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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-stream-team-mlt-edition-may-13-19-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team May 13 19, 2013
Nothing beats an MLT, especially when the tomato is nice and ripe! Except maybe Massively TV. MMmm mmmm. Now there's something you can really sink your teeth into -- the wild and crazy antics of your favorite Stream Team hosts! And they've got a menu for all tastes this week, from space adventures to dragons to WWII planes. Of course, it all comes with a side of reruns and a dessert highlight to complete your meal.

So pull up a chair and grab yourself a helping or two... or 10. Hey, there's no limit here; enjoy as much as you like! While you're enjoying the spread, be sure to join in the after-dinner chat in Outtakes.

Continue reading The Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: MLT edition, May 13 - 19, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan screenshot
I remember playing Age of Conan when it first came out; it seems like an eternity ago. So many titles have been released and failed since then that it's easy to get it all mixed up, and it doesn't help when many of those titles are sub-par or just plain boring and forgettable. Age of Conan sort of messed with my head with its insistent instancing and odd combat mechanics. I just couldn't wrap my head around what the game was trying to do.

Is it a hardcore PvP-centric MMO? Many would say so. Is it a grand, single-player adventure? In some ways. Is it an immersive romp through the long-lived lore of Conan the Barbarian? I guess so. It's a bit of all of these but does none of them perfectly. I decided to jump back into the game because the last time I played it was when it switched over to its odd freemium model that is all-too-common in Western MMOs these days.

Continue reading Second Wind: Age of Conan

MassivelySecond Wind: Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbeau-hindmanconanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpfuncomhyboriapost-launchre-reviewreviewroundtablesecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windtranscriptunchainedupdated-impressionsFri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Stream Team: Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-stream-team-seis-de-mayo-edition-may-6-12-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Stream Team Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 12, 2013
You have to agree, May is one month that's full of holidays. The first week alone contains May Day, (unofficial) Star Wars Day, and Cinco de Mayo. But the party doesn't stop there! Following quickly on the heels of these is perhaps one you are less familiar with: Seis de Mayo.

Not unlike its cousin the day before, Seis de Mayo is a day of celebration; however, this celebration centers on freedom from boredom via visual entertainment. No, really! And to commemorate the day, we're releasing an all-new Massively TV schedule, giving you the means to celebrate the whole week through with The Stream Team. If you can't celebrate live, just tune into a rerun and party whenever.

Well, even if you don't believe us, you can still commemorate the occasion with us. Just check out the past the cut for a heaping helping of daily festivities.

Continue reading The Stream Team: Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013

MassivelyThe Stream Team: Seis de Mayo edition, May 6 - 12, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan game director talks about server tech, tradeskills, and more
Joel Bylos, the game director for Age of Conan, has put out this month's game director letter. In it, he addresses his team's plan for addressing "most of the concerns and requests" that players have.

Through a three-phase process, Age of Conan will come closer to having the same server functionality as The Secret World. Servers will be moved to the same physical place, then servers with the same ruleset will be merged, and then cross-server queues and functionality will be implemented. The tradeskill system is getting a massive revamp. Key changes there include the near removal of quests from tradeskill progression. Dragon's Spine and Unchained content is starting to get scheduled, bit by bit, for release.

You can read the full dev letter on the official site.

MassivelyAge of Conan game director talks about server tech, tradeskills, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriajoel-bylosthe-secret-worldunchainedTue, 30 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/choose-my-adventure-extreme-diy-makeover-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Choose My Adventure Extreme DIY makeover edition
Life may be like a box of chocolates, but gaming is like a Do-It-Yourself project. It may not be as mouth-watering an analogy, but it is certainly fitting: MMOs are a giant construction zone where players build their own experiences in a virtual world using tools from the game and their own imagination.

Each project is a unique undertaking, bearing the personal touches of the builder, whether the builder is an individual or a group like a guild. Some players prefer to build a single residence and settle in, while others enjoy moving from project to project, exploring new territory and testing new tools. Me? I tend toward the former; I'm the kind who tinkers around in one place over a long period of time. But all that's about to change. Again.

That's right, folks; it's my turn to break ground on yet another Choose My Adventure! For the next six weeks I am leaving the comfy confines of my familiar surroundings and allowing you to direct my next MMO project. Yes, my dear Massively friends, you will be the foreman of this endeavor, determining every step of the construction, from where I'll build my newest experience to what tools I'll get to use.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive Bylos expounds on the centralized team for AO, AoC, and TSW
By now, most MMO gamers are pretty familiar with the fact that Funcom underwent restructuring. But what does that mean; what exactly did it entail? The term "restructuring" in itself signifies changes but does nothing to actually enlighten folks on what the changes are. Other than the fact that Joel Bylos was named creative director for all three of Funcom's titles -- Age of Conan, Anarchy Online, and The Secret World -- and that the team will be in one centralized in location, we know little of the details.

How many developers survived the restructuring and relocated to remain on the team? Is this move foreshadowing one or more games slipping into maintenance mode? How will the coveted dev attention be divvied up? What does the future hold? Devoid of facts, players are left left wondering about how these changes will impact their favorite games.

While chatting with Joel Bylos in an exclusive interview, I was able to ask some of these very questions.

Continue reading Funcom's Joel Bylos on the centralized TSW, AoC, and AO team

MassivelyFuncom's Joel Bylos on the centralized TSW, AoC, and AO team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playcentralized-temaclassic-mmoconanf2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriainterviewinterviewsJoel-Bylosmassively-exclusiveMassively-exclusive-interviewmassively-exclusive-interviewsmythologyrestructuringsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedThu, 07 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is 'maintenance mode' really a negative?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-really-a-negative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-really-a-negative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-really-a-negative/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Secret World - Gunners
This week's news of Funcom naming Joel Bylos the creative director on all three of its MMORPGs was met with some predictable "maintenance mode!" and "yay, Funcom's failing" rhetoric in our comment section. While neither of these suppositions are based in reality, the former got me to thinking, and what I thought was that "maintenance mode" isn't an automatic negative to me like it appears to be to some folk.

For one thing, I play a ton of MMOs, and for another, I'm not exactly a content locust since it usually takes me several months to max out an avatar (and several more after that to gear him up). I can see why the hurry-up-and-beat-the-endgame crowd would be cross with a title that doesn't add new content every other week, but for me that's not only OK, it's preferable since it means that I might actually see all of the content, finish all of the story arcs, and get some use out of my gear.

Time between content updates also means time that I get to explore, socialize, roleplay, and do all the stuff that MMOs facilitate beyond the basic treadmill. What about you, Massively readers? Is "maintenance mode" a turnoff or does it give you time to catch your breath?

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: Is 'maintenance mode' really a negative? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playclassic-mmoconancontent-locustsdaily-grindf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriamythologyopinionsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlesstdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswunchainedThu, 28 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom's Bylos named creative director on AoC, AO, and TSW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Bylos named Funcom creative director, overseeing TSW, AoC, and AO
Funcom has announced that The Secret World creative director Joel Bylos is now the creator director for all three of the firm's MMORPGs. This includes TSW, Age of Conan, and Anarchy Online. Bylos has penned letters from the game director for TSW and AoC, while AO's Dave "Ilaliya" Williams passes the torch via a forum post.

Bylos' TSW letter talks additional content plans up to and including Issue #12 (the live game currently sits on Issue #5, with #6 scheduled for early March). Bylos has a special place in his heart for AoC stemming from his time as the lead designer on the Rise of the Godslayer expansion, and his initial game director letter reflects on both coming home and the opportunities for expanding Hyboria. He also talks a bit about the pros and cons of having a single production team working on three live titles.

Finally, outgoing AoC producer Craig "Silirrion" Morrison recaps his four years at the helm and hints at a "new opportunity within the MMO world."

[Thanks to David for the tip.]

MassivelyFuncom's Bylos named creative director on AoC, AO, and TSW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playbylos-new-creative-directorclassic-mmoconancraig-morrisonf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriajoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldsilirrionskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedTue, 26 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan pillages Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/age-of-conan-pillages-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/age-of-conan-pillages-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/age-of-conan-pillages-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan pillages Steam
Age of Conan's become the latest title to join Steam's free-to-play library. To celebrate the game's release on the digital distribution platform, Steam is offering a special pack of goodies for 35% off.

The Tortage Survival Pack is currently $6.49 (regularly $9.99) and includes a set of beginner weapons, items to teleport you to your origin city, a DPS-boosting ring, a 20-slot inventory bag, fireworks, 10 XP potions, and a blue snow mammoth mount.

MassivelyAge of Conan pillages Steam originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jukebox Heroes A few of my favorite soundtracks
I could hear some of you thinking in disbelief last week, "If Age of Conan isn't one of your top MMO scores, what is? And just how much am I not sending you a Christmas card this year, you loser?" You were kind enough to just think it and not say it, but I could hear it even so.

As we've mentioned countless times in this column, musical tastes are subjective. What's appealing to you may not be for me and vice-versa. What more is that musical tastes -- and favorites -- are always shifting around. I listen back to the jams that I enjoyed in the '90s and absolutely pity my younger self for such a deficiency in his musical diet.

So I thought that I'd take a week off our normal soundtrack reviews to bring to you my current top six favorite soundtracks. This list comes with the caveat that it's always subject to future changes as I continue to listen through more soundtracks for this column.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: A few of my favorite MMO soundtracks

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: A few of my favorite MMO soundtracks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conananetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchance-thomascomposercomposerseq2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-musicguild-warsguild-wars-2gwharry-mackhistoricalJeff-Kurtenackerjeremy-soulejukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicncsoftopinionpiratespirates-of-the-burning-seaportalusportalus-gamespotbsriders-of-rohanrunes-of-magicsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisegasoesonysony-online-entertainmentsoundtracksoundtracksspiral-knightsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteamswtortelonthree-ringsthree-rings-designturbineturbine-entertainmentvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarcraftwildstarwizardry101world-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/jukebox-heroes-age-of-conans-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/jukebox-heroes-age-of-conans-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/jukebox-heroes-age-of-conans-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes Age of Conan's soundtrack
I'm going to be honest with you: I've been putting off this particular column for months now. I've been dreading it, really. Because what I say next is probably going to turn off a lot of you who seem to worship this score like nothing else I've seen: I only kind of like Age of Conan's soundtrack. It's not really my favorite, nor in my top 10. And I know that this goes really against the feelings for this score that I've seen professed in Jukebox Heroes and elsewhere.

You know what? That's OK. Musical preferences are some of the most subjective things in the world, and we can't be expected to like everything, right? If Age of Conan's soundtrack gets people listening to more MMO (and even video game) scores, then that's a win for our niche-within-a-niche-within-a-niche hobby.

This score (and all of Age of Conan's subsequent music) was composed by Norwegian Knut Avenstroup Haugen. He won several awards for his work on the game, including the International Film Music Critics Association Award for Scoring Excellence. If you're interested in the man, Massively's Jef Reahard did an interview with him back in 2010 that makes for good reading. Otherwise, let's head onward and I'll share my personal favorites from the original game score!

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Age of Conan's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedcomposercomposersconanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgame-musichyboriajukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettiknut-avenstroup-haugenknut-haugenmmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicopinionsoundtracksoundtracksTurbonegrounchainedTue, 05 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom game directors talk relocation, effects on TSW, AoC, and AO development [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Funcom logo
Funcom has published game director letters for all three of its MMOs this morning, and one of the topics on everyone's mind is of course the studio's reorganization. As it turns out, the dev teams for The Secret World, Age of Conan, and Anarchy Online will all be operating out of the company's Raleigh, North Carolina facility which was previously the sole domain of the Funcom customer service team.

TSW's Joel Bylos notes that the move will cause some "development turbulence," and that the game's DLC and update schedule will slow down temporarily as a result. He has more details on both the game's Issue #6 update and veteran rewards in his letter. AoC's Craig Morrison says that the fantasy title isn't going anywhere, although he also acknowledges some staff turnover due to the relocation. He also notes that having the game's dev team and community team in the same building will be a huge benefit. Finally, Anarchy Online's update echoes the first two, but game director Dave "Ilaliya" Williams writes that the engine upgrade, server migration, and new player experience are all still on the table.

[Update]: Funcom has also published an update on the restructuring process on its main website.

[Thanks to David for the tip!]

MassivelyFuncom game directors talk relocation, effects on TSW, AoC, and AO development [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playclassic-mmoconancraig-morrisondave-williamsf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriailaliyajoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldsilirrionskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedFri, 25 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom restructures Montreal branch, keeps games operational]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/funcom-restructures-montreal-branch-keeps-games-operational/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Rumor Funcom closes Montreal branch
Funcom is taking hedge trimmers to its Montreal offices today. Senior Game Designer Tanya Short posted the following this afternoon on her Twitter account: "When your branch shuts down, I guess it's less like being fired and more like honorable discharge. Thanks for going down with the ship! Bye!"

Massively contacted Funcom for an official statement. Director of Communications Erling Ellingsen confirmed layoffs but assured us that Funcom's games will continue on: "We are currently in a restructuring process and the Montreal office is part of that process along with our other branches. This process unfortunately involves a reduction in staff, but the studio is not closing down. It will continue on, but in a different form and function than today. Anarchy Online, as well as The Secret World and Age of Conan, will definitely continue to operate and be an important part of the company's focus going forward." He said that the studio would provide more details when it had finished with the process.

Funcom previously stated that it was restructuring the company to make it more profitable. The Montreal office was established in 2009 and employed 110 people.

MassivelyFuncom restructures Montreal branch, keeps games operational originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playclassic-mmoconanerling-ellingsenf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyborialayoffsmythologyrestructuringsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlesstanya-shortthe-secret-worldtswunchainedThu, 17 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 232: Good grief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/massively-speaking-episode-232-good-grief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/massively-speaking-episode-232-good-grief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/massively-speaking-episode-232-good-grief/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 232 Good grief
As we speak, elite MMO scientists are huddling in secret underground laboratories and developing the next generation of griefing technology. They're mixing the tears of orphans, the ruined underwear of wedgie victims, and seven types of prank phone calls to make the ultimate experience for cyber jackholes. Rumor is... they're close to a breakthrough.

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 232: Good grief

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 232: Good grief originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanblizzardbrantbrianna-roycedust-514eqeveeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingopinionpodcastpodcastingpodcaststerathe-secret-worldtswTue, 15 Jan 2013 10:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 232Massively.com Staff01:09:10podcast<![CDATA[Funcom teases Age of Conan Secrets of the Dragon's Spine trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/new-age-of-conan-secrets-of-the-dragons-spine-trailer-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/new-age-of-conan-secrets-of-the-dragons-spine-trailer-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/new-age-of-conan-secrets-of-the-dragons-spine-trailer-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Secrets of the Dragon's Spine desert
Funcom released Age of Conan's Secrets of the Dragon's Spine content update last week, and the company wants to make sure you haven't forgotten about it already. The friendly reminder comes courtesy of a new trailer that shows off plenty of gorgeous Stygian desert fly-through shots as well as brief glimpses of new mobs and subterranean locales.

The adventure pack is targeted at high-level AoC players and boasts a new dungeon called The Sepulcher of the Wyrm. View the video in its entirety after the cut.

[Source: Funcom press release]

Continue reading Funcom teases Age of Conan Secrets of the Dragon's Spine trailer

MassivelyFuncom teases Age of Conan Secrets of the Dragon's Spine trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriasecrets-of-the-dragons-spinesepulcher-of-the-wyrmunchainedMon, 14 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan launches Dragon's Spine update today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/age-of-conan-launches-dragons-spine-update-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/age-of-conan-launches-dragons-spine-update-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/age-of-conan-launches-dragons-spine-update-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Age of Conan launches Dragon's Spine update today
Age of Conan fans itching for a new content can now explore a whole new area and dive into new quests and storylines as the first part of The Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series launches today. This 4.0 update brings with it not only the new area with its accompanying quests and stories but also a new group instance, Sepulcher of the Wyrm. Named Dragon's Spine, this area is a desert region, found southwest of the ancient city of Pteion has only one small oasis and a network of caves and tunnels in the mountains to break up the vast stretches of sand dunes.

But the content won't stop there; future updates in the series will contain a tradeskill system revamp, more dungeons, a new raid instance, and even a new PvP arena. Players should note that The Secrets of Dragon's Spine content is available to paid premium players only.

MassivelyAge of Conan launches Dragon's Spine update today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.0-updateage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanDragons-Spinef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyborianew-dungeonnew-instanceSepulcher-of-the-WyrmThe-Secrets-of-Dragons-SpineunchainedupdateThu, 10 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Using MMOs to relax and unwind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-soapbox-using-mmos-to-relax-and-unwind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-soapbox-using-mmos-to-relax-and-unwind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-soapbox-using-mmos-to-relax-and-unwind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox title image
Every now and then, everyone needs to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to relax and unwind. The outside world can be loud, and the stresses of work and home life can add up quickly, so it helps to be able to switch off for a while. Some of us find relaxation in sitting down in front of the TV, others in zoning out to their favourite music, and an increasing number of people now wind down with computer games. I've personally found MMOs to be incredibly effective refuges from stress and anxiety, but until now I've never really thought about why that might be.

Any game can provide a few hours of escape from the daily grind, but there's something special about MMOs that seems to make them more comforting places to be. Certainly MMOs are manufactured to give a sense of solid progress as you play, a fairness that the unpredictability of real life often can't deliver, but there has to be more to it. Do the music and ambient sounds in EverQuest II's virtual forests and glens produce the same reaction as walking through a real life wood? Likewise, does EVE Online trick us into slowing down, and is spending time in a virtual world just more appealing than slogging along in the real one?

In this opinion piece, I look at some of the most relaxing areas and activities I've found in MMOs and try to figure out what makes them tick.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Using MMOs to relax and unwind

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Using MMOs to relax and unwind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedasteroidasteroidsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamesconaneqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiiescapismeveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedforestfree-to-playfriendsfuncomguildguildshyboriaminingmusicoakmystoakmyst-forestopinionorgrimmarrantrantsrelaxrelaxationrelaxingsandboxsci-fisoapboxsocialsocial-gamingsoesony-online-entertainmentstressstress-reductionstress-reliefthe-oakmyst-forestthe-soapboxtinabeansunwindwarcraftwind-downworld-of-warcraftwowzenTue, 18 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 229: SexyTime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/massively-speaking-episode-229-sexytime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/massively-speaking-episode-229-sexytime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/massively-speaking-episode-229-sexytime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 229 Blast from the past
December was supposed to be a quiet, tame month, but has turned into a poop-flinging monkey madhouse! Co-hosts Bree and Justin dissect the craziest news from this past week, including a long-dead MMO come back from the grave, a major title going buy-to-play, and winter holidays springing up all over the place.

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:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 229: SexyTime

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 229: SexyTime originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac2age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedagonaocaoc-unchainedasherons-call-2aventurinebrantbrianna-roycebuy-to-playchristmaschristmas-2012conandarkfalldff2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomholidayholiday-2012horrorhumorhyboriajustin-olivettimassively-speakingmythologyopen-pvpopinionpodcastpodcastingpodcastspvpsandboxsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtriontrion-worldstswunchainedTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 229Massively.com Staff01:10:57podcast<![CDATA[Age of Conan gets some lovely new concept art for Dragon's Spine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/age-of-conan-gets-some-lovely-new-concept-art-for-dragons-spine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/age-of-conan-gets-some-lovely-new-concept-art-for-dragons-spine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/age-of-conan-gets-some-lovely-new-concept-art-for-dragons-spine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Age of Conan gets some lovely new concept art for Dragon's Spine
Age of Conan is about to get a heaping helping of new excitement and adventure, thanks to the upcoming Secrets of the Dragon's Spine update. Some of the Dragon's Spine content has already hit the test server and should be joining the live game in the rest of 2012 and early 2013.

To help stir up some excitement for the update, Funcom released four new pieces of concept art on the game's Facebook page. We wouldn't want your clicking finger to get too much of a workout, so we've gone ahead and collected them here for you. Think of it as a special favor to those of you who detest Facebook and all that social media stands for.

Gallery: Age of Conan: Dragon's Spire

[Thanks to barbarous tipster John!]

MassivelyAge of Conan gets some lovely new concept art for Dragon's Spine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedartconanconcept-artdragons-spinef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriapatchpatchessecrets-of-the-dragons-spineunchainedupdateFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan tweaks F2P offerings, all classes and classic dungeons freely available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/age-of-conan-tweaks-f2p-offerings-all-classes-and-classic-dunge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/age-of-conan-tweaks-f2p-offerings-all-classes-and-classic-dunge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/age-of-conan-tweaks-f2p-offerings-all-classes-and-classic-dunge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Angry bearded man with a sword
'Tis the season for Funcom business model tweaks, or so it seems. Hot on the heels of the recent Secret World buy-to-play conversion comes news of significant changes to Age of Conan's free-to-play model. First off, all 12 of the fantasy title's classes are now available to free players. Also, the F2P gold cap has been increased from two to 10.

Still not enough for you? Well, OK, how about all of the pre-80 dungeons in the original Hyborian Adventures game? Instances like the Crow's Nest, Slaughterhouse Cellar, and Xibaluku were previously the domain of subscribers or folks who paid to unlock them, but now anyone and everyone can experience Funcom's considerable dungeon-building chops for no charge.

AoC's Bloody Solstice holiday event is also live with today's patch, the notes for which may be found at the game's official website.

MassivelyAge of Conan tweaks F2P offerings, all classes and classic dungeons freely available originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-f2page-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbloody-solsticeconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaunchainedThu, 13 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom senior designer discusses upcoming workshop for female game designers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/funcom-senior-designer-discusses-upcoming-workshop-for-female-ga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/funcom-senior-designer-discusses-upcoming-workshop-for-female-ga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/funcom-senior-designer-discusses-upcoming-workshop-for-female-ga/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's almost like more people will play games if they aren't made to feel embarassed for doing so! Shocking.
There's been a focus of late on the lack of women in the gaming industry, both what causes the issue and what can be done to correct it. Funcom's Tanya Short, a senior game designer on both Age of Conan and The Secret World, is understandably interested in that discussion, and she's not just talking about it. Short is one of the people behind the upcoming Pixelles Gaming Incubator workshop, and in a recent interview she shares her thoughts on the industry as a whole as well as the upcoming workshop.

Short explains that there's a pervasive line of thinking in modern society that loving games is something reserved for young boys, meaning that women are pushed out of the field from a young age and encouraged to leave it behind. She makes the point that the key is not targeting specific demographics but to simply stop shaming women and excluding them from games and culture. Read the full interview for more on her views on the industry and the genesis of the Pixelles Gaming Incubator.

MassivelyFuncom senior designer discusses upcoming workshop for female game designers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1reasonmentor1reasonwhyage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgender-issueshorrorhyboriamythologypixelles-gaming-incubatorsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedtanya-shortthe-secret-worldtswunchainedupcoming-projectswomen-in-gamingworkshopMon, 03 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's Dragon's Spine content on test servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/age-of-conans-dragons-spine-content-on-test-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/age-of-conans-dragons-spine-content-on-test-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/age-of-conans-dragons-spine-content-on-test-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

aoc monthly dev update
Funcom released its traditional end-of-the-month Age of Conan update over the weekend, and it revealed that the dev team is crunching hard on the Secrets of the Dragon's Spine content update. Executive producer Craig Morrison says that some of the new stuff is starting to appear on the game's test servers, so players are free to poke around provided they can't wait for the official release.

And when, exactly, is that official release?

"It's getting down to the wire now in terms of the release window, so we are currently working hard to bring the first Dragon's Spine updates to the live servers before the holidays. In all honesty it is very tight right now, and as we write this we can't say for certain which side things will fall on," Morrison explains. He also touches on the status of the crafting revamp and post-Dragon's Spine PvP updates, though the nature of the latter is very much up in the air at this point.

MassivelyAge of Conan's Dragon's Spine content on test servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-craftingage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-craftingaoc-unchainedconancraftingcraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriasecrets-of-the-dragons-spinesilirrionunchainedMon, 03 Dec 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-perfect-ten-holiday-shopping-for-the-mmo-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer
With Thanksgiving almost under wraps in the states (Canada got an earlier patch of Thanksgiving because the devs love that country), the starter pistol is about to go off for the busiest shopping season of the year. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and oh-crap-it's-Christmas-Eve-and-only-a-gas-station-is-open are all shopping experiences ahead on the calendar, but perhaps the most challenging experience is that of buying the perfect gift for an MMO gamer.

Sure, you could just phone it in and buy a time card, some cash shop points, a subscription or two, or even a Prima strategy guide if you really hated the person, but a proper MMO gift goes beyond that. For a great gift, you need to put in some effort and actually research the field... or just be lazy and use my following guide. We both know which option you're going to choose.

So while you slowly digest that turkey and moan about having to waddle your butt down to Best Buy at 3:00 a.m., why not allow me to help you with a few shopping suggestions? For this list, I wanted to focus on game-specific merchandise that isn't t-shirts, game cards, or CafePress coffee mugs. I mean, this shirt is the bomb and all, but we can do better!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanetaocaoc-unchainedarenanetbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconanconsoleconsolescovcoxeaelectronic-artseqeq1eveeve-onlineeverquestf2pfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomgameforgegameforge-berlinguild-wars-2gw2humorhyboriainternet-spaceshipslucasartsncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenromrounduprunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortaboreathe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-realmthe-realm-onlinetop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtorunchainedwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update talks new armor, crafting components from PvP loot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-armor-crafting-components-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-armor-crafting-components-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-armor-crafting-components-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan dev update talks new armor, crafting components from PvP loot
Funcom is hard at work on Age of Conan's Secrets of the Dragon's Spine content, and executive producer Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has published his customary monthly development update to bring fans up to speed.

There's a good bit of space devoted to new armor creation (including some nifty concept shots and a blurb about upcoming vanity sets). Morrison also says that the team is on track schedule-wise, but there are no dates to report beyond what we already knew about the first of the Dragon's Spine stuff at the end of 2012.

He does mention an interesting tidbit with regard to the crafting revamp and the different ways to obtain ingredients under the new system. "We mentioned in the stream that some ingredients would drop from player loot. That is indeed the plan, and we want the next sets of PVP items and armor to be gained in part from actual conquests on the battlefield, so an important component of the new system will be that some ingredients required for some of the new PVP items will only come from killing other players."

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks new armor, crafting components from PvP loot originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-craftingaoc-crafting-revampaoc-unchainedconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaunchainedThu, 01 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom may incorporate new Schwarzenegger Conan film elements into AoC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/funcom-may-incorporate-new-schwarzenegger-conan-film-elements-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/funcom-may-incorporate-new-schwarzenegger-conan-film-elements-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/funcom-may-incorporate-new-schwarzenegger-conan-film-elements-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Funcom may incorporate new Schwarzenegger Conan elements into AoC
Remember last year's Conan the Barbarian film reboot starring Khal Drogo? Well, forget all about it, apparently. Universal and Arnold Schwarzenegger are hoping to recapture some of Conan's early movie magic with a reboot of the reboot.

Yep, the Governator is set to play everyone's favorite Cimmerian savage for the first time in 30 years, and ostensibly this latest flick will take its cue from the quick shot of an older Conan atop the Aquilonian throne at the end of 1981's Conan the Barbarian.

Age of Conan executive producer Craig Morrison responded to the announcement by saying that Funcom has a great relationship with license distributor Paradox and so some sort of AoC tie-in could well happen. Funcom's Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack expanded on the ideas and locations presented in last year's Conan film, and the firm also made gear from the picture available in-game.

"It's a little too early to tell what form that [a new movie tie-in] will take, but we will have some great opportunities with this as it all comes together," Morrison wrote on the AoC forums. "We are definitely looking forward to seeing what we will be able to do alongside it. With a 2014 release we will have plenty of time to be working on how to best take advantage of another movie."

[Thanks to Duffy for the tip!]

MassivelyFuncom may incorporate new Schwarzenegger Conan film elements into AoC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanconan-movieconan-movie-rebootcraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriasilirrionunchainedwait-i-thought-aoc-was-failingWed, 31 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PointMMO goes into open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/pointmmo-goes-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/pointmmo-goes-into-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/pointmmo-goes-into-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PointMMO goes into open beta
Despite what the name may have you believe, PointMMO is not a game but a digital distribution service specializing in online RPGs. Today the site announced that it has transitioned into open beta for those looking to test out its system and features.

Currently, PointMMO's library is rather anemic, with its most well-known titles being World of Tanks, Age of Conan, Anarchy Online, and Allods Online. Some of the game pages include mentions of special promotions for signing up through the service, such as an Anarchy Online leets giveaway.

PointMMO claims to offer the fastest way to get into MMOs with its downloader and comes with several social options that are integrated with Twitter and Facebook. The service is currently available only in North America, although the company plans to expand into Europe in 2013.

MassivelyPointMMO goes into open beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedallodsallods-onlineanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedastrum-nivalclassic-mmoconandigital-distributiondigital-distribution-servicef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgala-netgpotatohistoricalhyboriamail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesnot-steampointmmopvpsci-fisteamtanktanksunchainedwarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotFri, 19 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jukebox Heroes: The Secret World's soundtrack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/jukebox-heroes-the-secret-worlds-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/jukebox-heroes-the-secret-worlds-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/09/jukebox-heroes-the-secret-worlds-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Jukebox Heroes The Secret World's soundtrackAs a video game music collector and lover, I am frustrated by how very few MMO soundtracks ever make it to a proper release. Sure, I know it's a niche interest within a niche hobby, but it's still maddening to think of how many great games have no soundtracks out there whatsoever. Considering how going digital with sales makes it so much more easy (and cheap) these days, I say there's no excuse.

So good on Funcom for getting The Secret World's soundtrack out there. Marc Canham (Far Cry 2) and Simon Poole (The Longest Journey) split the composer duty on this one, and it's probably a good thing that there are multiple perspectives on what is a game that marches to the beat of its own drummer. Contemporary, horror, and conspiracy together beg for a much different sound than grandiose fantasy fanfares.

I actually ended up liking this more than Age of Conan's score (blasphemy among some of you, I know). There's still too many atmospheric dread pieces that don't lend themselves to listening on their own, but fortunately, there are enough notable tracks to make up for the rest.

Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: The Secret World's soundtrack

MassivelyJukebox Heroes: The Secret World's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccomposercomposersfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomgame-musichorrorjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettiMarc-Canhammmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicmythologyopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldSimon-Pooleskill-basedsoundtracksoundtracksThe-Longest-Journeythe-secret-worldtswTue, 09 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev letter talks new content, scheduling]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/age-of-conan-dev-letter-talks-new-content-scheduling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/age-of-conan-dev-letter-talks-new-content-scheduling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/28/age-of-conan-dev-letter-talks-new-content-scheduling/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan dev letter lays out update schedule
Age of Conan's monthly dev update is here, and Funcom's Craig Morrison uses the latest installment to talk about the fantasy title's content release schedule.

The near future will bring an update to the Amphitheatre of Karutonia aimed at level 80 players. Tweaks for the Conqueror and Bear Shaman classes should make the cut as well. After that it's on to The Secrets of the Dragon's Spine updates, which Morrison says will release in stages over the end of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. The long-awaited tradeskill update also falls into this release window.

Finally, Funcom is planning to revamp several of AoC's old-world dungeons as well as add a new PvP minigame and a new raid. More updates are in the planning stages, too, but you'll need to head to the official AoC website for more details.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev letter talks new content, scheduling originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-dev-updateaoc-monthly-updateaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriasecrets-of-the-dragons-spineunchainedFri, 28 Sep 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does new content bring you back to an older game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-daily-grind-does-new-content-bring-you-back-to-an-older-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-daily-grind-does-new-content-bring-you-back-to-an-older-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/the-daily-grind-does-new-content-bring-you-back-to-an-older-gam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Dragon's Spine concept art
My Age of Conan playtime has dropped considerably in recent weeks. The blame falls squarely on The Secret World and a spate of single-player games, though Guild Wars 2 is nudging into the picture as well.

News of AoC's Secrets of the Dragon's Spine updates was both interesting and a little bit irritating, then, as there's only so much time in my MMO day. While I'd love to come back and check out the new dungeons, mounts, and an outdoor playfield that is reportedly as expansive as Turan, I'm loathe to trade the fun I'm having in TSW for the old, familiar confines of Hyboria.

What about you, dear readers? Do new content updates compel you to leave your current flame for an older MMORPG?

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: Does new content bring you back to an older game? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconandaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindunchainedThu, 06 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Beware the Bard edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/choose-my-adventure-beware-the-bard-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/choose-my-adventure-beware-the-bard-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/choose-my-adventure-beware-the-bard-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure Beware the Bard edition
All the world's a game, and all the men and women are merely players.

Shakespeare was really onto something there, even if he flubbed a word a bit. Folks who try to deny their participation in games are just fooling themselves! What are games, after all, but progression in a given world? Some people are just so boring that they stick to only one world. We know better, though, don't we? We choose ours from a myriad of options! Or, as in this case, you Choose My Adventure.

I will admit, I have been in the wings, eagerly awaiting my next casting call. Twice now you've sent me on amazing adventures, and I've had a blast! And finally, it's my turn to take the stage again. So what will I star in this time? Will it be a military epic, a space adventure, or a flight of fantasy? My big comeback is in your hands!

Peruse the list below and follow your muse to choose which world I will spotlight for the next six weeks. Just be sure to have your vote in by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday the 9th. And don't forget to stay tuned to the MV Guide over the coming weeks to watch the adventures unfold on Massively TV!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Beware the Bard edition

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Beware the Bard edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedallodsallods-onlineanarchy-onlineanetaoaocaoc-unchainedarenanetastrum-nivalbiowarechoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-mj-guthrieclassic-mmocmaconanconsoleconsolescrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaeden-eternalelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomgagala-netgameforgegameforge-berlinglobal agendagpotatoguild-wars-2gw2hands-onhi-rezhi-rez-studioshistoricalhorrorhyborialord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmmofpsmythologyncsoftopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3pollpollsps3pvppwereaders-choiceromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldShakespeareshooterskill-basedsoesonysony-online-entertainmentspy-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstosubsubscription-feesuperherosuperheroesswtortaboreatanktanksThe-Bardthe-old-republicthe-secret-worldthird-person-shootertortpstswturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedvotevotingwarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotWed, 05 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series
Hyboria's about to get a lot more rowdy, as if that was possible. Funcom announced that it is planning a series of updates for Age of Conan called Secrets of Dragon's Spine, with the first update coming in the next few months. The key focus for this content will be in the titular desert region of the Dragon's Spine, located southwest of Pteion.

These updates will not only introduce a new zone, but also plenty of additional quests, dungeons, challenges, and even a new mount type. Funcom says that the Dragon's Spine will be around the same size as the coast of Ardashir, and will feature a new raid and PvP area. The three dungeons to be introduced are the Coils of Ubah Kan, the Sepulchral of the Wyrm and the Slithering Chaos.

Creative Director Craig Morrison hopes that this announcement gets fans pumped up: "Our version of Hyboria has grown into a vast online world since we launched back in 2008. With the Secrets of Dragon's Spine update, we are moving into an incredibly exciting part of Robert E. Howard's work, and I think both Age of Conan players and fans of Howard's work alike will find a lot to enjoy once they get to explore this new content."

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyAge of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedCoils-of-Ubah-Kanconancraig-morrisondragons-spinedungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriapatchespreviewpvpraidrobert-e-howardsecrets-of-dragons-spinesecrets-of-the-dragons-spineSepulchral-of-the-WyrmSlithering-ChaosunchainedupdatesMon, 03 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Funcom's Morrison on player-driven games, new Age of Conan content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/massively-exclusive-funcoms-morrison-on-player-driven-games-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/massively-exclusive-funcoms-morrison-on-player-driven-games-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/massively-exclusive-funcoms-morrison-on-player-driven-games-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive - Funcom's Morrison on the future, new Age of Conan content
This month's Age of Conan development update had the potential to be quite depressing in light of Funcom's recent layoffs. There's actually a lot of good news, though, as game director Craig Morrison reveals some juicy bits about AoC's upcoming content release plans.

Due to the downsizing, what was once an adventure pack on par with last year's Savage Coast of Turan will now be released in installments over the next few months. The collective title for all the new content is Secrets of the Dragon Spine, and it will take place in various new playfields along the border of Stygia and Keshan. There will be a new raid, a new outdoor playfield (approximately the same size as Turan), several new dungeons, a new mount type, and a new PvP area.

We had the chance to ask Morrison about the new stuff as well as Funcom's future, and he had some interesting things to say regarding player-driven content and the kind of games the company plans to make going forward. Join us after the cut for the full interview.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Funcom's Morrison on player-driven games, new Age of Conan content

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Funcom's Morrison on player-driven games, new Age of Conan content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisoncraig-morrison-interviewexclusivef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriainterviewinterviewsplayer-generated-contentsandboxsecrets-of-the-dragons-spinesilirrionunchaineduser-generated-contentFri, 31 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom layoffs confirmed as temporary [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-layoffs-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom layoffs confirmed
Apparently having suffered a mediocre launch with The Secret World and a severe dip in its stock value, Funcom has announced temporary layoffs to its staff. The layoffs are part of a company-wide cost-cutting strategy in response to TSW's failure to hit expected sales scenarios, which Funcom predicted in a press release earlier this month. The layoffs appear to confirm parts of the anonymous tip we referenced in our Secret World column last Thursday.

Funcom Director of Communications Erling Ellingsen confirmed the layoffs to Gamer.no, stating that operations on Funcom's three MMOs will continue and that The Secret World's revenue model will continue as planned.

Unconfirmed reports put the layoffs at 50% to 60% of the studio's workforce. "We're in the middle of the process and we can not go into more detail now," Ellingsen said. On its Twitter feed, Funcom posted the following: "Thank you for your warm thoughts and support. More information to come soon."

[Update: Funcom has made a new statement to Massively in light of the layoffs, stressing that the layoffs are temporary. "As we announced in the stock notice that went out on August 10th, Funcom is in the process of reducing operational costs and this process includes temporary layoffs as well as other initiatives. As we are currently in the middle of this process we can not provide any further comment at the present time. Rest assured however that we have long-term plans for the company and that we remain fully committed to all of our games. We aim to provide more information soon."]

MassivelyFuncom layoffs confirmed as temporary [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbreakingclassic-mmoconanErling-Ellingsenf2pfactionfantasyfiringfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyborialayofflayoffsmythologypink-slipsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswunchainedTue, 21 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan merging Set, Wiccana servers this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/age-of-conan-merging-set-wiccana-servers-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/age-of-conan-merging-set-wiccana-servers-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/age-of-conan-merging-set-wiccana-servers-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan - Warmonk Monastery boss fight
Server merges are coming to Age of Conan this week, and Funcom has posted a lengthy FAQ on the game's official forums that answers most of the inevitable questions.

For starters, the big day is August 7th. American PvE servers Set and Wiccana will be merged, with the resulting server retaining the Set name. If character name conflicts arise, they will be resolved based on account status (with actives given priority), character level (higher levels get priority), and account age.

Guilds will keep their names but will have their server-of-origin name appended. Guild cities will retain their playfields and spots, with new instances being created when necessary. Battlekeep spots will be cleared, and currently, occupying guilds will see their resources reimbursed. Hit up the AoC forums for further details.

MassivelyAge of Conan merging Set, Wiccana servers this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-server-mergeage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaserver-mergeserver-mergessetunchainedwiccanaMon, 06 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You could probably import more stuff from The Secret World, really. Howard and Lovecraft were contemporaries.
Funcom's focus of late has obviously been on The Secret World, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten about Age of Conan. Quite the opposite, in fact; the success of The Secret World's single server technology means that Age of Conan can start moving to an equivalent server architecture. According to the newest monthly update, the process will probably not be finished until early next year, but it will allow people to freely switch shards to play with friends and enjoy cross-server events.

One of the other updates -- and one that will have far-reaching implications for the game -- regards the current pace of content development and deployment. The development team is considering moving away from large content updates and toward smaller updates at a faster pace. Feedback is being requested from the community on this and other topics, so if you're an Age of Conan stalwart, you should examine the full letter and give the company your opinion.

MassivelyAge of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconandesigner-updatesdevelopmentdevelopment-updatef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomfuture-developmenthyboriamechanical-changessingle-server-technologytechnologyunchainedupdatesTue, 31 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Finding an Age of Conan hidden faction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/the-anvil-of-crom-finding-an-age-of-conan-hidden-faction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/the-anvil-of-crom-finding-an-age-of-conan-hidden-faction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/30/the-anvil-of-crom-finding-an-age-of-conan-hidden-faction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom Finding an Age of Conan hidden faction
A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across an odd quest chain in the Kara Korum portion of Khitai. It was odd because there was no real indication of its existence, at least in terms of the usual NPC exclamation point or any sort of standard MMO visual signal.

How did I find it? That's a long story, the short version of which is that I needed a base texture for some new Anvil of Crom graphics that were in the works. Some of the village buildings in Khitai have this nifty moss-covered stone look to them, and as I zoomed in to get a good screen cap, I saw a funky symbol on the wall. It was clickable, and doing so rewarded me with a pop-up window, a quest called Telltale Signs, and my first brush with one of Age of Conan's hidden factions.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Finding an Age of Conan hidden faction

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Finding an Age of Conan hidden faction originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocaoc-hidden-factionaoc-quest-guideaoc-unchainedconanf2pfaction-guidefantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguideguideshidden-factionshyboriajiang-shijiang-shi-factionkhitaikhitai-faction-guidekhitai-guideopinionquest-guiderise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromunchainedMon, 30 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-single-server-tech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-single-server-tech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-single-server-tech/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech
Something went missing during this month's launch of The Secret World. Do you know what it was? No, snarkonauts, it wasn't "fun." The game is certainly an acquired taste, but it's nonetheless doing pretty well for itself in terms of word-of-mouth and happy early adopters.

No, what was missing was a parade of lengthy launch-week queues (and QQs for that matter). I've been present for every AAA MMO kickoff since Star Wars Galaxies in 2003, and The Secret World marks the first time I've been able to log in when (and where) I wanted to log in on day one.

RIFT, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Aion, Lord of the Rings Online -- all of these were "polished" launches by most accounts, and yet all of them featured horrendous launch queues that often stretched from minutes to hours. Why was The Secret World so different?

Continue reading Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech

MassivelyChaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionsage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedchaos-theoryconanconspiracyconspiracy-thriillercraig-morrisoncustom-communitiescustom-communitydark-days-are-comingdragonf2pfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomfuncom-single-serverhorrorhyboriailluminatimartin-bruusgaardmythologyopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theorysecret-world-single-serversilirrionsingle-serversingle-server-techsingle-server-technologyskill-basedtemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonunchainedThu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/the-anvil-of-crom-three-features-age-of-conan-needs-right-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/the-anvil-of-crom-three-features-age-of-conan-needs-right-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/the-anvil-of-crom-three-features-age-of-conan-needs-right-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Three features Age of Conan needs right now
Well, I'm still dodging buckets of boiling oil and flaming arrows on account of my last column. Before I embark on another bit of shoddy journalism, irresponsible cronyism, and revisionist history -- known colloquially around these parts as an opinion piece -- I'd better take a few moments to clear the Occupy Massively folks off my front lawn.

OK, all set. They're crusading against the man in another comment section, so won't you join me after the cut for a look at some missing (and essential) Age of Conan features?

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Three features Age of Conan needs right now originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-features-aoc-needs-nowage-of-conanage-of-conan-dressing-roomage-of-conan-keybindsage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-featuresaoc-unchainedavatar-dressing-roomconandressing-roomf2pfantasyfeaturedflufffree-to-playfuncomhyboriaoccupyoccupy-massivelyopinionquality-of-lifesocial-armorsocial-clothingthe-anvil-of-cromthree-features-aoc-needs-right-nowunchainedMon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Musings on secrets, subs, and Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/wings-over-atreia-musings-on-secrets-subs-and-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/wings-over-atreia-musings-on-secrets-subs-and-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/02/wings-over-atreia-musings-on-secrets-subs-and-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia
Perhaps it was a specific alignment of the planets. Possibly it was a special convergence of random unrelated events. Or maybe it's just from poking around old haunts while livestreaming, discussing upcoming launches with friends, or reporting on different aspects of games. Whatever the reason, my mind has been been thinking about Aion in relation to other games quite a bit over the last couple of weeks. I have had many occasions to mull over the features and ponder what makes NCsoft's game the place to be in the face of so many other possibilities.

So why Aion? In the face of a major launch and a plethora of free-to-play offerings, why should Daevas choose to remain or begin adventures in the world of Atreia? Well, you could just say different strokes for different folks and all that, but it's more than that. Aion also has a few unique cards stacked in its favor. In all, I say the game has quite a healthy life still ahead of it. Here's why.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Musings on secrets, subs, and Aion

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Musings on secrets, subs, and Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaionaocaoc-unchainedascensioncomparingcomparisonsconanf2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriamythologyncsoftopinionreasons-to-staysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtruly-freetswunchainedwings-over-atreiaMon, 02 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of June 23rd]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-june-23rd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-june-23rd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-june-23rd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
Whoa, what a week! It's possible that this last week of livestreaming was the greatest week of all of time! OK, sure, that's open to interpretation, but it is possible that you might have missed the greatest stream ever and never knew it. Luckily for you, I have collected some of the last week's highlights and assembled them into an easy-to-digest pill. Just to be sure to take them on an empty stomach and rest afterward.

This week we have some Champions Online and EVE Online action with Mike; Star Wars: The Old Republic PvP with Psykopig; and adventures in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, EverQuest II and Age of Conan with MJ. I round it off with a livestream of Divina, a new free-to-play Anime title. Be sure to bookmark our livestream guide so you'll never need to ask "What game is this?" in the chatroom again!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of June 23rd

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of June 23rd originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionBioWareccpchampions-onlinedivinaeve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playftplivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmv-tvmvtvround-uproundupSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesvideovideosSun, 01 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST