Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Well-known World of Warcraft guild Method secured a world first kill on Diablo III's Skeleton King in inferno mode just a few days after launch but was beaten to the game's completion by a single person. Players have been in outrage all week as server instabilities and login difficulties plagued the game's launch.

League of Legends revealed upcoming champion Darius this week and announced huge client updates that seem set to double the game's frame rate. Blacklight: Retribution released a new Netwar game mode, combining capture the flag and control point gameplay. Heroes of Newerth released its new support hero Riftwalker, Dota 2 released classic hero Treant, and Rise of Immortals took a close look at melee damage-dealer Tzai. Upcoming MOBA Smite will be entering closed beta at the end of the month, and Torchlight II's beta will soon end for the last time.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta

MassivelyNot So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2
Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does Christopher Lye, the global brand director for ArenaNet, who publicly denounced the post-World of Warcraft trend in the industry as stagnant.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Lye stated that Guild Wars 2 is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that Guild Wars 2 is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."

Lye pointed to Guild Wars 2's scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples of how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.

Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."

MassivelyArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatactivisionanetarenanetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-lyechristopher-lyedynamic-eventsfantasygamasutraguild-wars-2gw2industryinterviewmmo-industryncsoftstagnanttrendwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
You would think that growth and expansion is nothing but a good thing for MMOs -- after all, those are the hallmarks of the genre. But as these games get bigger, issues emerge as the developers add new zones, features, and systems. In short, maturing MMOs gravitate toward complexity, and this can have an adverse effect on the game as a whole.

The problem is that there is eventually too much a brand-new player has to absorb and master, not to mention the hassle of rolling alts and having to navigate all of that content once more. If developers don't stay on top of the situation, then the game starts to lose overall cohesion and becomes a befuddling mess.

With three expansions and numerous updates under its belt, Lord of the Rings Online is venturing deep into this territory. I have friends who are leveling up for the first time and finding themselves overwhelmed with everything that needs doing as well as all the systems that are not clearly explained. So today I want to play backseat developer and talk about five ways that LotRO should be streamlined for the good of all players, old and new.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT
Is it possible for a top-tier MMO to come out of nowhere and bowl you over? Considering that I follow these games not only for a hobby but as a writer for Massively, I always assumed the answer to that was "no." Until it happened, that is. Until RIFT.

It's not as though RIFT was a big secret or anything, but up until the late hours of 2010, it was very low on my -- and many of my friends' -- radars. I often got it confused with TERA, for Pete's sake! It wasn't until I got my hands on it at PAX that year and then saw how huge the beta got that I realized there was more to this supposedly generic fantasy title than I'd assumed. It truly felt like it came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, I was enjoying what became one of my favorite games of 2011.

So why did I play RIFT, and why do I still log in on occasion today? Trust me, it's not for the Elves.

Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT

MassivelyWhy I Play: RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World
Massively Speaking Episode 201 gets into all of your dirty little secrets -- not to mention Funcom's, as well! We're joined by Jef, who gives us the full scoop on The Secret World now that the NDA's come tumbling down. Will this be another Failcom or possibly a Fabulouscom? Only Jef knows, and he's highly resistant to torture and bribery.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrian-greenbrian-psychchild-greenbrianna-roycebricksbrowserbrowser-basedddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineearthrisef2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguild-wars-2gw2historicalhorrorhumorjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-speakingmastheadmasthead-studiosmythologynamastenamaste-entertainmentnamaste-incncsoftnew-englandopinionparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathpgcplayer-generated-contentpodcastpodcastingpodcastspsychochildsalemsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedstorybricksthe-secret-worldtswturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtual-worldwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 201Massively.com Staff01:03:33podcasts<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-launch-and-dreamhack-summer-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championschampion-spotlightcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidiablo-iii-launchdotadota-2dreamhackdreamhack-2012dreamhack-summerdreamhack-summer-2012e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgameplaygothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheroes-of-newerthhonimmortal-spotlightlaunchleague-of-legendslolmid-warsmidwarsmobamsimsi-beat-itmultiplayernaurianewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesspotlightstunlockstunlock-studiosthe-internationaltournamentvalvevarusvideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 14 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-guild-counsel-saluting-scott-andrews-on-five-years-of-valua/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

guild leader's handbook
This past Monday marked the fifth anniversary of Scott Andrews' Officers' Quarters, a weekly column on WoW Insider that deals with guild issues in World of Warcraft. He's also the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, which is a must-read for any guild leader. It's a terrific accomplishment to keep a column going for so long, and week after week, he's provided valuable advice to reader questions on guild management.

Whether you've just heard of Officers' Quarters or you're a longtime fan, let's look at a few reasons Scott Andrews deserves a tip of the hat and a hearty salute.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionadviceblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsleadershipofficers-quartersopinionscott-andrewsthe-guild-counselthe-guild-leaders-handbookwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderThu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft unveils cross-realm zones]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/world-of-warcraft-unveils-cross-realm-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/world-of-warcraft-unveils-cross-realm-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/world-of-warcraft-unveils-cross-realm-zones/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft
One common issue with MMOs is that certain zones become sparsely populated as the playerbase outlevels them or skips them in favor of newer, more exciting zones, which can lead to frustration for players who want or need to complete group content in those zones. Blizzard is aiming to nip that problem in the bud with a new feature coming to the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria beta: cross-realm zones.

The feature does exactly what it says on the tin: When a zone is underpopulated, the players in that zone will be given the option to form a group with players from a select pool of realms (presumably the server's battlegroup) with whom they can run about and quest as usual. In addition to treating underpopulation, the new feature will allow overpopulated zones -- such as new race starting zones -- to be split into multiple instances to prevent overcrowding. It will also allow players to group with their RealID friends just as they would for a cross-realm dungeon, so players who want to level up with friends on other realms should be quite pleased with the addition. Between this new feature and Guild Wars 2's guesting, the days of being separated from your cross-server friends might just be numbered. The full details on the new feature can be found at the official World of Warcraft site, so if you're wondering how this newfangled technology is going to work, just head on over and check out the handy FAQ.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft unveils cross-realm zones originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attack of the corporate logo!
World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers had been falling at the end of last year, but they appear to have stabilized once again. According to president Michael Morhaime, the game continues to remain steady at 10.2 million subscribers through the end of March, the same as the number seen in February during the previous conference call for Activision Blizzard. Morhaime went on to confirm that the agreement with NetEase regarding World of Warcraft in China has been renewed, with the companies planning to continue their agreement for another three years at least.

The studio is also seeing definite success with Diablo III; although the game has yet to release, it's currently surpassed all of the studio's previous high-water marks regarding pre-orders. This includes units sold as part of the Annual Pass promotion, which saw 1.2 million copies purchased in total. While WoW may not have reached its previous peak, it's certainly holding on to a stalwart base for the time being.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft holding steady at 10.2 million subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbreakingcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymichael-morhaimemike-morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgsubscriber-numberssubscriberswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 09 May 2012 17:23:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

WoW
Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Concept art
If you're going to steal, steal big -- or so Romanian artist Iani Papadopol thought. Papadopol put on an exhibit called "UpDate 3D loading" featuring fantastic landscapes and scenery. The only problem? Instead of painting them himself, he ripped off several well-known illustrators, including ArenaNet's Daniel Dociu and Blizzard's Mathias Verhasselt, claiming the pieces as his own.

The fraud was discovered by online fans and local artists after the exhibit was broadcast on TV. Papadopol's works were found to be stunningly similar -- in fact, identical -- to those of famous video game illustrators. Papadopol attempted to sell the prints before he was caught. There's no word yet whether charges will be filed.

"I found out from my friends," Dociu, a fellow Romanian, said on a news channel. "I recognized four pieces of my work immediately. What upsets me is that he's also Romanian with an artistic background. I will not take legal action if he admits what he did."

Papadopol's father, the acclaimed artist Constantin Papadopol, says that this is a misunderstanding. In any case, let this be the lesson to the next lazy art thief: It's perhaps best not to rip off the guy whose work was on the cover of National Geographic.

MassivelyArtist plagiarizes Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft illustrators originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefall
"Who needs publishers any more? I certainly don't. I couldn't care less about them at this stage," said Red 5 Studios CEO Mark Kern. In a candid interview with Eurogamer, Kern ripped into both consoles and publisher-led models as relics on their way out the door.

Kern said that the pressure that publishers put on studios are death to the industry, resulting in either "an indie game or... a massive AAA, IP-backed sequel with derivative gameplay." He thinks that there's no middle ground, and it disturbs him how many studios fire staff right after a game launches.

Instead, the man behind Firefall believes that the free-to-play model puts the power back in the hands of the developers who then can concentrate on making games without having to kowtow to the publishers and distributors. "Look at Riot Games and League of Legends. They have more users than World of Warcraft does. That's crazy. And they don't have a publisher," Kern said.

Citing the expense and sluggish reaction of console development, Kern also predicts that mobile and PC gaming are on their way to take over the field. "Something has to change," he concludes. "Consoles, I believe, are dead."

MassivelyRed 5 Studios CEO denounces consoles and publishers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
I believe I'm like most people when I say that I cling to nostalgia. I love it when parts of my adolescence are made into movies or video games. Yes, despite it being an explode-y Michael Bay movie, I loved Transformers, and I can't tell you how many times I watched Lord of the Rings when Peter Jackson adapted J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece into a blockbuster. But despite Ghostbusters' status as my favorite single movie of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy had more impact on my childhood than anything else in my life. I still get childhood chills when I think about it.

From the music to the action figures, I loved them all. I still have a picture of me at six years old riding an AT-AT. Yes, even at six, I knew exactly what an AT-AT was. And although I called a lightsaber a light-saver, I grew up with Star Wars entrenched in my psyche. It was only natural that when the video games revolving around the series came out, I would take up that cause. You guys remember the crazy wireframe Death Star trench arcade? You'd better believe I was there playing that.

When Star Wars entered the MMO space, I was there with bells on. But it's not just this longing to recapture my childhood that propels me to that galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The spice addiction runs quite a bit deeper.

Continue reading Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyWhy I play Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acactivisionasherons-callbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunityeaelectronic-artseqeverquestfantasyfeaturedgalaxieshyperspace-beaconlucasartsmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswgswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultimaonlineuowarcraftwhy-i-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR on the rise and planning more PvP, endgame content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/swtor-on-the-rise-and-planning-more-pvp-endgame-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/swtor-on-the-rise-and-planning-more-pvp-endgame-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/swtor-on-the-rise-and-planning-more-pvp-endgame-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
Star Wars: The Old Republic's moon (that's no moon...) is waxing, not waning, says Daniel Erickson. BioWare's lead designer on the project said that rumors of the game's demise are incredibly premature -- and outright wrong.

Following Update 1.2 and the Rakghoul Outbreak live event, Erickson reports that player activity in the game is increasing. He said that the studio is working hard to keep its customers happy: "The community has generally been excited about the direction the game is going as we finish up our last must-have quality of life features (group finder, etc) and can start concentrating full-time on creative things like the world events."

Erickson said that the live event was kept a surprise to make it "feel organic" and not spoil everything in this age of instant internet sharing. He said that the team took a cue from World of Warcraft's Corrupted Blood plague that swept through the game in 2005; the devs tried to channel players' actions to fun rather than griefing.

He says that the team discovered that SWTOR had a huge PvP community and has since "turned a huge amount of resources" to developing more content for that side of the game. BioWare's also shifted several team members over to creating more endgame content as the players chew through the stories at an increasing rate.

MassivelySWTOR on the rise and planning more PvP, endgame content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
There's a good chance you're not reading this column right now but instead are fully immersed in the weekend beta for Guild Wars 2: Guild Harder. That's OK. I won't hold it against you -- I may even be playing it as well. Oh, those ArenaNet folks. They make such lofty promises, don't they? They're going to rewrite MMOs as we know them and show us once and for all that we've been playing with Tinker Toys when we could have fully functional jetpacks and whatnot.

I don't harbor any ill will against Guild Wars 2; in fact, I'm quite looking forward to it. But as everyone's focused on the game's excising of traditional questing as popularized by World of Warcraft, I thought it would be worth examining just how dated Lord of the Rings Online's questing system has become, if at all.

In an era of dynamic events, public quests, full voice-over, and other techniques designed to get us away from the text box questing model, will LotRO hold its ground against these fads or is it truly becoming a relic of the past? Let's dig in!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Is LotRO's questing system over the hill? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keyboard
I've recently returned to World of Warcraft and was surprised to find a much more complex game than when I left (contrary to popular lore in our comments). Several of the classes have been revamped mechanically to be far more interesting and layered, and new dungeon encounters are frequently among the best in the industry.

At endgame, anyway. I realize that outside of heroics and raids and PvP, WoW (like many MMOs) aims for accessible simplicity, which is nice when you're just happily grinding away or teaming up with weekend warriors not looking for a stressful challenge. One of my mates even bragged about facerolling his way through the dungeon finder, and I had to wonder, do people really do that? Even if content is easy, I still try to play it "right." I'll still make sure I know how to play my character, probably because I'm terrified of being that person in a PUG -- you know, the one who makes people hate PUGs. But I have to admit that the idea of honestly just punching whatever buttons just to see if we'll still win has its own amusing charm (and a strange level of challenge too).

Have you ever facerolled MMO content, literally or figuratively?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online
"I'd play this game again if the graphics were updated."

"If they re-released this game with modern graphics, it would be way more popular."

"The Game Archaeologist is my hero, and I will name my progeny in his honor."

How many times have we heard the above statements? From my perspective as someone who tries to keep tabs on classic MMOs, I see these claims quite a lot. Such sentiments pop up in nearly every other post Massively does about older games: "This title is rock-solid except for its aging visuals. Update those, and it would recapture its former glory and then some."

This has gotten me thinking whether such logic would pan out or not. With Anarchy Online's much-hyped graphics overhaul on the way, this discussion seems to crop up more often. Is the power of a graphics conversion or overhaul strong enough to pull back in previous players and fresh blood? Or is it merely slathering on new paint over a rusting hulk?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle?

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I am a mod-junkie, but I wouldn't shed a tear to see DPS meters and Gearscore disappear.
When I returned to World of Warcraft a few weeks ago, my more hardcore guildies were in a rush to show me the newest sights and latest dungeons. I don't blame them; they didn't want to run regular dungeons when they could be doing the shiniest heroic content and most cutting-edge encounters. But in modern WoW, one thing stood between us and that instant gratification: item level.

Because I'd taken breaks from the game, my max-level Shaman had fallen behind in power as the seasons wore on. And that official item level stamped on her gear was more than just a marker that I wasn't elite; it literally gated the dungeons unless I sacrificed rewards (counterproductive) or got a bunch of new gear fast. It didn't take but a weekend or two to catch up, but it was still an annoyance that slowed everyone down, especially since my guildies were overpowered enough that a few more points on my gear weren't going to make or break our success. And while I understand that item level is a useful shorthand for judging your readiness for content, it's a bit disheartening to realize that gamers are being encouraged by the game to see each other only as a numerical gearscore.

What do you think -- should items and item levels gate dungeons and other content?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you think gear level should gate content? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeondungeondendgamefantasygategatedgated-contentgatinggearscoreitem-levelopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO PLAYS THE MOST POPULAR MMO IN THE WORLD, HOW AMAZING
We gamer nerds are often stereotyped as socially awkward and romantically challenged, perhaps due to the fact that we all very obviously spend our entire lives in our mothers' basements drinking Mountain Dew and consuming obscene quantities of Cheetos (amirite gaiz?), but a recent contestant on the UK dating gameshow World Series of Dating (yes, that's actually a thing) leveraged his World of Warcraft fandom to his advantage, proving that we're not all unlovable mouthbreathers. But then, we're also not all cute English boys with fabulously styled hair, so take that with a grain of salt.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show's premise (like us), it's basically like this: A bunch of poor chumps go on a series of speed dates with four women who judge their performances at the end of the show, naming one of them the best dater. And we thought The Bachelor was insane. At any rate, the relevant clip can be seen after the cut. Go get 'em, tiger.

[Thanks to Roger for the tip!]

Continue reading Woman on dating gameshow plays WoW, host is amazed

MassivelyWoman on dating gameshow plays WoW, host is amazed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bunnies at church
Whether you're an Easter traditionalist or you simply need an excuse to eat a chocolate bunny, it's that time of year again. It's also time for a few of our favorite MMO devs to don their silly hats and introduce all manner of egg hunts and contests into games like RuneScape, Runes of Magic, and World of Warcraft.

That's just the tip of the Easter event iceberg; you'll find several more festively inclined titles in our roundup after the cut. Before you hop on over, have a look at the two bunnies above and repeat after us: d'awww.

Continue reading Massively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition

MassivelyMassively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Ten
When a beloved friend, family member, hero, or role model dies, we feel the pain of that loss and grieve in many different ways. Part of that grieving and healing process is often entails those left behind constructing some sort of tribute to the dearly departed. Sometimes this comes in the form of a shrine of flowers, sometimes it's the establishment of a charity, and sometimes it's creating an in-game memorial that thousands if not millions of people will see over the course of years.

So while death and illness are depressing topics to dwell upon, I find the many MMO tributes that studios and even gamers have erected to be inspiring and a celebration of individual players' lives. With the help of my fellow Massively staffers, I researched 10 wonderful in-game tributes that serve to honor the lives of fellow gamers.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kick, punch, it's all in the mind. If you wanna test me, I'm sure you'll find that the things I'll teach ya are sure to beat ya, but nevertheless you'll get a lesson from teacher.
As everyone who isn't willfully ignoring recent news is aware, World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria expansion is currently undergoing beta testing, and we know that many of you can't wait to get your hands on all the new content for yourselves. Well, if you're a World of Warcraft annual passholder, today might just be your lucky day.

Bashiok stopped by the official forums to let players know that Blizzard is in the process of sending out a whopping 100,000 MoP beta invites to annual passholders. Bashiok closes the announcement by reminding players that all annual passholders will be invited to the beta before any opt-ins, though there's no telling how many of them are still awaiting invites or how long it will take before the poor/cheap among us get a crack at Pandaria, but hopefully it will be soon rather than soon[TM].

MassivelyBlizzard opens the Mists of Pandaria floodgates for 100,000 annual passholders originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionannual-passbetabeta-invitationbeta-invitationsbeta-invitebeta-invitesbeta-testblizzardblizzard-entertainmentexpansionexpansionsfantasymists-of-pandariamopwarcraftworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-annual-passwowwow-annual-passFri, 30 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-mmo-report-horsesteak-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-mmo-report-horsesteak-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-mmo-report-horsesteak-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The MMO Report
In tonight's ultra-short MMO Report, Casey complains that Phantasy Star Online 2 will launch for mobile platforms ahead of PC, drools all over the integration of DUST 514 and EVE Online, maintains a weirdly neutral face while discussing Anarchy Online's graphical overhaul, and regales us with an explanation of The Secret World's class-less game mechanics. He ends on a high note with a peek into Uncle Casey's mailbag and some mockery of World of Warcraft players' forum campaign to undo the latest round of Warlock nerfs. No one's ever done that before.

All this and some tips on Icelandic cuisine in the video beyond the cut!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Horsesteak edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Horsesteak edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Warcraft - More expansions post-Pandaria?
So World of Warcraft is getting a new expansion. Old news, right? Mists of Pandaria, kung-fu pandas, yada yada. Well, not so fast.

CVG is reporting that Blizzard has officially confirmed expansion number five, and COO Paul Sams told the site that the dev team already has plans for several more expansions after that. Details are sketchy, of course, but it sounds like WoW is pretty far removed from the state of decline that recent sub losses seemed to indicate.

The first post-Pandaria expansion is currently "an idea, a general framework," and Sams says that Blizzard's Chris Metzen has already pitched WoW's sixth expansion and is "pretty geeked up about it." In fact, he says, the devs "already know what they're going to be doing for multiple expansions ahead."

MassivelyBlizzard already talking about post-Pandaria WoW expansions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzenexpansionsfantasymists-of-pandariapaul-samspost-pandaria-expansionswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-expansionsFri, 23 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Aztec pandas make no sense edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-mmo-report-aztec-pandas-make-no-sense-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-mmo-report-aztec-pandas-make-no-sense-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-mmo-report-aztec-pandas-make-no-sense-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The MMO Report
Morgan Webb dethrones Casey this week on The MMO Report, having made the journey to Anaheim to interview Blizzard's reps about World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion. J. Allen Brack and Tom Chilton focus on the philosophy of this expansion and its shift from previous expansions' ominous tone to a more playful theme of adventure, exploration, and oh yeah, the war between the Alliance and the Horde.

The pair also highlight changes to underdeveloped zones, pet battles, repurposed classic dungeons, phased farms (actual farms!), and solutions to the faction grind problem. Most interestingly, they tell Morgan that Pandaren came first... and the Asian motif followed. After all, they joke, it just wouldn't have made sense to put Pandaren in Aztec ruins.

Get your panda on in the full video behind the break!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Aztec pandas make no sense edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Aztec pandas make no sense edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanaheimblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcasey-schreinerfantasyhumorinterviewinterviewsj-allen-brackmists-of-pandariammo-reportmorgan-webbnewsopinionpandarenpandariaroundupthe-mmo-reporttom-chiltonvideovideoswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW's Mists of Pandaria beta download surfaces on Battle.net [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/wows-mists-of-pandaria-beta-download-surfaces-on-battle-net/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Mists of Pandaria install screen
Kung-fu panda fever is gripping the World of Warcraft community, and the latest tremor comes courtesy of the Mists of Pandaria beta page that showed up on Battle.net last night. Our sister site WoW Insider reported that some players jumped at the chance to begin downloading the expansion's beta client, but the early birds were subsequently stopped by an error page stating that the download server was, well, down.

WoW Insider continued updating its news post as the night wore on, and interestingly enough, Mac users were indeed able to download the patch (no such luck for PC folks, though). Blizzard also published a beta character copy page on Battle.net, where players got a good look at all the test servers ready and waiting for a slew of avatar imports.

Thus far Blizz hasn't commented on an official start date, but the company has said that it's sending out MoP beta invites in waves.

[Update: MoP beta is now live!]

Pandas, pagodas, and pet battles are en route in World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion! Stay tuned to Massively and WoW Insider as we bring you FAQs, previews, analysis, and impressions in the lead-up to launch.

MassivelyWoW's Mists of Pandaria beta download surfaces on Battle.net [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattle.netbetabetasblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-betamopwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/the-perfect-ten-types-of-loot-that-get-me-excited/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
Loot's not something that I see discussed much these days among MMO players. It's probably because loot's been around since the beginning of online time and is such a staple that we'd only really notice it if it went away completely or if the object in question were a major game-changer for us.

Random loot from mobs is a reward mechanic that is bordering on archaic, having been supplanted by dependable quest rewards and barter vendors that give us the gear we so desire. Of course, now we've come around the weird circle to the point that dropped lockboxes hold interesting loot, but we've got to pay for the privilege of seeing what's inside.

But let's not go there today! Instead, I'm going to share with you the 10 general types of loot that still get me excited while playing. They will shock, amaze, and radically reshape your life, as long as you've had a recent brain wipe and are awaiting brand-new neural instructions.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcrypticcryptic-studioseaelectronic-artserotic-roleplayerpf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguild-warsgwhumorlootlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftnon-combat-petsopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweroundupsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstosubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorturbineturbine-entertainmentvanity-petswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DAoC
Some of you probably know that I first got into the blogging scene with my Warhammer Online blog Waaagh! Back then in early 2008, I was a veritable Mythic and PvP newbie, and I spent a good portion of the lead-up to the game's release reading up on Dark Age of Camelot. I figured that, after all, WAR would be built on the foundation of DAoC. In a way, it both was and wasn't.

The one thing I never did was actually play DAoC. Older MMOs can be quite intimidating; they have deep-rooted communities and tomes of updates and history, and they were more rough around the edges. Rough in their cores, too, if we're being honest. So the intimidation factor kept me away until this past week, when Massively readers sent me on a quest to Camelot for the first time in my life.

Last week readers voted on the character I was to roll. An impressive 82% of you said to check out the realm vs. realm ruleset and roll a a Midgard (43.2%) beastly (40.8%) hybrid (43.3%) character. After reading some of the recommendations in the comments, I ended up making a female Troll Skald on a traditional server. She may be lumpy and bulky, but I took a shine to her right away.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onmidgardmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choiceron-swansonrvrskaldsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttrollvotevotingwarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard beta FAQ explains how to test Mists of Pandaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-beta-faq-explains-how-to-test-mists-of-pandaria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Kung fu panda fighting
Mists of Pandaria is right around the proverbial corner, and Blizzard has graced us with a beta FAQ that explains how to participate in the testing period.

If you have a Battle.net account with at least one attached Blizz title, you can opt in to the test via the beta profile page. After you do that, sit tight and wait for an acceptance email. If you have an annual World of Warcraft pass, you're automatically in, but Blizzard says that you might have a bit of a wait anyway due to its staggered invite waves.

Finally, there's no NDA for WoW's newest expansion, so you'll be seeing plenty more screenshots, video, and commentary flooding the web in short order. Check out our sister site for the latest and greatest MoP coverage.

MassivelyBlizzard beta FAQ explains how to test Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattle.netbetablizzardblizzard-betablizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-betaopt-in-betawarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Pandaren monk
World of Warcraft may be bleeding subs in America thanks to newer competition, but don't tell that to Chinese publisher NetEase. The firm just renewed its licensing deal with Blizzard, which will cover localization and operation considers through 2015.

NetEase operates WoW in mainland China (and has since 2009); it also handles Warcraft III, Starcraft II, and Battle.net distribution duties. GamesIndustry.biz notes that the deal was consumated "just ahead of the launch of the fourth WoW expansion, Mists of Pandaria, which is widely regarded as being designed with the Chinese market in mind."

MassivelyBlizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchina-wowchinese-marketfantasymists-of-pandarianeteasenetease-dealpublishingwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaWed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Gooey GUI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/hyperspace-beacon-gooey-gui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/hyperspace-beacon-gooey-gui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/hyperspace-beacon-gooey-gui/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Gooey GUI
As far back as my interview with Blaine Christine at PAX 2010, I have been concerned with the user interface of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Although the question did make it into that article way back when, I did ask him about the UI because at that time, it was mostly black and rather clunky. We knew that incarnation would not be the final product. Animations were being touted as innovative at the time; I had asked about the UI's drawing the player's attention to the center of the screen because that's where the action was happening. Of course, he answered that the ultimate goal with the UI was to enhance the player's overall experience. That's what all UIs should do, right?

One the sticking-points during my beta impressions centered around my having to stare at my UI as I waited for cooldowns. I know that it's not a new thing for MMOs. In fact, nearly every MMO I can think of has some sort of abilities that require cooldown. Generally speaking, I am OK with having to look at the UI for those cooldowns. However, the positioning of SWTOR's UI really drew my attention away from what was happening on the main part of the screen.

Exactly three months after release, I have become comfortable with how the Star Wars whack-a-mole works, but with the changes in Update 1.2, I can dream of something better...

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Gooey GUI

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Gooey GUI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcustom-uieaelectronic-artsEmmanuel-LusinchifantasyfeaturedGUIhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionriftrift-planes-of-telarasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldsUIupdate-1.2user-interfacevideovideoswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 193: Happytime face smiles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/massively-speaking-episode-193-happytime-face-smiles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/massively-speaking-episode-193-happytime-face-smiles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/massively-speaking-episode-193-happytime-face-smiles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking
Massively Speaking Episode 193 asks this question: If we had $25 million to spend on an MMO, how sarcastic would we make its quests? And would there be a special skill called "Fire One Shots!"? And would your character die if he or she were downvoted in a group raid? And would we ever look as happy as the guy in the picture above?

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 193: Happytime face smiles

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 193: Happytime face smiles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosaction-rpgactivisionamalurbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrantbrianna-roycecash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiieqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgaikaigothic-fantasyhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmists-of-pandariamultiplayeronline-multiplayeropinionpodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-copernicusroguelikerpgsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttodd-mcfarlanewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Mar 2012 14:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 193Massively.com Staff01:06:26podcasts<![CDATA[Blizzard acknowledges TOR's impact on WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/blizzard-acknowledges-tors-impact-on-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/blizzard-acknowledges-tors-impact-on-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/blizzard-acknowledges-tors-impact-on-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Panda-fu
Is Star Wars: The Old Republic affecting World of Warcraft's subscriber numbers? Well duh, according to Blizzard producer John Lagrave.

"Of course people are trying Star Wars -- our development team are trying Star Wars! I'm one of the few people who's still playing it actually, but yeah we've seen a dip in subs. It certainly has to at least be attributable to The Old Republic, but it's also attributable to people who want to wait and get Mists of Pandaria, so it's not surprising," Lagrave tells Eurogamer.

He goes on to say that Blizzard is exploring its options when it comes to extending WoW's trial (which currently tops out at level 20), and he also reiterates the fact that free-to-play isn't in the cards for Azeroth.

MassivelyBlizzard acknowledges TOR's impact on WoW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteaelectronic-artsfantasyjohn-lagravelucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's project Titan still in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/blizzards-project-titan-still-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Some day we'll have images for Titan posts.
In and around the flurry of news swirling about >World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion, a kind soul has been looking out for everyone waiting for news on the mystery-shrouded project Titan. Tom Chilton, a lead designer for WoW, told The OC Register about the "slow trickle of expertise" from the WoW team into the Titan team. Although he didn't confirm anything, Chilton said that it's possible that the movement of developer talent over to the Titan project may ramp up.

Despite laying off about 13 percent of its workforce, Blizzard is still hiring in order to fill the development teams for both WoW and the new project. Chilton says:
"I do believe there's room for us to have two highly successful MMO games. I don't feel like there's going to be a time where we just say 'OK, everybody on the WoW team, pack it up you're moving over to the Titan MMO.' I don't see that as being a realistic probability. I think we're going to try to staff up both teams and actually end up with two large, strong MMO teams."
Hopefully this sort of talk means that MoP is nearing readiness so the company can give a little more attention to the Titan MMO -- might we someday soon find ourselves with actual, hard facts about this mysterious project?

MassivelyBlizzard's project Titan still in the works originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasymists-of-pandariaproject-titantitantom-chiltonwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria previews you can shake an empty fist at]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/all-the-world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-previews-you-can-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/all-the-world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-previews-you-can-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/all-the-world-of-warcraft-mists-of-pandaria-previews-you-can-sh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
In the wee hours of this morning, the press NDA for World of Warcraft's Mists of Pandaria expansion came tumbling down, and our sister site WoW Insider has a bounty of coverage to share. The much anticipated -- and much debated -- expansion is slated for release this year and will include a new continent, the Monk hero class, the Pandaren race, pet battles, a level cap increase, and a massive overhaul of the game's talent system.

World of Warcraft players are undoubtedly fixated on the expansion, as January's 4.3 patch was announced to be the last major update to the game before MoP arrives. You can check out all of the juicy info squeezed from the press beta groves after the jump, including hands-on impressions and insights you won't find anywhere else!

Continue reading All the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria previews you can shake an empty fist at

MassivelyAll the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria previews you can shake an empty fist at originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbattlegroundsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentexpansionfantasyfirst-impressionsmedia-eventmists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-talentsmonkmonk-classndapandarenpet-battlespress-eventpress-ndapreviewpvpsiege-of-orgrimmartalenttalent-treetalent-tree-revamptalentsuiwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmdaily-grindeqeverquestexpansionexpansionsfantasyopiniontbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindUltima-Onlineuovanilla-wowwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Gaikai
Imagine that you're reading up on an MMO on a site such as Massively (far-fetched, but stay with us on this). The words intrigue you and you think it might be worth checking out. You make a mental note to do so in the future -- to head over to the game's site, see if there's a trial, download it, set up an account, and give it a whirl -- but time gets away from you and none of that actually happens.

Now imagine that right after you read that article there was a single button or link. Clicking on it, a Java window opens up on top of your screen and tells you that you're now playing a trial of the game. There's no wait, no download, no lengthy form to fill out -- just click and play, right away. You go from interested to inside the game within mere seconds, your computer specs (mostly) aren't an issue, and your curiosity is immediately sated.

This isn't a far-fetched dream but the here-and-now reality. This is cloud-streaming MMOs brought to you by Gaikai. And it just might be the future of MMOs as we know it.

Continue reading Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser

MassivelyGaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimactivisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbest-buyblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowser-mmochronicles-of-spellborncloudcloud-streamingconandave-perryddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaea-originearthworm-jimf2pfamilyfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgaikaigaikai-inchyboriaipadkid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrostreaming-mmothe-darknessturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedwalmartwarcraftwbwizard101world-of-warcraftwowyoutubeWed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion is over a year old now, and Mists of Pandaria is looming just over the horizon, which means that it's time for a Cataclysm post-mortem. The infamous pony-promiser Greg "Ghostcrawler" Streets took some time out of his day to set aside the nerf bat and answer some questions regarding World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. What worked? What didn't? Where the hell is the dance studio, anyway? Just kidding, we still don't know that last one.

One topic that's frequently revisited throughout the post-mortem is the talent system revamp. In a nutshell, Ghostcrawler says that the team (and the players) were largely pleased with the ability to choose a spec and gain powerful, useful skills right at level 10. What didn't work out as planned? "Everything else!" says Ghostcrawler. The team realized that "the talent tree model where you pick up tiny performance increases here and there (and where there's, mathematically, nearly always a 'right' answer and a 'wrong' answer) is not a great model." He goes on to add that Mists of Pandaria's talent system "should fix this problem once and for all." Well, third time's the charm, right guys?

At any rate, there's more on the discussion table than just talents, so head over to the full article and see what lessons Cataclysm has taught the devs.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft's Scroll of Resurrection has received a rather considerable buff. The feature previously allowed currently subscribed players to invite a retired friend to come back to Azeroth for a time. Now, however, the resurrected player will be provided a treasure trove of freebies to further entice retired players back to the game.

The returning player will be able to boost one character directly to level 80, which seems pretty amazing in and of itself, but there's more. Scroll of Resurrection will also supply its target with a free upgrade to Cataclysm, seven days of free game time, and free realm and faction transfers so that returning players can join their friend right away. So, retirees and recovering addicts, if you need a little more Azeroth in your life, now's the perfect time to jump back in.

MassivelyBlizzard buffs the bejeezus out of WoW's Scroll of Resurrection originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfantasyresurrectionretired-playersreturning-playersscroll-of-resurrectionwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 06 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST