret World's river of fresh ideas.

What lies after the break is an explanation of what the game is all about, followed by the first cinematic of The Secret World that we've been allowed to release. Later in the hour, we'll be posting our interview with Ragnar Tørnquist, the game's creator. So stick with us as we lead you through our peek of TSW.

Continue reading GDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World

GDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mortal Online reveals beta signups, new video, and well rendered buffalo

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, Mortal Online

So you guys flooded our in-boxes with requests for us to cover Mortal Online's beta registration opening up. So, without further ado, Mortal Online's beta registration is open. Also, they have some new in-game footage on their front page.

What? You were expecting something more? A few paragraphs at least? Ok, ok, you twisted our arms enough. Mortal Online is the new PvP MMO that everyone's squeeing about -- one that's set up to attempt to out Darkfall, well, Darkfall.

Sporting game systems very closely related to Darkfall's, such as skill based progression and action based combat, Mortal Online is a PvP, action based, first person MMO being run on the Unreal Engine. From what we've been able to see from the in-game footage, MO will be a bit slower combat-wise when compared to Darkfall, but will feature more interactivity between the user and the environment through well placed camera angles and the ability to see your own body.

The video shows horse riding, dungeon crawling with a torch in one hand and sword in the other, mounted combat, and even a peek at siege weaponry through the use of a ballista. If it sounds like something you're interested in, jump on over to their main webpage or download the official video through their torrent.

[Thanks, Jonathan, Daniel, Amisch, and Brian!]

Mortal Online reveals beta signups, new video, and well rendered buffalo originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interviews Wild Bill Stealey on his military MMO project

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Sci-fi, Interviews, MMO industry, PvP, War, Massively Meta, Spy, Massively Interviews

You may have heard the recent news concerning MicroProse co-founder J.W. "Wild Bill" Stealey diving into the MMO business. You may have heard that he plans to get together with some of his old crew, like Fred Schmidt and Jim Bull, to make an action-based military MMO. Yet, did you know that this is simply the tip of the iceberg when to comes to what Wild Bill and his team have in store for us?

To find out more information on this newly announced project, we jumped at the chance to sit down with Wild Bill and get some more intel on his classified operation. If you were ever a big fan of the MicroProse age of military simulation games, or you're just tired of the same old fantasy MMOs, this interview may get your excitement levels up. Wild Bill Stealey has a passion for what he knows best, and it's evident in this interview. Could a massive, persistent, military PvP world be exactly what you've been waiting for? Follow along below for more on what the folks at Thriller New Media have in store for the MMO world.

Continue reading Massively interviews Wild Bill Stealey on his military MMO project

Massively interviews Wild Bill Stealey on his military MMO project originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interviews Champions Online's lead designer Randy Mosiondz

Kyle Horner — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, News items, Massively Interviews, Champions Online

Massively recently had the chance to speak with Champions Online's intrepid lead designer, Randy Mosiondz. Topics included are the game's unique brand of action-combat (and how it differs from other games), a substantial achievement system, new mission structure and even what new and exciting travel powers would be featured come launch time.

We hope you enjoy the interview, and be sure to watch Massively for even more great Champions Online information in the near future!

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Continue reading Massively interviews Champions Online's lead designer Randy Mosiondz

Massively interviews Champions Online's lead designer Randy Mosiondz originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Action MMO powered by Crysis engine? That'll be The Day

Louis McLaughlin — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles

Former employees of NCSoft and Phantagram have created a new studio to design a 'third-person massively multiplayer online action game'? And it's powered by CryENGINE 2, the same game engine used in Crysis? Tell me more.

As it says in the press release: Reloaded Studios are a Seoul-based game company that seem to lack neither experience nor funding. Their first project is entitled The Day, and it aims to have a heavy emphasis on PvP combat plus a unique, immersive storyline involving parallel worlds and the destruction of all humanity. I also aim to solo Illidan Stormrage tomorrow.

The Day joins a growing list of MMOs to use the Crysis engine, along with Entropia Universe and Blue Mars. They're both more virtual world than action MMO, though, and there's a lot of untapped potential in the latter. Planetside never made much of an impact, but games in a similar vein are a market waiting to happen -- even if it isn't a Halo MMO.

Action MMO powered by Crysis engine? That'll be The Day originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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