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[The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Comparing Age of Conan's free and premium services
As I mentioned last time, I'm currently test-driving the EU servers. As such, my Age of Conan subscription fee is spoken for, and my US server characters are now relegated to free-to-play status. Since I'm still deciding on an EU main (I just rerolled after getting a PoM to 22), I figured I'd use this week's column to take a quick look at my veteran account through the eyes of a free-to-play customer.

When AoC Unchained debuted last summer, I read the account services matrix like everyone else, but to be frank, I didn't pay it much attention because I'd always been a subscriber. In the back of my mind, I figured that anyone who's halfway serious about Age of Conan would want to sub up, and my experiences this weekend have only reinforced that notion.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa-f2paccount-downgradeage-of-conanage-of-conan-account-downgradeage-of-conan-extended-trialage-of-conan-f2p-matrixage-of-conan-free-vs-premiumage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-account-downgradeaoc-advanced-ridingaoc-downgradeaoc-mountsaoc-unchainedaoc-veteran-rewardsbusiness-modelsconandowngradef2pf2p-conversionsf2p-matrixf2tfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-tryfreemiumfreemium-conversionfuncomgodslayerhyboriakhitaikhitai-f2popinionrise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromtrialunchainedMon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-turns-four-taps-swg-for-craftin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-turns-four-taps-swg-for-craftin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-turns-four-taps-swg-for-craftin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Age of Conan turns four, looks to Star Wars Galaxies for inspiration
The last time I did an anniversary retrospective for Age of Conan, we had a recent expansion, some new dungeon content, and several class revamps fresh on our minds. The year before that, we had the earth-shaking combat and itemization changes. This past year, the major development was, of course, the switch to a freemium business model, followed closely by the game's first adventure pack.

Join me after the break for a quick rundown on the last 12 months as they happened in Hyboria, as well as an anniversary interview with game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison that sheds a bit of light on the crafting revamp.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-craftingage-of-conan-star-wars-galaxiesage-of-conan-unchainedanniversaryanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-interviewsanvil-of-crom-specialanvil-of-crom-specialsaocaoc-anniversaryaoc-craftingaoc-interviewaoc-unchainedclassic-mmoconancraftingcraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgalaxieshyboriainterviewinterviewsopinionsandboxsci-fisilirrionsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgothe-anvil-of-cromThu, 17 May 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with The Secret World character creator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/hands-on-with-the-secret-world-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/hands-on-with-the-secret-world-character-creator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/hands-on-with-the-secret-world-character-creator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Image
The real secret to The Secret World is that it's the Matrix (see the above picture from the character creator that resembles Carrie-Anne Moss).

Actually, the first and most important stop for an MMO gamer is the character creator. When you're in beta, it might not be as important because the character will be tossed away in a few short weeks. However, in the live game, this character will not only be the same one you might see for years to come; it's also a reflection of you as a player. There are some players who insist on playing the ugliest races in the game, while others want the prettiest or the strongest. Personally, I lean toward playing female characters. I'm not sure what that says about me.

The creation of our character says so much about us, so it is extremely important that western RPGs and especially MMORPGs allow us to express ourselves. The Secret World's character creator has its good elements and its bad, but the most important part is how much Funcom's version allows us to express our personalities.

Continue reading Hands-on with The Secret World character creator

MassivelyHands-on with The Secret World character creator originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccharacter-creatoreaElectronic-ArtsfantasyfeaturedFirst-Impressionsfuncomhands-onhorrormythologyopinionpreviewpreviewssci-fantasysecret-worldthe-secret-worldtrailertrailerstswvideovideo-previewvideosFri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Four reasons to return to Age of Conan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-anvil-of-crom-four-reasons-to-return-to-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-anvil-of-crom-four-reasons-to-return-to-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-anvil-of-crom-four-reasons-to-return-to-age-of-conan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Reasons to come back to Age of Conan
A couple of weeks ago, one of Massively's more eloquent commenters referred to yours truly as "Funcom's biznitch." Well, OK, biznitch wasn't the exact word, but you get the idea. This bit of nerdrage was amusing for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that I hadn't covered (or played) Age of Conan for nearly five months at the time.

You know what, though? I do like Age of Conan, and I did miss Hyboria.

Sure it's got its issues, omissions, frustrations, and WTF-were-they-thinking design decisions, but it's also got a game world unlike any other in the MMO space. Join me after the cut for a few reasons I came back (as well as a preview of what the future holds for The Anvil of Crom).

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Four reasons to return to Age of Conan

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Four reasons to return to Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-euage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocaoc-euaoc-eu-clientaoc-unchainedconancromcrom-servereu-aoceu-clientf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomguideshow-to-play-aoc-euhyboriaopinionreasons-to-return-to-age-of-conanthe-anvil-of-cromMon, 07 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - newb in Tortage
Age of Conan game director Craig Morrison recently tweeted a frank reply to one of his followers. The reader asked why Funcom doesn't revamp PvP items to make everyone's minigame stats equal, thereby relegating grindtastic PvP gear to the game's vanity armor slots and providing theoretical balance.

Morrison's response: "Not everyone wants a new player and a two-year veteran to be on equal footing. Many want that to count, aside from knowledge."

By "that," Morrison meant time spent playing the game and paying your character dues, as it were. This brings up an interesting debate, since MMOs have a reputation for rewarding geared players over skilled players in both PvP and PvE. What say you, Massively readers? Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisondaily-grindequal-footingf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgear-vs-skillhyboriaopinionsilirrionskill-vs-geartdgthe-daily-grindtime-spent-playingunchainedveterans-vs-newbsThu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev blog outlines stamina changes, multi-spec functionality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/age-of-conan-dev-blog-outlines-stamina-changes-multi-spec-funct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/age-of-conan-dev-blog-outlines-stamina-changes-multi-spec-funct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/age-of-conan-dev-blog-outlines-stamina-changes-multi-spec-funct/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Strom's Keep
Funcom may be gearing up for The Secret World's imminent launch, but the company hasn't abandoned its other Dreamworld-powered MMO. Yes, Age of Conan is still going strong, as it's closing in on its fourth anniversary and pumping out updates on a semi-regular basis.

Today's traditional end-of-the-month development letter focuses on said updates, in particular a few systems changes slated for the near future. Funcom's Craig Morrison gives us an update on extensive changes to AoC's stamina mechanics, which have long been a thorn in the side of PvPers and PvEers engaged in lengthy battles. The new system boasts "a new personal resource that will be used just for sprinting. It is also not observable by other players," the dev blog states. Stamina will now be used exclusively for combos, and caster classes no longer have stamina at all.

Age of Conan is also getting multi-spec functionality with respect to the game's feat system. Switching between specs can be done almost anywhere in the game world (aside from raids and group instances). Look for these changes on the live servers "later in the summer," Funcom says.

Finally, class updates are in the works, beginning with the Tempest of Set and continuing on to the Bear Shaman, the Herald of Xotli, and the Necromancer. There's more too, so head to the official AoC site to read it all.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev blog outlines stamina changes, multi-spec functionality originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-class-revampsaoc-staminaaoc-unchainedclassesconancraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriapress-shift-to-drain-your-staminaunchainedMon, 30 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Age of Conan's score vs. Guild Wars' score]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/leaderboard-age-of-conans-score-vs-guild-wars-score/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/leaderboard-age-of-conans-score-vs-guild-wars-score/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/leaderboard-age-of-conans-score-vs-guild-wars-score/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Leaderboard
Believe it or not, there are actually loads of incredible MMO soundtracks. Oh, I know we all bellyache about the repetitive music and how we turn it off and just listen to speed metal or Justin Bieber while we grind boars, but the scores are often wonderful when removed from infinite looping.

Today we're going to pit two of the greatest MMO soundtracks against each other as they vie for your approval. In the first corner is Age of Conan's score, which was composed by Knut Avenstroup Haugen. It's not only award-winning and famous outside of MMO circles but hauntingly beautiful to listen to as well. In the other corner is Mr. Jeremy Soule's epic Guild Wars soundtrack (we'll lump all four of them together for this poll), which many claim to be just as memorable as the game's visuals.

It's the cream of the audio crop presented for your judgment: Age of Conan's score vs. Guild Wars' score. Give each one a listen and then let us know which you'll vote for after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Age of Conan's score vs. Guild Wars' score

MassivelyLeaderboard: Age of Conan's score vs. Guild Wars' score originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanetaocaoc-unchainedarenanetbattle-royalconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomguild-warsgwhyboriajeremy-souleKnut-Avenstroup-Haugenleaderboardncsoftone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsunchainedversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 23 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Ultimate road trip edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/choose-my-adventure-ultimate-road-trip-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/choose-my-adventure-ultimate-road-trip-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/choose-my-adventure-ultimate-road-trip-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Choose My Adventure
Let's go for another spin!

Just like Mikey of Life cereal fame, I ventured into the realm of Choose My Adventure once before, and I liked it! Grand adventures, camaraderie with readers, exploring the unknown... what more could I ask for? More time, obviously!

It ended all too soon. I was totally revved up and ready to jump right back in, but unfortunately neither pleading nor bribery worked to continue my stint as your plucky puppet (and locking the other staff members in a dark closet didn't pan out either -- they escaped), so I had to park it and wait my turn. It took much too long, but finally my time has come again. *happy dance*

Now the boss may have handed me the keys, but you will be the ones driving. The top is down, and I've got snacks and shades; all that is left to begin our adventure for the next six weeks is to pick which direction to head and floor it. Although a lot of good places have already been visited, there are plenty more to choose from. In the mood for fantasy? Capes? Nebulas? Heavy artillery? Cast your votes by Sunday, April 22nd, 2012, at 11:59 p.m. EDT for your chance to steer me to the world of your choice. Our possible destinations (in no particular order) are...

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Ultimate road trip edition

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Ultimate road trip edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acaeriaaeria-gamesage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedasherons-callchampionschampions-onlinechampschoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriecity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocmacocohconanconsoleconsolescovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeden-eternalf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomfuncomhands-onhistoricalhyboriancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3pollpollsps3pvppwereaders-choicesandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosuperherosuperheroestanktanksturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedvotevotingwarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotWed, 18 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leaderboard

I've noticed that whenever a studio is developing an MMO that features action combat (i.e., faster-paced combat that's more dependent on positioning, reflexes, and mouse usage), it acts as though it's developing the savior of the genre -- even though action combat is nothing new (just ask Dungeons and Dragons Online or Age of Conan). Instead of seeing it as a revolution that will bring us out of the supposed dark ages, I look at it as a different style of play that some prefer while others shun.

Both have their pros and cons. Hotbar combat allows for quick access to a wide variety of skills, levels the playing field for those of us old fogeys who aren't so tight in the reflex department, and focuses more on strategic thinking. However, it's typically slower and not as visceral as many non-MMO video games tend to be. Action combat, on the other hand, is certainly more in-line with its non-MMO contemporaries, with exciting pitched battles at the expense of time to think and a more limited selection of input.

So for today's Leaderboard, we're going to tackle the grand ol' staple of MMOs, hotbar combat, vs. the action combat upstarts. Will reflexes or brains win the day? Cast your vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat

MassivelyLeaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbattle-royalconanddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyborialeaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom Extra: Craig Morrison on new content, crafting, and customizable communities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-craig-morrison-on-new-content-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-craig-morrison-on-new-content-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-anvil-of-crom-extra-craig-morrison-on-new-content-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Spring 2012 Craig Morrison interview
It's been a little while since we've interviewed Age of Conan executive producer Craig Morrison. In the intervening months, Funcom's bloody fantasy MMO has added developers, new content, and fresh ideas at a fairly steady pace.

This week sees the introduction of tier four raiding content in Khitai as well as a lengthy Morrison-authored update letter that provides a roadmap for the rest of 2012. Follow along after the break as we talk raiding, the upcoming crafting revamp, and the community potential (and perils) of Funcom's spiffy new single-server technology.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom Extra: Craig Morrison on new content, crafting, and customizable communities

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom Extra: Craig Morrison on new content, crafting, and customizable communities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-interviewsaocaoc-raidsaoc-server-rulesetsaoc-tier-four-raidsaoc-unchainedcommunityconancraig-morrisoncustom-madecustom-server-rulesetcustomizable-communitydreamworld-single-serverf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaopinionpriest-of-mitrapriest-of-mitra-revampsilirrionsingle-serversingle-server-technologythe-anvil-of-cromFri, 30 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update details free content, spiffy server tech]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-free-content-spiffy-server-tech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-free-content-spiffy-server-tech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-free-content-spiffy-server-tech/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - angry Conan concept art
Hullo Hyboria fans, and welcome to the traditional end-of-the-month update letter recap. What's the update letter, you ask? It's Funcom executive producer Craig Morrison's way of keeping players abreast of development happenings on Age of Conan.

This month there are quite a few interesting tidbits, including a mention of the game's next adventure pack, the crafting update, and of course, the new tier four Khitai raids in and around the Jade Citadel. Also noteworthy is the latest mention of Funcom's single-server tech. You may recall that Morrison mentioned this in 2011 as a way for players to form their own niche communities within the larger server community. Not much has been said about it since, but Funcom's Dreamworld engineers have been working on it behind the scenes to get it ready for its debut in The Secret World.

After that, Morrison says, the tech will make its way into AoC, and chances are you'll have a chance to vote on the implementation. "This will most likely be the main subject of our summer surveys this year given how radically we could change the experience with this technology," Morrison explains. "It is one of those things that could be implemented in a way that you don't even notice, or it could be deployed to make things work in ways that are not typical for MMO games (like potentially allowing players to define their own communities, or even, at the furthest fringes of what's possible, defining their own rulesets!)."

Look for our exclusive interview with Morrison later this afternoon.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update details free content, spiffy server tech originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-dev-updateaoc-tier-four-raidsaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisoncustomizable-communityf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriakhitai-raidsmonthly-dev-updateraidssilirrionsingle-server-technologyunchainedFri, 30 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you pay extra for a filtered community?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-extra-for-a-filtered-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-extra-for-a-filtered-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-extra-for-a-filtered-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - guild city event
Earlier this week we asked if there was a game you'd like to play but for its awful community. The topic got a lot of replies, and the usual MMO suspects turned up in many of the comments. The thread got us to thinking about customizable communities, server rulesets, and creative uses for instancing technology, and though no MMO firm has offered players control over their community experience as of yet, it's certainly doable.

Funcom executive producer Craig Morrison mentioned the possibility in 2011, and for today's Daily Grind, we'd like to know how you'd feel about being able to carve off pieces of a game world specifically for your friends, your guild, or your niche community (roleplayers-only, PvPers-only, etc.). Would you pay extra for dedicated communities or filtering technology?

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: Would you pay extra for a filtered community? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedcommunity-filteringconancraig-morrisondaily-grinddedicated-communityf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaopinionprivate-serversroleplayingroleplaying-instancesroleplaying-serversshardingsilirrionsingle-server-technologytdgthe-daily-grindunchainedThu, 29 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Continue reading Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimactivisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbest-buyblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowser-mmochronicles-of-spellborncloudcloud-streamingconandave-perryddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaea-originearthworm-jimf2pfamilyfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgaikaigaikai-inchyboriaipadkid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrostreaming-mmothe-darknessturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedwalmartwarcraftwbwizard101world-of-warcraftwowyoutubeWed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom gutting Age of Conan's crafting system, starting over]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/funcom-gutting-age-of-conans-crafting-system-starting-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/funcom-gutting-age-of-conans-crafting-system-starting-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/funcom-gutting-age-of-conans-crafting-system-starting-over/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - I have no crafting shots because the current system sucks that bad
Age of Conan's latest development update is here, and producer Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has quite a lot to say about the game's forthcoming crafting revamp. And when we say revamp, we mean revamp. "When we sat down and looked at the system and how we could add depth and improve engagement, it became clear that it was better to start over," Morrison says.

He isn't kidding either, as the new system does away with awkward quest blocks to progression and instead ties your advancement directly to making items and using the relevant skills.

Harvesting nodes will also spawn with more variety (and at more locations), and the much-reviled random NPC attacks that used to happen while harvesting are finally being dropped. Still want more details? Well, material quality will matter, there will be some sort of refining process, and there's an entirely new system for the actual production of an item. There's a lot more to Age of Conan's new crafting system, of course, but we're out of space, so you'll need to head to the official site to check it out.

MassivelyFuncom gutting Age of Conan's crafting system, starting over originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Ten Prisons
Chillin' in the clink. Spending time in stoney lonesome. Thrown into the slammer. Checking in to the big house. Doing (perfect) 10 to life in the hole. Learning the ropes in juvie.

Prison: The only fun thing about it is the slang that people have come up to describe it. And while you may never actually want to spend any time in the crowbar hotel in real life, chances are you've already done so in MMOs. Jails are an ever-popular locale in online gaming, and they almost always deal with an epidemic of escaped -- yet still milling around casually -- prisoners.

So in today's Perfect Ten, we talked to the warden and got you a special glimpse into pixelated pokeys, if only to scare you straight. No more exploits and bots for you, young man or woman!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO prisons

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO prisons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocarkhamarkham-asylumbelsavisbrickstownchampions-onlinecity-of-heroesclinkcocohconanconan-the-barbariandc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeverquestfallen-earthfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xigm-jailgm-prisoniron-towerjailkingman-prisonlistlistsmmo-prisonsperfect-10perfect-tenprisonprisonsstar-wars-the-old-republicstockadesstronghold-prisonswtorthe-iron-towerthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowzigzigguratThu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan prepares to pillage 2012 with basketweaving]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/age-of-conan-prepares-to-pillage-2012-with-basketweaving/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/age-of-conan-prepares-to-pillage-2012-with-basketweaving/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/age-of-conan-prepares-to-pillage-2012-with-basketweaving/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan
The Funcom team is happy with its bone-crunching achievements in Age of Conan last year, but it has moved on to bigger and better conquests. In a new development update, the devs outline their roadmap for 2012 -- and it might not be what you'd expect.

According to the update, the team felt torn between adding more content to the game and going back to rework and tweak systems that needed it: "Our problem there in 2011 was that with so much content to support, the majority of the systems time was consumed by the creation of everything that is needed for the content itself." As a result, the first half of 2012 looks to be light on the content side of things -- although with new tier-four raids, it won't be non-existent.

Instead, the team will be reworking the tradeskill system this summer to make it more involving and complex than the modern "point and click" setup. Other improvements on the way include enlarging bank space, a dual-specification system, class balancing, and single-server development.

Following these projects, the team will shift back into content-creation mode, starting with a new adventure pack for later this year.

MassivelyAge of Conan prepares to pillage 2012 with basketweaving originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012adventure-package-of-conanaoccraftingdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playfuncommonthly-development-updateproducers-letterraidraidstradeskilltradeskill-systemMon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's Craig Morrison talks conquest vs. competition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/age-of-conans-craig-morrison-talks-conquest-vs-competition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/age-of-conans-craig-morrison-talks-conquest-vs-competition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/age-of-conans-craig-morrison-talks-conquest-vs-competition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan concept art
PvP is a naturally contentious subject, particularly when focused on its various flavors in the MMO space. Everyone thinks they know best, and whether they're arguing for a three-faction system, full loot, or open-world objectives, the discussion often devolves into verbal throw-downs every bit as violent as their in-game counterparts.

Age of Conan game director Craig Morrison recently waded into the fray via his personal blog, and he says that defining PvP in an MMO context involves separating the wish for conquest from the wish for competition.

Morrison touches on several interesting aspects of MMO PvP, including a bit of history relating to the arenas and battlegrounds that are usually reviled by hardcore player types. "The needs of accessibility dictated that designers try and find a way to accommodate the appeal of the conquest style of play while also retaining the fairness of the competitive desires of the players," he explains.

Ultimately, Morrison offers a bit of hope for those who prefer open-world conflict. "It's great to finish a great story and storm the castle and beat the bad guy. It is something else altogether to get to keep his castle, and for you to become the bad guy for the next would-be hero to try and conquer," he says.

MassivelyAge of Conan's Craig Morrison talks conquest vs. competition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocarenasbattlegroundscraig-morrisondesignf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgame-designinstanced-pvpopen-world-pvppvpsilirrionWed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you buy an advanced character?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

UO advanced character
For many years, Ultima Online has offered an advanced character microtransaction. Well, the term "microtransaction" may be stretching it -- originally priced at $30 a pop, it's more like a macrotransaction. The advanced character token allows you to boost the skills and stats of a single character according to a preset template. It won't give you a capped Bard, Treasure Hunter, or Animal Tamer overnight, but it will get you a big chunk of the way there. And for skills that are notoriously hard to train .1 by .1 all the way to 100 or 120, advanced character tokens can be a huge boon to players who've been there and done that and just want to skip the early grind.

UO's not alone in this; other games, such as Dark Age of Camelot, allow players to jump past some of the early game on their alts once they've capped a toon and proven they know the ropes of the game. Of course, those games aren't charging for the pleasure. So what do you think: Would you buy an advanced character from a game company? Or do you think you're cheating yourself and those around you by not grinding up the old-fashioned way?

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: Would you buy an advanced character? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-characterage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcamelotclassic-mmoconandaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgrindhyborialord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpvprvrsandboxskill-systemtdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineUltimaOnlineuoMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan opens up the House of Crom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/age-of-conan-opens-up-the-house-of-crom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/age-of-conan-opens-up-the-house-of-crom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/age-of-conan-opens-up-the-house-of-crom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

My house! Okay, technically Crom's house, but he lets me stay here rent-free as long as I clean the gutters.
Whether you've been playing Age of Conan since launch or you just recently jumped on board with its transition to free-to-play, today will give you a reason to be excited. Today marks the launch of the House of Crom update, offering players a chance to explore the eponymous structure that sprawls through two enormous dungeons. But that's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of lore, with the two dungeons giving players two different ways to explore the new content.

One of the two dungeons is an instanced dungeon, but the other one is a social dungeon, allowing multiple groups to explore it at the same time and reap the rewards for braving its perils. Players will be tasked with exploring the structure left by the ancient Atlanteans, hoping to discover the evil that befell this ancient race of people. You can check out the latest screenshots of the update in the gallery below, or you can log in and start exploring the dungeons now.

[Source: Funcom press release]

Gallery: Age of Conan Gallery

MassivelyAge of Conan opens up the House of Crom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan - inside the House of Crom
The House of Crom is basically the Hyborian equivalent of Duke Nukem Forever. It was announced quite a while ago, it was expected long before its actual arrival date, and at long bloody last, it's finally on its way to an Age of Conan server near you.

Thankfully, that's where the similarities end, as the new dungeon is looking quite impressive -- if Funcom's marketing blurbs are anything to go on.

The latest such features a few paragraphs of textual description regarding the Threshold of Divinity and Vile Nativity dungeons (the House of Crom isn't just one dungeon, but rather a massive new area that supports multiple groups and amounts to the largest indoor dungeon that Funcom has created to date). Head to the official AoC website for more info, including screenshots of some of the new armor available throughout the instance.

MassivelyFuncom teases AoC's House of Crom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchaineddungeonsf2pfinallyfree-to-playhouse-of-cromhyboriathe-house-of-cromthreshold-of-divinityvile-nativityWed, 11 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's engine takes center stage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-secret-worlds-engine-takes-center-stage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-secret-worlds-engine-takes-center-stage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-secret-worlds-engine-takes-center-stage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Maybe this will work out okay. Maybe... maybe he just wants a friend.
Unified engines for MMOs have long been a rarity, simply due to the time needed to develop a game and the number of different companies developing separate products. The Secret World manages to buck this trend, using the same core Dreamworld Engine as Funcom's Age of Conan. A recent interview with lead programmer Øystein Eftevaag discusses the way that the engine interacts with the newer game, how the unified engine helps both games, and what special features the game is using in a technical sense.

Eftevaag explains that the Dreamworld Engine benefits chiefly from cross-pollination; improvements made in terms of optimization for Age of Conan can be imported to the engine on The Secret World with minimal extra legwork. The engine also uses a series of dynamic equations to determine what player characters should be able to see, subsequently leaving obscured areas blank to save on processor cycles. It's an interesting look under the hood at the technical side of Funcom's upcoming conspiracy and horror title, even if this particular dream world is tilted toward a nightmare.

MassivelyThe Secret World's engine takes center stage originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocØystein-Eftevaagcodingcore-enginedreamworld-engineenginefuncomgame-enginegame-featuresgraphical-featuresinterviewinterviewsoystein-eftevaagprogrammingthe-secret-worldtswMon, 09 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedchronomagiccodexfantasyfeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playfuncomhyborialorelore-codexopinionquality-of-lifequality-of-life-improvementsthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom tops Oslo stock exchange, invests heavily in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Dude with a big shotgun
Funcom's future is looking pretty bright according to a report at Views and News from Norway. The site says the development firm behind Anarchy Online, Age of Conan, and The Secret World topped the Oslo stock exchange last year and saw its share price rise by 227%.

AoC has "sold well and still generates income for Funcom," says the report, but the real cause for optimism is the positive buzz surrounding The Secret World. Funcom head honcho Trond Arne Aas says that the firm has received "very good feedback" from both testers and journalists, and it's a good thing since the company absorbed a third quarter loss despite its share price increase.

"We're investing heavily in The Secret World now, therefore the loss," Aas explained. "But we're hoping for major income after the launch in April."

MassivelyFuncom tops Oslo stock exchange, invests heavily in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbusinesseconomicsfailcomfantasyfuncomhorrormmo-industrystock-performancethe-secret-worldtrond-arne-aastswMon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Greatest hits vol. 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man banner
By Crom! Can you believe we've made it through another year? Well, almost, at any rate. Technically there are a few days left in 2011, but as I'll be taking some of them off for the purposes of gaining weight and opening presents, it seems like as good a time as any to do a little recapping.

Saying that 2011 was a big year for Age of Conan probably qualifies as severe understatement rather than simply understatement. The big news, of course, was the Unchained free-to-play conversion, but that was really just the tip of the gigantic Hyborian iceberg. Join me after the break for my top seven Anvil of Crom issues from the past year.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Greatest hits vol. 2011

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Greatest hits vol. 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedchristmas-2011conancraig-morrisonf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomholiday-2011hyboriaopinionsilirrionthe-anvil-of-cromyear-in-reviewyear-in-review-2011Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] On the eleventh day of giveaways, Funcom gave to me...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/on-the-eleventh-day-of-giveaways-funcom-gave-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/on-the-eleventh-day-of-giveaways-funcom-gave-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/on-the-eleventh-day-of-giveaways-funcom-gave-to-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan
[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Thanks to everyone who entered!]

On the eleventh day of giveaways, Funcom gave to me... eleven prize packages!
On the tenth day of giveaways, PerfectWorld gave to me... ten grab bag items!
On the ninth day of giveaways, GamersFirst gave to me... nine SWG mementos!
On the eighth day of giveaways, Enjin gave to me... eight guild-wide gifts!
On the seventh day of giveaways, NCsoft gave to me... seven years of memories!
On the sixth day of giveaways, GamersFirst gave to me... six retail packs!
On the fifth day of giveaways, Trion gave to me... five subscription codes!
On the fourth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... four pet items!
On the third day of giveaways, Wargaming.net gave to me... three premium years!
On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... two warring factions!
On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP!

We're almost finished with our 12 Days of Giveaways, but Funcom is making sure we approach the end in style with a series of prize packages guaranteed to excite both Age of Conan and Bloodline Champions fans. We have five gift packs each containing one year of premium account status for Age of Conan, a Bloodline Champions starter edition, and one thousand Funcom points. Five more packages contain a Bloodline Champions starter edition and one thousand Funcom points, while our final prize is a Titan edition of Bloodline Champions.

Ready to enter? Read the contest rules for eligibility, then leave a comment letting us know why you love Funcom's games and should be one of our winners. The deadline is tomorrow, December 24th, at 7:00 p.m. EST, so be sure to enter before then. Good luck!

CONTEST FAQ OFFICIAL RULES

Massively[Updated] On the eleventh day of giveaways, Funcom gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-days-of-giveaways-2011age-of-conanaocbloodline-championscontestcontestsf2pfree-to-playfuncomgiveawaygiveawaysFri, 23 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online
The winter holiday season is well underway, both in and out of game. Many schools, businesses, and communities are preparing to take a little time off to enjoy the holidays, and here at Massively, we want to make sure you don't miss a single in-game party.

We've been rounding up all the details on celebrations happening in our favorite MMOs, combining them into a handy guide. Follow along after the jump for your map to all of the can't-miss MMO winter holiday events for 2011!

Continue reading Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

MassivelyMassively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardage-of-conanaikaaionanarchy-onlineanetaocarenanetblizzardcastle-empirechampions-onlinechristmascity-of-heroesclone-wars-adventurescohcovcoxdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkedendarkeden-onlinedc-universe-onlinedcuodigimon-masters-onlinedragon-nestelswordeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfrogsterfuncomgpotatoguild-warsgwhellgatehellgate-globalholiday-2011holiday-roundupholidays-2011jagged-alliancekingsisleleague-of-legendslolncsoftnexonperfect-world-entertainmentpweriftriot-gamesromrosh-onlinerunes-of-magicshsosoesony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixstar-trek-onlinestosuper-hero-squad-onlinet3funtrionw101warhammer-onlinewindslayer-2wizard101world-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update talks open-world PvP, House of Crom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-open-world-pvp-house-of-crom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-open-world-pvp-house-of-crom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-open-world-pvp-house-of-crom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - inside the House of Crom
Funcom game director Craig Morrison has released his monthly Age of Conan development update a couple of weeks early. Morrison usually closes each month with a summary of where the game has been and where it's going, and the December version is no different save for the mid-month release date.

While there's a lot of info, the most interesting bits concern the projected live date of the long-awaited House of Crom dungeon. Morrison says that the new content will most likely debut on January 11th or 12th, and that the dungeon will be playable on AoC's test shard over the Christmas holidays.

Also new this month is a detailed explanation of the game's upcoming open-world PvP content. When the new feature was first announced, the game's hardcore PvP community unleashed an epic tidal wave of tears due to suppositions about "PVE sheep trying to pass in PVP wolf's clothing," not to mention concerns about a possible rehash of the game's disastrous Shrines of Bori mechanic. Morrison spends several paragraphs of this month's update explaining what Funcom has learned since Bori, and how that knowledge is going to translate into a fun system that isn't exploitable via PvE mechanics. You can read the full update at the official AoC website.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks open-world PvP, House of Crom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedboricraig-morrisondungeonsfuncomgame-mechanicshouse-of-crommonthly-development-updateopen-world-pvppvppvp-world-bossshrines-of-borisilirriontheres-no-crying-in-pvpTue, 13 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/the-anvil-of-crom-the-winter-of-our-discontent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/the-anvil-of-crom-the-winter-of-our-discontent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/the-anvil-of-crom-the-winter-of-our-discontent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man banner
Well, winter isn't just coming, folks -- it's here. And it's not one of those balmy south Florida winters when the temperature rarely drops below 50 degrees. No, this is a blustering Cimmerian winter, complete with hard freezes, winds of change, and dare I say a little Hoth-like chill in the air.

Age of Conan's 3.1 patch rolled out to the live servers a few days ago, and along with all the Dreamworld tweaks, it also brought a decent helping of bugs and general discontent. Join me after the cut for a deeper look.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: The winter of our discontent originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.1-patchanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchaineddiscontentf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaopinionpatchesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-anvil-of-cromthe-old-republictorSun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update talks House of Crom, upcoming content patches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-house-of-crom-upcoming-content-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-house-of-crom-upcoming-content-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-house-of-crom-upcoming-content-pa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Turanian coast
Craig Morrison has posted his latest monthly Age of Conan dev update. Funcom's game director is known for his interaction with fans and for his verbosity when it comes to all things AoC, and this month's letter is no exception.

The lengthy read lays out current and future AoC updates in a linear fashion, beginning with yesterday's 3.1 patch (which Morrison says was slightly delayed and also slightly problematic due to the slew of behind-the-scenes tweaks that were performed on the game's Dreamworld engine). The extra time apparently benefited the upcoming 3.2 patch, though, because it gave Funcom artists even more time to add both beauty and detail to a patch that will add both Khitai raids and the huge House of Crom dungeon instances.

Head to the official AoC website for a look into Morrison's Hyborian crystal ball.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks House of Crom, upcoming content patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccraig-morrisondev-updatedreamworlddreamworld-enginedungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhouse-of-crommonthly-development-updatepatchesproducer-letterraidssilirrionWed, 30 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom releases Age of Conan 3.1 update, Dreamworld tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/funcom-releases-age-of-conan-3-1-update-dreamworld-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/funcom-releases-age-of-conan-3-1-update-dreamworld-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/funcom-releases-age-of-conan-3-1-update-dreamworld-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - Night on the Turan coast
In case you missed it (and we did, since it was 3:00 a.m. and we do occasionally sleep), Funcom posted the latest Age of Conan patch notes on the boards earlier today.

Yep, the 3.1 update is here, and while the bulk of the new code is devoted to Dreamworld engine tweaks, there are also quite a few class-related changes to peruse. Players have also been reporting various issues due to running custom user interfaces, and various fixes and workarounds have also begun showing up in the official 3.1 feedback thread. As always, more info is available at the official AoC website.

MassivelyFuncom releases Age of Conan 3.1 update, Dreamworld tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.13.1-patch3.1-updateage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-3.1aoc-unchainedcustom-uidreamworlddreamworld-enginedreamworld-upgradef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncompatch-notesuiTue, 29 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man banner
What's up, Age of Conan fans? Hopefully all of you had an overindulgent Thanksgiving (I'm picturing clusters of barbarians hunched around roaring campfires, gnawing the blackened meat off the bones of whatever game animal happened to pass by).

For my part, I spent the last couple of days avoiding work, gaining weight, and catching up on recent news from Funcom's Hyboria. I've been a bit distracted with various online shooters lately, but I always find myself coming back to AoC because of its unique fantasy world and rough-and-tumble themepark mechanics. Join me after the break for a few recent tidbits that piqued my interest.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.13.1-patchage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-soundtrackaoc-unchainedcape-of-bottomless-thirstconandrinking-capef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhyboriainterviewknut-avenstroup-haugenknut-haugenmusicnews-roundupopinionroundupsavage-coast-of-turanscoresiegesiege-performancesoundtrackthe-anvil-of-cromxfireSun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man header
Oh sh... it's time for another installment of Massively's Anvil of Crom! If I sound a bit harried, it's because there's simply not enough time in the day for all the gaming goodness going on lately. Whether we're talking about the MMO space where I'm currently dabbling in AoC, DC Universe Online, EverQuest II, and Global Agenda, or the single-player smorgasbords of Arkham City, Uncharted 3, and Skyrim, sometimes it sucks to be an adult with responsibilities!

Those "sometimes" are usually during the pre-Christmas release window when game publishers all get together and decide to make our entertainment lives miserable by releasing 35 badass titles at once. Hello geniuses, how's about we stagger the badassery throughout the year; you'll still be rolling in money and your customers won't be rushing through one title to get to the next.

Anyway, I'm continually on the lookout for interesting tidbits from Funcom's Hyboria, and over the past couple of weeks I've been struck by a noticeable uptick in what I'm going to call the quality community. Since AoC's 2008 launch, the game's community has been alternately awful and tolerable, and whether that's because of the game's mature rating (and the immature people it attracts) or some other factor, it's been a rare occasion when I've had cause to highlight the nice folk.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaltsaocaoc-unchainedbarbiebarbie-the-barbariancommunityculturef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriamad-immortal-manopinionrandom-acts-of-kindnessselflessselfless-gamerSun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom highlights Age of Conan player numbers, offers in-game reward pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/funcom-highlights-age-of-conan-player-numbers-offers-in-game-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/funcom-highlights-age-of-conan-player-numbers-offers-in-game-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/funcom-highlights-age-of-conan-player-numbers-offers-in-game-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Age of Conan - King's Reward pack
DC Universe Online isn't the only MMO crowing about its freemium changeover this week. Age of Conan made the switch last summer and now Funcom is highlighting the fact that more than 600,000 players have tried the Unchained version of the fantasy title since July.

As a token of appreciation, the company is presenting players with a little ditty called the King's Reward pack. Everyone who logs in prior to November 21st can grab the bundle via the special offers tab of the AoC item shop. The pack contains various potions designed to speed your way through Hyboria, but it's also limited to one character per account, so make sure you're on your main when you claim it.

MassivelyFuncom highlights Age of Conan player numbers, offers in-game reward pack originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbusiness-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriakings-reward-packpotion-packpotionsregistered-usersunchainedFri, 11 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten
While 1982's Tron explored what virtual life might be like inside a massive video game, it wasn't until fairly recently that real MMOs have crossed the divide between niche and mainstream to be referenced in television and films. Depending on how you see it, this mainstream acceptance of geek culture can be a thing to be either celebrated or shunned. What's for certain, however, is that we've only started to see the beginning of such mentions.

In today's Perfect Ten, I cobbled together a list of the first 10 MMO references that I know of from movies and TV shows. Some might be nothing more than a background detail or a throwaway line, while others are completely centered around the advertisement, er, massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. I tried hard not to use "cheats" such as fake MMOs featured in shows like The Guild, so this list is all about real-world titles with no sugar substitutes.

Ready? Insert quarter and hit player one!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccity-of-heroescohcsicsi-nyeqeverquestfeaturedgary-sinesegrandmas-boyhow-i-met-your-motherlistlistslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncisopinionperfect-10perfect-tenphilly-jimriftsecond-lifesgwsouth-parkstargate-universestargate-worldsthe-big-bang-theorythe-fellows-hipthe-new-guythe-officethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentronturbineworld-of-warcraftwowzombielandThu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-house-of-crom-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-house-of-crom-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/age-of-conan-dev-update-talks-new-house-of-crom-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - House of Crom concept art
It's time for another month-ending Age of Conan development update, and the October version doesn't disappoint. Craig Morrison gives way to a gaggle of AoC developers who are more than eager to talk about the new House of Crom content coming in the 3.0.2 patch.

The House of Crom is actually composed of two large dungeons. One is a social playfield that supports multiple simultaneous groups while the other is a six-man instance like those found in Khitai. The encounters take place in the bowels of the Eiglophian Mountains and are designed for endgame players. Lore-wise, the dungeon is an ancient Atlantean temple which has recently been unearthed (and defiled) by the Vanir raiders invading northern Cimmeria.

That's all fine and dandy, but what about phat lewtz? "We will be bringing in new Atlantean-themed items. Power-wise, the rewards will be on par with those found in the more difficult instances, and there will be all the regular token and trophy rewards that you would expect to find," says system designer Knut Jagels. The 3.0.2 patch is currently slated for the end of 2011, and you should head to the official website to check out the full dev diary while you wait.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedcraig-morrisondev-blogdev-diarydev-updatedungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgame-mechanicshouse-of-cromhyboriaknut-jagelsmonthly-development-updateMon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom angry man banner
Greetings barbaric faithful, and welcome to another installment of the Anvil of Crom. In between bouts of getting frustrated with the Isle of the Iron Statues dungeon this week (I know, I know, it's sooooo easy, and how bad can I be if I have trouble with it?!), I've been giving a fair amount of thought to Age of Conan's free-to-play experiment.

It's been nearly four months since the devs rolled out the freemium Unchained patch, and that's ample time for me to have formed a few opinions (and to have revised a few others). Join me after the cut for some discussion on what works, what doesn't, and what I hope to see going forward.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedbusiness-modelscommentaryf2pf2p-report-cardfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-tryfreemiumlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-industryopinionthe-anvil-of-cromtrialsturbineunlimited-trialSun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC survive The Old Republic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-survive-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-survive-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-survive-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - The Anvil of Crom banner
Can Age of Conan survive the onrushing BioWare MMO apocalypse?

That's a fair question, and if you've been playing AoC lately, or really any MMORPG, you've probably heard of a competing game called Star Wars: The Old Republic. If you haven't, well, I don't believe you. Anyway, you may or may not be aware that BioWare announced the official launch date for its MMO opus a while back, and barely a day goes by when I don't hear a guildmate, a groupmate, or someone in global chat talk about it.

That's Age of Conan's global chat, in case you were wondering, and as a long-time fan of Funcom's barbaric fantasy MMO, I can't help but be a bit concerned about its future health after December 20th.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC survive The Old Republic?

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Can AoC survive The Old Republic? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedbiowaref2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriaopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-anvil-of-cromthe-old-republicSun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom signs on for Extra Life charity event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/funcom-signs-on-for-extra-life-charity-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/funcom-signs-on-for-extra-life-charity-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/funcom-signs-on-for-extra-life-charity-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Extra Life logo
Trion isn't the only MMO studio ponying up for charity on October 15th. Funcom is also partnering with Extra Life for a bleary-eyed 24-hour gaming marathon designed to raise money and awareness for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Here's how it works: You'll need to register with Extra Life and collect pledges from friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else you come across. Then you can join either the Age of Conan or Anarchy Online in-game event and try to stay awake. What's in it for you? Well, aside from doing the right thing to help a bunch of kids in need, you might win beta access to The Secret World. While you're at it, don't forget to follow Massively's own Beau Hindman (and donate as much as you're able) as he embarks on his own Extra Life marathon.

MassivelyFuncom signs on for Extra Life charity event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24-hour-gaming-marathonage-of-conananarchy-onlineaoaoccharitychildrens-miracle-networkdonationsextra-lifefuncomreal-world-eventsWed, 12 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: AA resets, tradeskills, and hardcore PvP stagnation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/the-anvil-of-crom-aa-resets-tradeskills-and-hardcore-pvp-stag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/the-anvil-of-crom-aa-resets-tradeskills-and-hardcore-pvp-stag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/09/the-anvil-of-crom-aa-resets-tradeskills-and-hardcore-pvp-stag/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom banner - angry man with a sword
Welcome back to the Anvil of Crom, dear readers. After the content explosion of the past couple of months, it seems almost strange to be relatively relaxed when it comes to Age of Conan. I'd gotten so used to scrambling around re-writing columns at the last minute -- and polishing up interviews and impression pieces -- that I had almost forgotten what it feels like to settle into a comfortable gameplay groove.

In looking around for interesting topics this week, I realized that it's been quite some time since I turned the column over to the community. So without further ado, join me after the cut to see what's on the minds of Hyborians at home and abroad as we power through the week's hot topics.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: AA resets, tradeskills, and hardcore PvP stagnation

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: AA resets, tradeskills, and hardcore PvP stagnation originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aa-resetaa-resetsage-of-conanage-of-conan-hot-topicsage-of-conan-unchainedalternate-advancementalternate-advancement-resetanvil-of-cromaocaoc-hot-topicsaoc-unchainedcommunity-roundupcommunity-updatecraftingcrafting-revampcraig-morrisondeathwishf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhot-topicsopen-world-pvpopinionpopulationpvp-objectivespvp-serversragesilirrionthe-anvil-of-cromtradeskill-revampSun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST