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[Ask Massively: We do not make the games edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/ask-massively-we-do-not-make-the-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/ask-massively-we-do-not-make-the-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/ask-massively-we-do-not-make-the-games-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been entirely too long since I got to use a WildStar screenshot for a header.
Sometimes, I get questions for Ask Massively that I just can't use, and not because they're questions to which the answer is just "I don't know," although I try to steer away from those as frequently as possible because it's such an unsatisfying answer. No, sometimes we get questions for which we're not even the right people to answer, period. You can ask me to put a feature in EverQuest II or to consider developing it, but I don't work on EverQuest II. Heck, I don't even play it.

This week's installment of Ask Massively has been pared down to the questions that I can actually answer, including answers about the potential audience of the upcoming WildStar and the future of Star Wars: The Old Republic as it pertains to allowing user-coded addons. If you've got a question you would like answered in a future installment of the column, just send it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for length and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: We do not make the games edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: We do not make the games edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsaddonsappealask-massivelycolumnfeaturedmarketingopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtoruiwildstarThu, 05 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Last week, Runes of Magic's latest patch brought Knight skill balancing, saw the return of the Juice Festival, and tried to remove some macro functions. All in all, it wasn't a huge patch, but it was enough to light up the RoM forum with a lot of chatter.

As it turns out, many vocal players were saddened to see the removal of macro functions that gave them an incredible amount of flexibility. The abilities given to players to make scripts, macros and addons with amazing freedom have been among RoM's strong points, but they also allowed so much freedom that they skirted the boundary between "helpful addon" and "botting."

The proposed macro change may be one of the fastest retractions Frogster has ever had to make, but there's also the balancing that Knights received and the Juice Festival to talk about in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea. Grab your favorite juice and meet me after the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsclass-balancediycedo-it-yourself-combat-enginefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonjuice-festivalknightknight-balanceknight-balancinglost-pages-of-taboreamacromacro-nerfmacrospatchpatch-4.0.3patchesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscriptsMon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Confronting our raid ghosts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/the-guild-counsel-confronting-our-raid-ghosts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/the-guild-counsel-confronting-our-raid-ghosts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/the-guild-counsel-confronting-our-raid-ghosts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In last week's Guild Counsel, we looked at how parsing tools can aid in raid leading. It triggered a lively discussion on raiding in general, and it was pretty clear that it's not everyone's cup of tea. Scripts, add-ons, dps checks -- they leave some standing in shock like Theoden, muttering "how did it come to this?" Others will channel their inner-Gimli and shout, "bring your pretty face to my axe."

Raiding offers both the best and worst parts of MMOs, and it's come a long way through the years. It's worth taking a step back, and spending some time with the ghosts of raiding -- past, present, and future. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll do just that!

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Confronting our raid ghosts

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Confronting our raid ghosts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsdkpeverquestguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsinstancesraidingraidsThu, 04 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Recidivism edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/ask-massively-recidivism-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/ask-massively-recidivism-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/ask-massively-recidivism-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It was a point of some pride for me that I had apparently kicked my Magic habit. Many years ago, I was almost insatiable, but with counseling and a severe dearth of people to play with, I'd finally kicked it for years. Well, up until last Friday, when I dropped money on a brand-new box set so Ms. Lady and I could start building decks together. I'd probably feel better about it if I hadn't lost the past several times.

Today's edition of Ask Massively is not exactly a cure for us poor recidivists, being instead an exploration of RIFT's upcoming addons and why some people are less than happy about this fact. It may also serve as a history lesson for some members of the audience. As always, you can leave your questions for a future edition of the column in the comments, or you can just wing them along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Recidivism edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Recidivism edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsapiask-massivelycolumncolumnsdesigndevelopmentfeaturedmodsopinionriftrift-planes-of-telaraworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Building a better UI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/eve-evolved-building-a-better-ui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/eve-evolved-building-a-better-ui/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/eve-evolved-building-a-better-ui/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's no secret that EVE Online has a poor user interface. With its drop-down menus for interacting with objects and text lists to show information like market orders and nearby objects in space, EVE has thoroughly earned the nickname "spreadsheets in space." The UI has changed drastically since I started playing in 2004, but in recent years, it's fallen behind the development curve. In a new devblog this week, CCP Snowlax suggested that the UI developers at CCP have lacked the framework necessary to do what they wanted with it. The existing framework had become bloated with eight years of development, and the underlying rendering engine wasn't even capable of using custom shaders.

With Incursion 1.6, CCP pushed live a completely new UI framework that makes cool features like holographic UI elements possible. With the new Carbon UI framework in place, developers are taking another look at redesigning the EVE user interface. Screenshots of the new features being used in the upcoming Incarna expansion are impressive, but that's all taking place inside stations. I can't help but wonder how these new technologies could be applied to the space-faring portion of EVE and whether there are more fundamental challenges to overcome in UI design than adding flashy graphics.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I give some thoughts on the development of EVE's UI, from the necessary evil of the overview to some things I'd like to see change.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Building a better UI

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Building a better UI originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsbutterfly-effectccpccp-eveccp-gamesefteveeve-ccpEVE-Evolvedeve-fitting-tooleve-mmorpgeve-onlineevemonfeaturedgraphicsguihologramholographicmission-runningmodmoddingopinionoverviewplayer-developersplayer-developmentthe-butterfly-effectuiuser-interfaceSun, 05 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT confirms development of an addon API]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/rift-confirms-development-of-an-addon-api/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/rift-confirms-development-of-an-addon-api/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/rift-confirms-development-of-an-addon-api/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been rumored for much of the day with implementation scattered throughout the test client, but it's been confirmed -- addons are coming to RIFT. In a post to the official forums, James Nichols explains that the game's addon API is currently being tested for implementation, with the hope that players will be able to customize the game's interface while still maintaining the high level of quality found throughout the game. A precise release has not been stated, as the API is still in its earliest stages of development.

Fan reaction has been mixed, as addons have long been a contentious element of many games -- some players feel that they strip down complexity of play, and there are obvious comparisons to be drawn with World of Warcraft. At the same time, the promise to allow free customization and alteration to RIFT has many players excited and looking forward to the new feature. Either way, it's coming to the game, so only time will tell what the implementation will bring.

[Thanks puremallace for the tip!]

MassivelyRIFT confirms development of an addon API originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsaddonsbreakingpatchespending-updatesriftrift-planes-of-telaratest-servertriontrion-worldsupdatesFri, 03 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-massively-interviews-rifts-scott-hartsman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

With the launch of RIFT still fresh, members of the Trion team packed their bags and flew to Boston to attend PAX East. Even though they didn't have a booth, their "We're not in Azeroth anymore" banner made their presence known. In addition, Community Manager Cindy "Abigale" Bowens hosted a party in Boston to celebrate the launch with players and fans. Massively had a chance to sit down and talk with Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman about launch day, security, plans for the future, and a whole lot more. Read on for the full interview!

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman

MassivelyPAX East 2011: Massively interviews RIFT's Scott Hartsman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abigaleadd-onsaddonsappappscindy-bowensdungeon-finderfeaturedguild-warsinterviewinterviewslaunchlaunch-daypaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011riftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanserver-populationserver-populationsserver-queuesshardssocial-gaming-nightsuccesstriontrion-worldsTue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Do-It-Yourself Combat Engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-do-it-yourself-combat-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-do-it-yourself-combat-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-do-it-yourself-combat-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When I first started playing Runes of Magic and other MMOs, I never used addons because they broke my perceived immersion. Fast forward to today and I have well over a dozen different addons to enhance my user interface and interaction with Taborea. There are quite a few addons that I'd now highly recommend. The collection has both evolved and stayed basically the same over the months. The collection does grow, but a lot of the new addons that come along don't see any love once uploaded. Some of the great classics -- like Advanced AuctionHouse -- are constantly being updated and are very useful. Many others that come along are variations on older popular addons or they aren't popular because they are small fluff addons. Basically, there's a core of great addons that are still being updated, but good new addons are coming at a slow pace.

One new addon in particular is the Do-It-Yourself Combat Engine. DIYCE is a robust combat engine that can allow players to pre-script entire combat encounters with the push of a button. There are some ethical questions about the ability to easily program what some would call a cheat code. Is this going too far and skirting the boundaries of hacking? Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons for this program.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Do-It-Yourself Combat Engine

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Do-It-Yourself Combat Engine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonaddonscombat-enginediycedo-it-yourself-combat-enginefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborealuamacrosromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscriptinguberflex-autocombat-systemMon, 10 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Stare too long into the Abyssea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/the-mog-log-stare-too-long-into-the-abyssea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/the-mog-log-stare-too-long-into-the-abyssea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/the-mog-log-stare-too-long-into-the-abyssea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The first of two December version updates has hit the community, and as a result I'm torn. On the one hand, this means that Final Fantasy XI has seen another major upheaval in the form of more levels and new content, which is really significant... if you're up at those levels. I am not, and consequently a lot of what I can say about those high levels is pretty darn speculative. Most of the concrete information I have heard about the update seems to concern problems with console installations rather than substantive information.

But I do feel fairly confident in talking about Abyssea. The second trilogy of mini-expansions has come to an end, with a very different focus than the previous unconnected addons. I'd say that it's been both a good and a bad thing for the game as a whole, both in the way that leveling has become tied to the new areas and in what it might mean for the game in the future. So with the whole setup out of the way, let's talk about what's been done and what might be coming as a result.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Stare too long into the Abyssea

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Stare too long into the Abyssea originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abysseaaddonsbattle-mechanicsbattlesboxed-expansionchains-of-promathiacopdecember-version-updateexpansionexpansionsfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-ximini-expansionsopinionsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logwings-of-the-goddesswotgSat, 18 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Guide to addons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week in WagingWAR Greg takes a look at the basic interface offered in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Well, he said he would take a look, but then he mumbled something about needing a blindfold first. Instead, he writes about all the great ways it can be changed via third-party add-ons and shows us why WAR's modding community really is just the bee's knees.

Let's be honest with ourselves right off the bat and agree that the WAR default interface, although functional, is lackluster in some respects. That's not to say that the developers of WAR made a disastrous UI for us to play with; in fact, the truth is quite the opposite. The standard UI is functional, genre-standard, and provides all the necessary information at a glance. It gets the job done. It also offers a layout editor that allows for simple, easy customization. But sometimes, someone else's idea for a UI element is simply better. Thankfully, WAR supports the Lua programming language and enjoys a strong and talented modding community.

Continue reading for the lowdown on what I consider to be the best of the best of what WAR's mod community has to offer as of patch 1.4.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Guide to addons

MassivelyWaging WAR: Guide to addons originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsbioware-eabioware-mythiccurseEAea-mythicElectronic-Artsfeaturedinterfacemodificationmodificationsmodsmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4UIui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewaging-warwarWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineSat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The funny thing about getting used to a new way of playing a game is that sometimes you just can't go back. Case in point: the Razer Naga. It's the sort of mouse that forces dedicated action bar clickers to start using hotkeys, and it's hard to start using one without getting deeply invested in the way that it feels in-play. After all, when you can free up your left hand completely for movement... suffice to say that it earns its moniker as an MMO mouse.

Sometimes it's a favorite headset or a particular keyboard with a familiar layout. We all get accustomed to the computer we use for gaming, but is there a specific piece of hardware that feels just plain vital to log on and play your favorite game? Is it something that notably improves your performance, or just a familiar item that's been a constant through your years of playing online?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsadditional-hardwareaddonsextra-hardwaregaming-preipheralskeyboardsmiceopinionopinionsperipheralstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This past week in LotRO's been a bit like riding river rapids: There's been a lot of rapid ups-and-downs, violent lurches to avoid dangerous objects, and a whole lot of noise that's drowning out the calmer waters ahead. For every piece of good news and positive word-of-mouth, there's been a lot of unfortunate bumps, such as server queues, dynamic layers, mouthy trolls and Codemaster's launch delay. However, I believe it's all going to settle down in a couple more weeks, and LotRO will emerge the better for it.

So if this is your first week in Lord of the Rings Online, welcome! Find a great kinship, take time to smell the flowers, and hunt some orc for me.

Today I'd like to take a look at one of the unsung heroes of the recent content patch -- the ability to create and use plugins (also called mods and addons) to enhance your user interface. While the system is still in beta and has a rough-around-the-edges feel to it, it's already shown great potential, particularly though the creativity that mod designers are pouring into it. While there are only a small number of plugins available as of right now and Turbine has yet to expand the scope of these Lua scripts beyond constrained limits, it's not too early to beef up your UI with these spiffy additions. Read on, free peoples of Middle-internet!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonaddonsbevy-o-barsbuffbuff-barscodemastersdebuffdebuffalo-billdynamic-layersemoemotesf2pfeaturedforumsfree-to-playhotbarhudlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-uilotrointerfacelotroplugins.comlualua-scriptmiddle-internetmodmodspalantirpluginplugin-managerpluginsquickbarquickslotserver-queuestonicbarstrollsturbineTurbine-Entertainmentuiworld-of-warcraftFri, 17 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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

Now we have.

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementAchievementsaddonsalphaalpha-testbattlegroundsbuildscallingCapture-the-flagcharacter-creationcharge-barclericclunkcollectionCollectionscraftingdefiantDemodynamic-contentEarth-Elementalelementalistepic-mountfeaturedfootholdfootholdsgallerygloamwoodgraphicsgroupgroupinggroupsguardianhealershealinghell-levelsheroes-of-telaraholy-city-of-sanctuminstanceinstancesinterfaceinvasionjumpingjust-say-no-to-hell-levelslootmapmapsminimapmodsp2ppay-to-playpetsphilosophyplaneplanesplanes-of-telarapublic-questspvpquestingrealm-of-the-faerespecresurrectionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsscott-hartsmanscreenshotsshadowlandssoul-walkSteamPunkstrategerystrategysubscriptionswimmingtalent-treestalentstavril-plazatelaratrailertriontrion-worldsUIvideowarfrontwarfrontsWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine expands on LotRO's Lua scripting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/20/turbine-expands-on-lotros-lua-scripting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since hearing the news that Turbine will allow players to create mods for Lord of the Rings Online using the Lua programming language, the community's been abuzz about what this means for LotRO -- good and bad. Would this allow for the creation of game unbalancing add-ons, or perhaps the rise of a LotRO edition of WoW's controversial GearScore? Or does Turbine have a specific vision in mind for the scope of mods?

Yesterday on the LotRO forums, Narrel, Turbine's Games Systems Engineer, posted a clarifying note about why the company chose to implement this and where it plans to go with it. The devs' main priority with Lua scripting was to empower players to tweak and modify the user interface more to their liking, as the default UI cannot be all things for all folks.

While it is going to prohibit mods from botting or macros, Turbine will open the field for players to work with the inventory layout, information that the HUD displays, quickslot bars, target info, fellowship info and raid vitals. "We are very excited about this feature," Narrel said, "and look forward to the day when it goes live allowing players to have a much more customizable experience with our graphical interface."

MassivelyTurbine expands on LotRO's Lua scripting originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsaddonsbottinggames-systems-engineergearscorehudinventorylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolualua-programming-languagelua-scriptmacrosmodsnarrelquickslotturbineuiuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 20 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allods Online previews the next big patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/allods-online-previews-the-next-big-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/allods-online-previews-the-next-big-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/allods-online-previews-the-next-big-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The next big patch for Allods Online is due to hit the live servers on July 7th, and it's bringing a slew of changes along with it. We've heard rumbles about several of them, including the removal of the Fear of Death effect (along with the associated cash shop awkwardness) and a few player-presented suggestions. Still, it's good to know the full extent of what's coming around the bend, which is why the team behind the game has published both a full list of the patch changes as well as an FAQ regarding some of the larger switches.

A few of the changes are a bit baffling -- the game now supports addons, but the documentation being released is still in untranslated Russian. Several additions are also subtle but welcomed, such as changes to the patronage system to remove the option for accelerating the process via the cash shop. There seems to be a general path toward taking the absolute necessity out of the cash shop, so if you were still feeling burned by the original cash shop woes, it might be worth the time to take a look at the new patch notes for Allods Online and see if there's something to spark your interest. (Or you could just take a dip with the Massively team to get into the action again.)

MassivelyAllods Online previews the next big patch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsallodsallods-onlineallods-patch-1.1.0astrum-nivalcash-shopdocumentationf2pfear-of-deathfree-to-playgpotatopatchpatch-notespatchesrussianupdatesFri, 02 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: For bidden knowledge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/the-mog-log-for-bidden-knowledge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/the-mog-log-for-bidden-knowledge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/the-mog-log-for-bidden-knowledge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's easy to get jaded about Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV at times, right up until you open your eyes and see how immense the worlds of both games can really be. The scope and the sweep of both games is dwarfing. One human being could spend quite a bit of time studying them to try and internalize all of the available knowledge. And I found the guy who did precisely that and stole his notes, so I can answer your questions about both games today. Isn't that special?

egobrane asked:
"What's with people crying about huge system requirements [for the benchmark]?"

Not everyone has a hugely powerful computer, and there are a lot of fans of Final Fantasy XI who would probably like to be able to dive straight into Final Fantasy XIV. The problem is that the former has been around for eight years, and the latter is just now coming out. That's leaving aside the fact that FFXI's American release came a year and a half after the Japanese release, which meant that a computer that could run the game well was that much cheaper.

Continue reading The Mog Log: For bidden knowledge

MassivelyThe Mog Log: For bidden knowledge originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonschains-of-promathiacope3expansionsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivopinionsquaresquare-enixsystem-requirementsupdateswings-of-the-goddesswotgSat, 26 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this edition of the Mog Log, every question you have ever had will be answered completely accurately. (Disclaimer: these questions must pertain to either Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV. And they must have been asked via e-mail or comments. And it must be noted that "I don't know" is an accurate answer to a question. Also, this aside is now longer then the introductory sentence.) Aren't you excited as possible? I know I am.

We'll start off with a question from Dormer:
"Why aren't we getting more information from the beta?"

We're not sure, but we can certainly speculate. The most logical reason is that the testing is closer to an alpha than anything and they're not letting people in that they can't trust implicitly. Square-Enix has a pretty good track record at keeping things quiet when they want to, and they're likely making sure that nothing leaks out from this phase. How much of an NDA further phases of Final Fantasy XIV's testing will have is a mystery. But there's another reason for the possible dearth of information. (Which we've intentionally put behind the cut to inspire you to keep reading.)

Continue reading The Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers)

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abysseaaddonsanswersfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroupingpartyparty-versus-partyq-and-aquestion-and-answerquestionssolosquare-enixuixbox-360Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A little more conversation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/the-mog-log-a-little-more-conversation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/the-mog-log-a-little-more-conversation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/the-mog-log-a-little-more-conversation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Well, gee, not much has happened since the last time we did a community spotlight in this column. Except maybe for that little VanaFest thing, and huge drops of new info on Final Fantasy XIV, and the beginning of the latter's beta testing. So, yeah, slow month all around. This should be a pretty short column, I might just start talking about my favorite beers toward the end.

All joking aside, a lot has been happening, and it has produced more than a few diverse opinions. The immediate response to the VanaFest announcements for Final Fantasy XI was covered a couple weeks ago, but there's still the specifics to be hammered out. After all, it's hard to take in server merges, level cap raises, massive content drops and new add-ons all in one go. Not to mention that we do still have another game coming in the not-so-distant future, one that's shaping up to have an interesting positional aspect to gameplay. So let's take a look at some of the noteworthy talk from Final Fantasy's webwide community.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A little more conversation

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A little more conversation originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsbalancebetacastersclass-abilitiescommunitydiscussionfeaturedff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmobile-appsmodificationsmodssquare-enixtestingxbox-360Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Breaking the Mould]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/redefining-mmos-breaking-the-mould/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/redefining-mmos-breaking-the-mould/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/redefining-mmos-breaking-the-mould/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Just think about that title for a second. Of all the games genres you've played, isn't it MMOs that feel most like carbon copies of one another? Level systems, the character creation process and class archetypes are nearly universal, with hundreds of games sharing the same characteristics. Don't you sometimes wish that MMO developers would step back and reassess the genre they have collectively created? This week, as part of Massively's "Redefining MMOs" series, it's my turn to muse on a topic and I've chosen to look as whether it's time the MMO mould (or mold, as my American editors would say) should be broken and re-examined.

Many aspects of MMOs, such as classes, levelling, raids and bosses, endure simply because they work. After all, if it ain't broke why fix it? But sometimes it feels like you need a breath of fresh air, to step back and smell the roses. This is especially the case when carbon copy MMOs start being rolled out. In the last few months I've tried MMO after MMO and can literally play each one blindfolded. Mages are mages, warriors are warriors and clerics by any other name are still priests. While the archetypes of these classes -- the healer, the tank, the caster, the melee damage-dealer and the pet-toting badass -- differ slightly between genres and titles, they are part of a formula that seems to define the MMO genre.

Skip past the cut to read the rest of the article

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Breaking the Mould

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: Breaking the Mould originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsaionaion-classesaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternityall-points-bulletinapbcities-xlclasseseq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iiexperiencefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicslevelingRedefining-mmosturpsterturpstervisionuiuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard to add-on developers: Your money is no good here (literally)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/blizzard-to-add-on-developers-your-money-is-no-good-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/blizzard-to-add-on-developers-your-money-is-no-good-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/blizzard-to-add-on-developers-your-money-is-no-good-here/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The luau may be over for LUA add-on developers in World of Warcraft who make money for their code, as Blizzard just released a new add-on policy preventing them from doing just that. Under the new policy, add-ons must be free-of-charge and written in clear code. They may not solicit donations or run third-party advertisements.

This is a fairly surprising move by Blizzard since the new policy basically screws over some add-on developers who have helped propel WoW to the success it is currently experiencing. Not only has the game benefited greatly from add-ons that addressed deficiencies in the standard UI, but Blizzard themselves have patched in UI updates 'inspired' by successful add-ons, as Lum points out.

This is a clear message that no-one except Blizzard should profit from WoW. They are basically saying, "We'd love you to improve our game for free, but don't expect anything other than warm fuzzies as compensation." It will be interesting to see reaction to this news from developers of popular donation- and fee-based add-ons. How much of an impact will it have on WoW if they cease to develop and support these (or new) add-ons?

MassivelyBlizzard to add-on developers: Your money is no good here (literally) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsblizzardin-game-advertisingpolicyuiworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 23 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I was kicking around Silvermoon City of World of Warcraft a few nights ago, working on a new Blood Elf warlock as a way to relax and just forget about the long day, when I saw an extremely peculiar conversation in my chat window. What it boiled down to was a guy who was trying to get help with the warlock Voidwalker quest because he couldn't figure out where to go to find the void crystals specified in the quest log.

Now, instead of someone responding with a generalized location as to where you could find these crystals, the response, "Get QuestHelper and it will tell you where to go," was made. Needless to say, this guy was new to the game, and he was pretty baffled.

With the advent of custom interfaces, it seems that many people would rather have the game play itself than take the time to actually work things out. At the worst, people would rather pay to be able to "skip" through the game; thank you RMT. So, the key question around here remains: "Does anyone actually want to play anymore?"

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore?

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsblizzardcustom-interfacesea-mythicendgamefungameplaygrindgrindingliving-citiesmythicmythic-entertainmentpublic-questsquesthelperrmtwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-endgameworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 07 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOS X: Managing WoW AddOns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mmos-x-managing-wow-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mmos-x-managing-wow-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/mmos-x-managing-wow-addons/#commentsFiled under: , ,


They say acceptance is the first part of recovery, so I'm going just going to say it: I have an AddOn problem in World of Warcraft. My reliance on a completely nonstandard UI is so severe, when I needed a screenshot of a group running an instance with the default UI, I had to ask the rest of the WoW Insider staff if anyone had one, since there was zero chance I was stepping into an instance without my "set up the way I like it, thank you very much" UI.

Managing these AddOns is a nightmare. Half the time I've forgotten what AddOns I have even installed (good thing I use an online backup -- Mozy -- to back them up or I'd be in deep doo-doo if I was forced to do a rebuild). If you're half as lazy as I am (which is pretty damn lazy) , you'll frequently put off, "wait till next log on", or downright blow off updating your AddOns. As the Despair.com poster says, "Hard work may pay off later, but procrastination pays off now." Which in game terms means, "Don't fix what isn't broken." Or something.

That's where add-on management tools like WoWMatrix and MacAceUpdater save me time and aggravation. I need to throw the disclaimer out there that this isn't really a review of these utilities. However, it'll be pretty obvious which one I prefer. And to keep the full disclosure bus rolling, I have not tested these after Patch 2.4.3 was released since I had most of this column written before it hit.

Continue reading MMOS X: Managing WoW AddOns

MassivelyMMOS X: Managing WoW AddOns originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsmacaceupdatermacintishutilitieswowmatrixWed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Attack of the bots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/mmogology-attack-of-the-bots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/mmogology-attack-of-the-bots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/mmogology-attack-of-the-bots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A few weeks ago Tateru Nino wrote a great piece about the use of bots in Second Life as marketing tools to make virtual worlds feel less lonely and appear more populated than they actually are. The article got me thinking about the use of bots in games and the many purposes they serve, not only as virtual avatars, but more frequently as tools used by players to assist them with everyday tasks.

So what exactly is a bot? Although bot is short for robot we're not talking about Tom Servo or Crow T. Robot from Mystery Science Theater 3000 (although I guess technically they're puppets). Bots are programs with some level of artificial intelligence that are typically created to automate mundane tasks otherwise performed by a human. At their finest, they are tools that help make a gaming experience more enjoyable by streamlining our gameplay, providing us with useful information, or automating otherwise irksome tasks. At their worst, bots are exploits used by hackers to grind through a game while the player is away from their keyboards. For the purposes of today's article, I'll be referring to the "legal" variety.

Even if a bot is perfectly legal to use and is not technically exploiting the game, it's still automating tasks you'd otherwise be performing yourself. When we're talking about playing video games, if a bot is doing some of the "gaming" for us, then what exactly are we doing? In automating some of the hum-drum tasks of a game has something of the fun or challenge been lost; or, do bots just help us get to the parts of the game that are fun and challenging?

Continue reading MMOGology: Attack of the bots

MassivelyMMOGology: Attack of the bots originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsblizzardbotsexploitfeaturedhelper-applicationjoystiqfeaturesworld-of-warcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowMon, 12 May 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoX Splasher]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-splasher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-splasher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/cox-splasher/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Poking around on the CoX forums this morning I came across an amazing little tool brought to us by the blossoming development community surfacing in the player base of the game. This fabulous bit of coding is called Splasher, and it's a program that allows you to customize the login and character selection screens for your client.

Beyond simply letting you put up a custom screenshot, the program includes a music function that will let you change the music played for you when the game loads. In this way you can create a custom anthem for your hero to serenade you while you select which character you would like to roam Paragon City with. In addition to the customizable music, there is also a randomizer function that will select a random custom login screen for you from a selection that you put into the program. I created a login screen that featured my favorite moments from Trick or Treating last month. You can download Splasher here, and soon you'll be on the road to a custom login of your very own.

MassivelyCoX Splasher originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Add-onsaddonsCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoHCohsplasherCoVCoXcustom-login-screenhow-toModsSplasherMon, 19 Nov 2007 17:01:00 EST