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Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play

Elisabeth Cardy — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Business models, Interviews, News items, MMORTS, Age of Empires Online

Gas Powered Games is aiming to take Age of Empires Online out of DLC-supported free-to-play and into a truly free model. That means moving away from what Systems Design Lead Eric Williamson described as "more of a free to try" model and implementing a system through which players can earn points to unlock anything that could be more quickly bought with money. In anticipation of this change, PC Gamer sat down with Williamson and Design Lead Steve Bauman for a chat about some of the philosophy behind the change.

Williams said that their hope is that people who were previously turned off by the imperative that they spend money for full in-game advantage will be willing to give it another go. Players will now be able to earn enough points to unlock a premium civilization in "as short as two or three weeks of daily play," so those who spend the most time in-game will reap the greatest reward. Empire points, the purchase resource that will be gained by either money or in-game achievement, will be earned by players as they complete specific campaign quests, level up, and participate in Alliance Contests.

Age of Empires developers talk about free-to-try and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Launches, Free-to-play, Mobile

The tortured souls of the underworld Apple users have twiddled their thumbs and sharpened their canines for over a month now, a month that Android and Chrome users have played Dark Legends to their hearts' content. After that long wait, iOS owners can stop penning brooding poetry on Livejournal and start playing the game proper: Spacetime Studios has released Dark Legends on the App Store.

Apple users can now joining the 500,000-plus Dark Legends community by simply downloading the game from the store and getting their vamp on. Edward-wannabes have a daunting task in front of them, however, as all of the darker fantasy forces are out to be a serious pain in their neck.

Dark Legends follows in the wake of Spacetime's enormously popular Pocket Legends and Star Legends. It's available as a free download with optional in-app purchases and can be played over wifi, edge, 3G, and 4G networks.

Our own Beau is livestreaming Dark Legends today on Massively TV, so be sure to see what he thinks of the game!

[Source: Spacetime Studios press release]

Dark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the veteran of Kesmai

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews, Humor, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

Aaand we're back! Did you miss me? No? Not even a little bit? Aww, you know how to make me feel all kinds of appreciated!

Even though it's been quite some time since we finished up our two-part series on the Kesmai company and its incredible (and little-remembered) role in powering up the MMO genre, I wanted to return to take the topic for one last spin. A fellow blogger, Wilhelm "The Ancient Gaming Noob" Arcturus, backs his nickname up by providing memories and stories from gaming eras well before many Massively readers' time. Since he actually played several Kesmai titles back in the day and lived to tell the tale, I wanted to pick his brain before we moved on to other titles.

So join me in welcoming Wilhelm and his magical clockwork nostalgia retrieval system!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the veteran of Kesmai

The Game Archaeologist and the veteran of Kesmai originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

Beau Hindman — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

I have a smartphone that is pretty much filled to the brim with actual, functional, persistent MMORPGs. Some of them are three-dimensional romps through massive worlds filled with dungeons and dragons; others are representational browser-based games that work through the phone's native browser; and the rest are hardly nothing more than a few dots on the screen and impressionistic gameplay.

Still, they are MMOs. I love having access to them, and over the last year I have actually grown to love simple, clever design and basic artwork over almost anything else. Forget Guild Wars 2; we'll hear enough about that to make us choke. Sure, it might be a fun game, but I'm a tech guy from the Bizarro universe. I prefer to see how little tech I need to game with. I want to push the limits even lower.

Anyway, it's springtime here in Texas, so it's time to clean out all sorts of crap from my life. I organize all of my hundreds of songs, films, movies and art pieces and get my digital life in order as well. This process includes tweaking my current line-up of basic technology and downloading any updates for the games that exist on those devices. It's time to cull the weak and glorify the wonderful.

Continue reading MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks iOS app rolls off the factory line

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, War, Free-to-play, Mobile, World of Tanks

Wargaming.net is making it easier than ever to stay in touch with your friends and goals in World of Tanks, as the studio released its first mobile app that's integrated with the online game. Called World of Tanks Assistant, this free app can be found in the iTunes Store, although an Android version is coming soon.

The World of Tanks Assistant is designed to give players access to in-game information while they're on the go. Players can access their profiles, read up on the latest news, check out combat stats and global ratings, and stay in touch with friends.

Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi hopes that this will be a useful tool for WoT fans: "What I like about the Assistant most is its convenience. Even if you're away from your computer, there's always an app at hand that will give you everything you need to know at any given time."

World of Tanks iOS app rolls off the factory line originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reports of EverQuest Mac dying have been greatly exaggerated

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Mac

Nothing gold can stay, it seems. EverQuest on the Macintosh, affectionately dubbed EQMac, was announced as facing a shutdown in wake of the game's impending free-to-play transition. John Smedley confirmed this, players mourned, and our own stalwart Game Archaeologist lamented its passing. And so, as the game approaches its final month, Smedley has... apparently rescinded the entire thing via a late-night Twitter post that has taken the entire EQMac community by surprise.

Yes, there is apparently both a Santa Claus and a Tooth Fairy, because John Smedley has stated that not only are the EQMac fans "a wonderful group of players," the game will be left running. Better yet, it will continue to run as-is and with no subscription fees. If you're part of the fanbase, no, you don't need to pinch yourself, this is actually a thing that is happening. Further details are to be announced soon, but just the facts alone should make fans very happy.

Reports of EverQuest Mac dying have been greatly exaggerated originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Mac, Humor, Miscellaneous

War. War never changes... the platform war, that is. But even those of us who game from the comfort of decked-out PCs can feel sorry for our Mac brethren when one of the Apple MMO offerings, already in short supply, goes dark. That's exactly what's happening to the Mac version of classic EverQuest: SOE is sunsetting the single Mac server due to low population and ancient code. Apple gamers must get a PC or sample one of the other Mac-friendly MMOs like Warhammer Online, Fallen Earth, Ryzom, or Free Realms.

So today we ask: Do you play MMOs on a Mac, and if so, which games? And is it really as bad as PC-loyalists like to think?

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!

The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Culture, Events, in-game

While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monkey Quest goes portable

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Kids

If you or your children are fond of Nickelodeon's Monkey Quest, you may have run into the unavoidable problem that the game requires you to be home. Like many other games, however, Monkey Quest is hopping on the mobile bandwagon with Monkey Quest: Thunderbow. Available now for the iPhone and iPad, the game stars a specific monkey from the world of Ook, the eponymous Thunderbow, as he seeks to dethrone the evil cat king Zotan.

Gameplay is managed in a similar style as the popular Angry Birds games, with the caveat being that Angry Birds doesn't allow you to earn special items and equipment for use in the main Monkey Quest game. Regular updates are planned for the game to help keep players engaged and interested as Thunderbow continues his quest. So if you've got one of the portable devices and your child can't get enough monkey business, it's worth a look.

[Source: Nickelodeon press release]

Monkey Quest goes portable originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Free-to-play, Mobile

It's been a long time winding its way through the Apple approving process, but Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles is now available for iOS devices. The game, which is free with optional microtransaction purchases, is a universal app, so it will play on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

Apple users have had to wait significantly longer to get their hands on Star Legends than Android players, as the Android version was released much earlier this month. Spacetime Studios promises gamers that a "majority" of the content of the game is completely free-to-play, and characters can reach the level cap without having to pay a dime.

If you're interested in our impressions of this sci-fi blastathon, check out our Rise and Shiny Recap of Star Legends!

Gallery: Star Legends

Apple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, PvP, Shadowbane, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist

Way back when I used to haunt the corridors of Gamestop and not shun the place due to its stinky evil, I remember being enticed with these fancy-pantsy "MMORPG" boxes when I'd see them on the shelf. I must have picked up Shadowbane a dozen or so times to check out the blurbs on the back, mentally weighing whether or not this would be the one to introduce me to online gaming, but ultimately it was not to be.

It's probably for the best, considering that Shadowbane was primarily PvP and I'm a PvE guy at heart. Plus, the title never really took off the way that publisher Ubisoft had hoped, spending most of its six years of operation lurking in the background of the MMO industry instead of sharing the spotlight.

But still, six years! That's far longer than any of the titles we've been talking about these past couple months, and considering that Shadowbane won last week's poll to become this month's topic, there are obviously strong feelings lurking among you. What did Shadowbane try to do differently, how did it stay alive as long as it did, and what was its downfall? Hit the jump to find out!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights

The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ryzom now available on Apple Store

Matt Daniel — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Ryzom, News items, Free-to-play

Good news for all citizens of Atys and Mac users! Fresh on the heels of Ryzom's recent port to Linux, Winch Gate has just announced that its open source MMO is now available in the Apple Store. Boasting the title of "the first and only MMORPG available in the Mac Apple Store," Ryzom recently went free-to-play, allowing players to progress to skill level 125 without paying a single red cent. And now you can do that on a Mac, too!

If you're in the market for a unique MMO with a strong emphasis on open-ended leveling, story, and even roleplaying but just couldn't find one that would cooperate with your fancy Mac, now's your chance to get your feet wet with Ryzom without even opening your wallet!

Ryzom now available on Apple Store originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Mobile

We took a brief look at Order & Chaos Online last month courtesy of a trailer on the game's Facebook page. Now, it looks as if the mobile World of Warcraft knockoff could be coming to an iOS device near you in the very near future.

Touch Arcade is reporting that Gameloft has released the pocket MMORPG to the Canadian App Store, a move the publication says is "standard operating procedure for a wide-scale beta of sorts." Apparently other mobile dev outfits have used the Canadian market as a barometer both for how their games will be received and as a testbed for necessary tweaks.

Gameloft has set Order & Chaos' price point at $6.99, which includes three months' worth of subscription time. You read that right: It's a sub-based mobile game, with single-month rates of $.99 while three-month and six-month packages go for $1.99 and $2.99 respectively. Head to Touch Arcade for more details.

[Update: The game is now available in the U.S. market as well!]

Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Conquer Online coming to the Mac on May 3rd

Jef Reahard — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Mac

Mac MMORPGs have come a long way. Titles as wide-ranging as World of Warcraft, Fallen Earth, and Free Realms now boast their own native clients, and Conquer Online is set to join the ranks of OS X-flavored MMOs on May 3rd.

TQ Digital has just announced the creation of a new Conquer Online server (dubbed Garden of Eden) exclusively for Mac users. The free-to-play title originally launched way back in 2003 and sports a 2.5D game world set in ancient China. The Mac version of the game is undergoing beta testing through April 26th, and you can download the beta client via a number of sources including FTP and bit torrent. Mac beta testers will be kitted out with equipment, skills, and necessary in-game items according to a TQ press release, and you can learn more at the official Conquer Online website.

Conquer Online coming to the Mac on May 3rd originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yslandia hits player milestone, goes free-to-play

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, Free-to-play

As mobile MMOs are taking off in popularity, Yslandia is proving that a smaller platform doesn't necessarily mean a smaller playerbase. The pocket-sized MMO just announced its 100,000th player, and to celebrate the milestone, Moving Player is making the game free-to-play with in-game store purchases.

Since its release last fall, Yslandia has grown to include four island zones, 300 quests, and 18 classes. Players on iOS devices can log in and play solo or with friends across this cute world. The game has a customizable UI and features spirited PvP battles as players wage war for territory.

Previously, Yslandia was a $0.99 purchase from the Apple App Store. Check out what our own Beau Hindman had to say about this title in a recent edition of Free for All!

Yslandia hits player milestone, goes free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2011: Checking in with UTV True Games

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Video, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage, Mytheon, Faxion Online

Casual, colorful and comical: That's the effort that UTV True Games is putting into its growing portfolio of MMOs. From Faxion Online to Mytheon, UTV has quite a few things cooking on the stove, and we happily taste-tested new visuals and info from this year's Games Developer Conference.

First up was the PvP-centric Faxion, pitting the good-smelling forces of Heaven against the sulfur-sprayed armies of Hell. Faxion is currently prepping for its second closed beta test, and we've been intrigued by what we've seen so far. The devs released 10 new images for the game, which you can see below:

Gallery: Faxion Online

For more previews of UTV's Mytheon, Sky Legends and Planet Crashers, hit the jump and pray you have a chute!

Continue reading GDC 2011: Checking in with UTV True Games

GDC 2011: Checking in with UTV True Games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life competitor Blue Mars drops PC development for Apple's iOS

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Blue Mars, Virtual worlds, Miscellaneous

If you were hoping that Blue Mars was going to rise to directly challenge Second Life's virtual world dominance, you may be in for disappointment today. In a letter to Avatar Reality's fans, CEO Jim Sink announced that the company is restructuring and dropping Blue Mars' PC development to focus solely on Apple's iOS. As a result, Blue Mars is now Blue Mars Mobile.

"With over 50 million new tablet devices projected to reach consumers this year along with tens of millions of iPhones and iPod Touch devices, the market for Blue Mars Mobile is a massive opportunity for our company and our customers. We already have a functioning alpha in house and we aim to release the first builds of Blue Mars on iOS next month," Sink said. Sink also announced that a number of Avatar Reality employees, including himself, have been let go from the company.

Unfortunately for PC users, Avatar Reality is limiting development to mere bug fixes for the forseeable future. While the company will not charge users of the PC client, there will also be no technical support for the user client.

Second Life competitor Blue Mars drops PC development for Apple's iOS originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEGA's Kingdom Conquest hits iPhone and iPod Touch

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, War, Free-to-play

Game studios have been eying Apple's pocket prodigies as a platform for MMOs for some time now, so it's no surprise that SEGA has stepped up to deliver its own hybrid strategy/RPG MMO in hopes of gaining a foothold on this market. It's called Kingdom Conquest and should feel familiar enough to both the MMO dungeon crawling crowd and the Facebook strategy app fans.

Kingdom Conquest is split into two modes that work in synergy with each other. In the kingdom building mode, players will construct a city from the ground up, form alliances with other players, build armies and wage war to control territory. This is augmented by the action mode, in which anywhere from one to four players may group to tackle dungeons, which not rewards them with not only armor and weapons but items to use in their cities.

While it bills itself as a free-to-play title (and it is certainly free to download), Kingdom Conquest makes no bones about its reliance on microtransactions. Players looking to create an edge for their city and alliance can spend real money on buffs and shorter building queues to boost their progress ahead.

If you want to check it out, it's one quick trip to the iTunes App store away!

SEGA's Kingdom Conquest hits iPhone and iPod Touch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms now available for your Mac

Jef Reahard — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Mac, Free Realms, Kids, Family

Mac users rejoice, you've got another option when it comes to MMORPGs thanks to SOE and Free Realms. While OS X fans have seen their list of available titles grow in recent years, AAA games are still fairly scarce, with World of Warcraft, EverQuest, and Fallen Earth being a few of the more notable exceptions.

Free Realms isn't dumping you on a Mac-segregated server either, but rather the same shards inhabited by the free-to-play title's PC users. With fourteen million registered players, you're bound to find someone to hang out with, so head over to the official website to download the client and get started.

Free Realms features a large virtual world, customizable avatars, and a huge variety of minigames designed to provided hours of safe online entertainment for kids and whole families. Check out Massively's in-depth look at the game for more information.

Free Realms now available for your Mac originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What are your MMO Halloween plans?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

When you think about it, MMOs and Halloween go together like Sonny and Cher. Wait, let's come up with a more contemporary reference -- like Laurel and Hardy. Crud, that's even less contemporary. Do kids still do the iPods these days? MMOs and Halloween go together like Apple and DRM. The point is, they go together. Let us progress to the next paragraph and pretend like this one never happened.

Halloween is all about engaging in fantasy, flirting with the dark side, dressing up in fantastical outfits, and getting sweet, sweet candy from complete strangers. This makes it a close cousin of your typical MMO experience, which is perhaps why MMOs tend to go bananas around October 31st with in-game holidays, decorations and costumes for your costumes.

Assuming that your preferred MMO is throwing a Halloween holiday, will you be a willing and eager participant this Sunday? Is your guild planning a spooky bash and costume gala? Or are you planning a self-guided tour through the more terrifying locales with a group of friends-slash-victims? What are your MMO Halloween plans?

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!

The Daily Grind: What are your MMO Halloween plans? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth Mac beta updates

Jef Reahard — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

Heads up, all you Apple-obsessed wastelanders! Icarus has updated their OS X Fallen Earth beta client, and they want you to take it for a spin. Notable fixes for this version include a Wine core update to 1.2RC2 (which includes a lengthy list of technical optimizations), and a tweak for the updater executable file which corrects the "initiating download sequence" error that has hamstrung some testers.

If you're already using the Fallen Earth Mac Beta client, you can update by downloading new versions of the FallenEarth.app file as well as the FEUpdaterMac.exe file.

You can also peruse the Mac Beta FAQ on the official site, as well as pick up the new 500 MB download that includes the latest Wine binary and Mac updater. Additionally, you can check out the original press release and accompanying forum post.

Fallen Earth Mac beta updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone

Jef Reahard — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual

Com2uS has released IMO: The World of Magic, a new MMORPG exclusively for Apple's iPhone platform and available now in the App Store. IMO players can select from one of three traditional high fantasy classes (Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard) and explore the far reaches of the Lanos Kingdom or the Sirus Empire.

IMO mixes traditional RPG strategy with modern social networking niceties, and is one of the few iPhone titles that offers fully functional live network play with thousands of simultaneous participants. The game features four-member groups, guilds, multiple chat modes, and PvP arenas.

IMO is free to play, but does offer In-App purchases. That said, Com2uS has taken pains to avoid introducing game-breaking items into the cash shop. As an example players can purchase a summon scroll to teleport a friend to their immediate location, but the item doesn't provide any competitive advantages. If you've never played a mobile MMORPG before, you can check out the gameplay trailer after the jump to get a taste of what's in store. Also be sure and have a gander at the screenshot gallery below.

Gallery: IMO: The World of Magic (iPhone)

Continue reading IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone

IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, Mac

While there have been many attempts at reproducing the MMORPG experience on Apple's incredibly popular iPhone and iTouch devices, the limitations in technology and connection speed have kept these applications from hitting the big time. Spacetime Studios hopes to change all that, as they just revealed a new MMO for the app store: Pocket Legends.

Boasting 3D graphics, three classes and accessibility across iPhone, iTouch and iPad devices, Pocket Legends might be considered an "MMO-lite," but it still contains all the necessary ingredients. Players can choose from one of three anthropomorphic animal classes -- a cat sorceress, a bird archer, and a bear tank -- and head off for a career full of dungeon running, chest looting, and stat leveling. Grouping is also possible (and encouraged!), with thousands of players connecting over a server. Spacetime promises that players can not only play Pocket Legends on almost all of Apple's portable devices (except the first edition of the iPhone), but the game can be accessed via WiFi, 3G and even EDGE networks.

Continue reading Spacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store

Spacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth gets a Mac client

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:12:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, MMO industry, News items

Perhaps you've watched Shawn's recent Fallen Earth exploits in Choose My Adventure, or heard all about the post-apocalyptic fun on Massively Speaking. Well, the team at Icarus Studios have heard the call from the Apple-loving contingent for a client of their own -- and have just announced that they have a beta Mac-compatible client ready for you to download and try out!

The new client is made possible thanks to the open-source project, Wine, which helps to create cross-compatibility for different platforms. The Fallen Earth Mac beta client works on Intel Macs, and is optimized for systems running under OS X 10.5 Leopard or later that have dedicated graphics hardware. No word on a Linux client at this time, but a connection with Wine is certainly a very positive first step if they do choose to open up further cross-compatibility to Linux users in the future.

"The Mac OS X compatibility project is something we've been excited to see implemented for quite a while," said Brad Lineberger, Chief Technical Officer of Icarus Studios. "Our goal for the project is to allow Mac users to run all of our existing and future games in their native OS." All you have to do if you'd like to get in on the Mac beta is to head over to the Fallen Earth site and check out their beta FAQ page. Of course, you have to have an active Fallen Earth account, or sign up for a 10-day trial first, but for post-apocalyptic loving Mac fans, this is certainly some great news.

Fallen Earth gets a Mac client originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Virtual Whirl: News of the Whirl

Tateru Nino — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Opinion, The Virtual Whirl

This week, in The Virtual Whirl, we're having our monthly roundup of news items. Things that got missed, things that didn't make the cut, things that got buried under the Star Trek Online launch, and things that really should have gotten your attention anyway.

Continue reading The Virtual Whirl: News of the Whirl

The Virtual Whirl: News of the Whirl originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs?

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Opinion

If you consider yourself any type of technophile at all, you're probably well aware of Apple's announcement yesterday regarding their new iPad. This is basically the love child of an iPod Touch and a tablet PC, allowing users to take a fairly powerful slab of computing power with them wherever they go. While it might not be as beefy as your desktop machine or even a mid-range laptop, it has caused a giant wave of interest from consumers. So how does this affect us, as MMO gamers? We're glad you asked!

Interestingly enough, Apple wanted to make sure that some gaming press were there for this huge unveiling of their new product. Our sister site Joystiq made an appearance for the in-person announcement in San Francisco yesterday and made some interesting observations about the role that gaming will play with the iPad. So follow along after the break as we explore the many possibilities that the iPad has as a next-gen mobile online gaming device that may or may not interest us.

Continue reading Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs?

Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online announces iPhone app: Champions Companion

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Champions Online

It seems like these past two days have been "everyone gets an iPhone app" days. Developers, we love you, but did you all have to release your apps at the same time?

Anyway, back to the original point, Champions Online is on your iPhone. Thanks to the Champions Companion app, you can take CO wherever you go. Much more than a simple "armory" application that lets you look at your character's stats and show your hero off to friends, the Companion lets you view the in-game news, view your friends list and friend activity streams, and even send and receive in-game e-mails. Companion is free for all account holders, so jump over to the iTunes store and grab yourself the app today.

So, next time you're out at the mall and your best friend logs into Champions, you can shoot them an e-mail while you're sitting in front of the Express and waiting for your girlfriend. Be super, wherever you go.

Champions Online announces iPhone app: Champions Companion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today

Kyle Horner — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Free-to-play, Crime, CrimeCraft

Yes, bowling puns. We know not everyone appreciates a good cheesy joke, but today's a seemingly auspicious day for MMO iPhone and Facebook apps. It's hard to imagine what self respecting game doesn't have a tiny socially-networked counterpart. You can consume details on Kingpin over on its official page, although if you've played any of these "build a gang" type games before you probably know what's in store.

If you're wondering just why you should check out this app -- aside from the fact that it's shiny and new -- then be aware that the first 50 players to hit max level in Kingpin will earn a CrimeCraft AUG that offers an experience and a money bonus. Also in the wings are a limited number of CrimeCraft gold bar packages, the Valley Forge Federalist, an assault rifle with five "slots" and a five slot submachine gun, the R-Sys Smilodon.

CrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online, now with 100% more Mac support

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Warhammer Online, News items

There have been some big changes in Warhammer Online of late -- that's undeniable. But the game is pressing steadily onward, making a major change that oddly hasn't altered a single element of the gameplay. No, this change is entirely targeted at the players, as the game has now launched the Macintosh version of its client. They've been hinting at it and talking about it for quite some time, but it has gone live and is available, complete with full support for the game's free trial for any Mac gamers still on the fence regarding whether or not they want to dive in.

Certainly there's been some discussion among the game's community about whether or not the Mac client has been necessary or even desirable, with the common statement being "well, everyone can just run Boot Camp for it." But there's no doubt that a native solution is better than a workaround, and it makes the game more appealing to people who would prefer not to fuss around with Boot Camp. Take a look at the official question-and-answer page to see the details about the new client, or if you'd rather be a malcontent, start demanding Warhammer Online for Linux next.

Warhammer Online, now with 100% more Mac support originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What MMOs would you like to see on the Mac?

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, The Daily Grind

With yesterday's official word on Warhammer Online coming to the Mac, the age-old Mac vs. PC debates are rising to the surface again, yet you can't deny the fact that this can only be good for the game. Of course it's not forcing PC WAR fans to go out and buy a Mac, it's simply allowing Mac users that option to play more games.

So if you are a Mac user, and you're excited about this news enough to resub to WAR, we're curious about the other possibilities you'd like to see. Keep in mind that for the sake of this argument, Boot Camp doesn't count. So what other existing or upcoming MMO would get you to buy it if it came to the Mac?

The Daily Grind: What MMOs would you like to see on the Mac? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online is coming to the Mac

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, Warhammer Online

If you're a Mac user and you've ever wondered what other games out there are available for your preferred platform, rest assured that Warhammer Online will be joining those ranks soon. According to a recent announcement on their website, the Mac version will be available some time during fall of 2009. For now, Mac users can try out the beta version to see how it runs on their machines.

If you're curious about how this works exactly, the official announcement page explains the technical details: "WAR for the Mac is made possible using the CiderTM Portability Engine from TransGaming that acts as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run seamlessly on Intel-based Macs."

Check out the rest of the announcement for system requirements and information on downloading the beta version.

Warhammer Online is coming to the Mac originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A look at iPhone Apps making use of LotRO's XML data

William Dobson — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online

Tony from the Lord of the Rings Online-focused blog MMeOw recently had a look at a couple of iPhone Apps that are taking advantage of the XML data that Turbine has made available. Both apps were developed by BAMsoft (which is just one guy, as is often the case with iPhone apps), and one has already been approved by Apple -- LOTROStatus will check the status of the US servers for you, and is available for free right now. If enough Europeans ask to have their servers included, another version of the app might be released especially for them.

BAMsoft's other LotRO iPhone App is called LOTROChar. With this program, you'll be able to view your in-game characters on your iPhone, check out lorebook links, and probably annoy co-workers by showing them the sweet loot you found the other night. This one hasn't been approved by Apple just yet, but it's sure to pop up in the iTunes store some time soon. It looks pretty nifty in the preview screenshots; keep up the good work BAMsoft!

A look at iPhone Apps making use of LotRO's XML data originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Linden Lab and Torch Mobile: Replacing the Second Life Web-browser

Tateru Nino — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

In development discussions surrounding the Second Life viewer's Web-support and internal Web-browser, WebKit has been a frequent discussion item. WebKit was originally derived (by Apple) from the Konqueror browser's KHTML software library and now functions as the core of Apple's Safari Web-browser. A number of companies have extended and adapted WebKit over time. A primary sticking point with adoption into the Second Life viewer, however, involved the terms of WebKit's software license.

Now that the licensing barrier has been overcome, work on integrating QtWebKit into the viewer is proceeding apace, as Linden Lab works in conjunction with Torch Mobile (makers of the Iris Browser) to finalize the integration, and sort out a few lingering issues.

Continue reading Linden Lab and Torch Mobile: Replacing the Second Life Web-browser

Linden Lab and Torch Mobile: Replacing the Second Life Web-browser originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands on with the City of Heroes Mac Client

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Hands-on

Recently NCsoft gave us the chance to get our hands on the beta version of the City of Heroes Mac client, letting us finally run around Paragon City and the Rogue Isles from the comfort of Mac OS X.

While the client doesn't deliver anything new to the City of Heroes gameplay table, it is a really well done port over to OS X. The client still connects to the main City of Heroes servers, allowing Mac users to play seamlessly with their PC friends. Nothing like EverQuest for Mac, more like the EVE Online port for OS X.

What really surprised me about this port is just how well it runs on the Mac compared to other games. Especially when the Mac in question is a laptop that sports an Intel integrated graphics chip instead of a powerhouse nVidia or ATI video card.

Continue reading Hands on with the City of Heroes Mac Client

Hands on with the City of Heroes Mac Client originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes saves the day on the Mac

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, MMO industry, News items

Mac users, have no fear! City of Heroes is here! Yes, the original superhero MMO is swooping down onto Apple computers everywhere as NCsoft releases the City of Heroes Mac open beta test, with a release date set for January of 2009. Now Mac users can join in the fight for Paragon City or create chaos in the Rogue Isles without having to dual boot their computers or another medium.

Yet, the fun doesn't stop there for Mac CoH players. An exclusive mission teleport power, which allows the player to instantly teleport to their active mission location, and Valkyrie costume set will be made available to all players who purchase the game via digital download in January. Getting the game for your Mac and getting the ability to save time while looking cool? Very superheroic indeed.

City of Heroes saves the day on the Mac originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition

James Egan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, MMO industry, News items, Mac

NCsoft just announced that City of Heroes will soon have a Mac client, joining the likes of World of Warcraft and EVE Online as MMOs that can played on OS X. It'll be made possible through partnership with Transgaming, the creators of the Cider portability engine, which acts as a 'wrapper' for the standard PC client, allowing it to run within OS X on an Intel Mac.

While Blizzard's Mac client for World of Warcraft was written from the ground up, NCsoft's newest City of Heroes 'Good vs. Evil edition' client will be playable through Transgaming's Cider, and thus will be the same client gamers are accustomed to on the PC. This method of bringing the PC client to Mac without porting or rewriting is the same avenue CCP Games took with their EVE Online client for OS X. The City of Heroes Mac Special Edition includes two exclusive items:

Continue reading City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition

City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrossOver allows MMO gameplay on Mac, free Tuesday only

James Egan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Mac, Linux

Most people don't pick up a Mac to use as their primary gaming machine, but for players of titles like World of Warcraft and EVE Online, the OS X client makes MMO gaming possible for them. But the majority of MMO clients are PC only, requiring Mac users to turn to Boot Camp and dual boot Windows XP or Vista. Another option open to MMO players who use Macs is CrossOver from Codeweavers, which allows virtualization of PC programs and games within OS X (and Linux), with no Windows license required.

Our friends over at TUAW came across a one-day price reduction on CrossOver... that price being 'free'. That's right, all of Codeweavers' products -- CrossOver Mac, CrossOver Games, and CrossOver Linux -- will be free on Tuesday, October 28, but only for that day. There's a bit of a story behind this, which you can read all about over at TUAW, who have all of the details and restrictions related to this offer. But for MMO gamers who are into their Macs, all you really need to know is that CrossOver will allow you to play quite a number of games, MMO and otherwise. Check out the full list of games supported, and get ready to download your free copy. Your 24-hour window to get CrossOver begins at midnight on Tuesday, October 28th. The CrossOver deal is a $40 license giveaway, limited to one license per person, and requires an Intel Mac running either Tiger or Leopard.

CrossOver allows MMO gameplay on Mac, free Tuesday only originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WAR on a MacBook?

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Culture, Warhammer Online, Academic

Yes, it's true. Of course you'll need to run Bootcamp with a copy of Windows XP, but with Apple's recently announced switchover to improved nVidia graphics cards in their laptops, the possibility of running your favorite MMO on an Apple laptop is here.

In an article over at Obsessable, they just had to try it for themselves. Not only did they get Warhammer Online to play on the newest MacBook, but they got it to play well. They report, "In person, there was no pixelation during game play, just a few jittery moments when I had the texture mapping graphics set to their highest and most detailed. These were very few and far between, however." Check out the two videos documenting their experiments with WAR on a MacBook after the cut.

Continue reading WAR on a MacBook?

WAR on a MacBook? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone

James Egan — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Mobile

Sci-fi fans of the revamped Terminator IP may have something else to be happy about: a Terminator iPhone MMO called "Ambush." Based off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Ambush is a game played either online or through an iPhone. Gameplay is centered on predicting the movement of enemies through a virtual city, setting traps to eliminate the opposing side while evading their attempts to find you. iPhone 3G users can use their device's GPS to avoid such traps while racking up points.

The game was developed by 65 Media, a marketing firm known for its past work on interactive and alternate reality games (ARGs). Ambush may not be a true MMO in the client/leveling/loot sense, but has a system of points gained through employing traps and counter-traps. It's perhaps more akin to Aurora Feint's debatable label as an MMO title, which has already proven to be very popular. Such titles are the earliest forays into that grey area of 'MMOs' for the iPhone, and more are certainly on the way. Ambush is free-to-play and available for iPhones with the 2.0 Software Update, downloadable at the Apple App Store. More information about the game, and how to play it on both the iPhone and online, can be found in the Ambush FAQ.

[Via Spoiler TV]

Terminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Icarus Studios demos iPhone MMO software this week

Samuel Axon — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Mobile

Icarus Studios -- developer of Fallen Earth and the associated Icarus Platform virtual world development tools --announced via press release that this week it is demonstrating its 3D MMO platform running on Apple's iPhone at the Austin Game Developers Conference.

The demo is modest -- a "360-degree panoramic tour of a sample virtual world location." Users control the camera with the phone's accelerometer. Apple recently threw down the gauntlet, saying that the iPhone and the iPod Touch platforms are "the best portable device for playing games." No reason that future can't include MMOs, right?

The iPhone client is scheduled to launch in Q1 of 2009. Does this mean that within months everyone on the New York subway, the Chicago El, and the London Underground will be immersed in a never-ending, time-sinking quest for teh phat lewtz?

Icarus Studios demos iPhone MMO software this week originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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