Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox Diablo III's Auction House ruined the game
After his departure from the Diablo III development team, Game Director Jay Wilson released a statement that the introduction of an auction house "really hurt the game." While players predicted doom the moment the Real Money Auction House was announced, Jay argued that the gold auction house was equally to blame for the game's fall from grace following an absolutely stellar launch sales. I don't normally agree with what Jay has to say on Diablo III, but in this case he does have a very valid point.

Diablo II was consistently popular for over a decade thanks to its immense replayability. At its core, D2 was a game about building new characters and gearing them up by any means necessary. Every enemy in the game was a loot pinata just waiting to be popped, and players farmed endlessly for a few sought-after unique items. You almost never found an item that was ideal for your particular class and build, but you could usually trade for what you needed via trade channels and forums.

Blizzard claimed that the auction house was intended just to streamline this process, but when Diablo III launched, it was clear that the entire game had been designed to make the auction house almost necessary for progress. The fault here lies not just with the concept of an auction house but with the game designers.

That's right: I'm here to argue not only that Jay Wilson was right about the auction house ruining Diablo III but also that it was his own damn fault.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Diablo III
Diablo III's auction house continues to be the stuff of legends.

You may remember that a couple of days ago, the Diablo III auction house went down for a time due to a gold duplication bug that was being rampantly exploited by players. Thankfully, a patch was deployed in a nice, timely manner, and everything ended up all right.

Or did it? Rather than performing a server rollback, which would set all Diablo III players back, Blizzard has decided to perform a complete audit of the transactions made on the auction house in order to find players guilty of utilizing the gold duplication exploit. Unfortunately, Blizz was a bit conservative in its estimate of how long the auction house would be down. While there's currently no new ETA for the auction house's return, a post by Blizzard CM Lylirra states that the studio anticipates the AH being down for "at least another 24 hours" while the audits are in progress.

MassivelyDiablo III auction house down for 'at least another 24 hours' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgahauction-houseauditsbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiiexploitexploitsfantasygothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgThu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III gold dupe bug fixed with no rollback]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-iii-gold-dupe-bug-fixed-with-no-rollback/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-iii-gold-dupe-bug-fixed-with-no-rollback/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/diablo-iii-gold-dupe-bug-fixed-with-no-rollback/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III gold dupe bug fixed with no rollback
Oh Diablo III's auction house, you are the stuff of legends.

Late last night, Blizzard took Diablo III's auction house offline to deal with a gold duplication bug that was discovered to be exploited by players. All gold trades were halted at the time, and Blizzard had a patch in place within 30 minutes.

But it's the later update that concerned many D3 fans as Blizzard announced that it wouldn't be rolling back the server, but instead, dealing with each individual offending account on a case-by-case basis. This is more time-consuming for the dev team, but has much less of an impact on the community as a whole.

MassivelyDiablo III gold dupe bug fixed with no rollback originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively title image
Patch 1.0.8 was released to the Diablo III public test realm this week, adding some big multiplayer upgrades and fixing quality of life issues with the Wizard class, crafting and the auction house. Path of Exile published its first series of articles in a new Development Manifesto forum looking into the thought process behind upcoming game changes and features. And sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen tackled the age-old problem of letting players have unique names without breaking immersion.

The European Dota 2 servers experienced heavy disruption this week as what appears to be a DDoS attack interfered with the DreamHack Invitationals and the G-1 qualifier tournament. A research firm also claimed that the game had recently passed giant of League of Legends in peak concurrent users despite publicly released statistics to the contrary.

Following on from its huge success in Russia, castle-building MOBA Prime World officially entered its English-language closed beta this week. Newly announced DC Comics MOBA Infinite Crisis released a champion profile video on new hero Green Lantern, and Heroes of Newerth published a classic hero spotlight on fan-favourite Devourer.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3's patch 1.0.8, Dota 2 DDoS, and Prime World's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgarchonauction-housebatmanbattlenetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentcallsigncastlechampion-profilechampion-spotlightchampion-spotlight-videocitycity-buildingclosed-betacloud-imperiumcompetitive-gamingd3dcdc-comicsddosdeckard-caindenial-of-servicedenial-of-service-attackdevelopment-manifestodevourerdfcdfc-intelligencediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidosdotadota-2dreamhacke-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playg-1gothic-fantasygreen-lanterngrinding-geargrinding-gear-gameshandlehero-spotlightheroes-of-newerthhoninfinite-crisisjokerleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernamenewsnivalnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropen-betapath-of-exilepeak-concurrent-userspoeprime-worldpvevppvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessandboxsci-fistar-citizenstay-a-while-and-read-my-booksteamsupermanteleportthe-jokertournamentturbineusernamevalvevideowarner-broswizardwonder-womanMon, 15 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III's auction house 'really hurt the game']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/diablo-iiis-auction-house-really-hurt-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/diablo-iiis-auction-house-really-hurt-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/diablo-iiis-auction-house-really-hurt-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Diablo 3's acution house 'really hurt the game'
Diablo III's joint in-game gold and real-money auction house has played a fairly major role in the game since its launch. Remember that one time when a guy used the real-money side of things to bank a cool $10,000? That apparently wasn't really what Blizzard foresaw when creating and implementing the auction house. According to former Diablo III Game Director Jay Wilson, the auction house "really hurt the game."

Apparently, Blizzard anticipated that very few players would make use of the auction house and that item prices would limit the number of transactions going on. That, uh, wasn't the case. Nearly every one of Diablo III's roughly 3 million monthly users make use of the auction house, and item trading has "damaged" the item rewards in the game.

Without giving up any juicy details, Wilson has mentioned that the team is working on a viable solution to the current problems posed by the auction house.

MassivelyDiablo III's auction house 'really hurt the game' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgauction-housebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiieconomyfantasygothic-fantasyjay-wilsonmultiplayeronline-multiplayerreal-money-auction-houseroguelikerpgThu, 28 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III plans itemization changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/diablo-iii-plans-itemization-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/diablo-iii-plans-itemization-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/diablo-iii-plans-itemization-changes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Diablo III plans itemization changes
Because Diablo III is such a loot-centric game, players pay attention when the developers start talking about making significant itemization changes in the upcoming months.

The first part of Blizzard's future itemization philosophy is to more strongly equate rarity with power. Legendary items will drop less frequently and become a lot more powerful, and there will be a greater amount of diversity across the board. "It will take time, but our goal is to try to provide players with compelling alternatives to trifecta items when talking about what items they want to acquire," game designer Travis Day writes.

Other changes include reducing the drop rate on rares, making gold sinks more exciting, and giving players better reasons to farm mobs instead of merely camping out at the auction house.

MassivelyDiablo III plans itemization changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgauction-housebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3dev-diarydiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasyfarminggothic-fantasyitemizationitemsmultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgTue, 05 Mar 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 gems now available in plastic card form [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/guild-wars-2-gems-now-available-in-plastic-card-form/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/guild-wars-2-gems-now-available-in-plastic-card-form/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/guild-wars-2-gems-now-available-in-plastic-card-form/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2 gems now available in plastic card form
Guild Wars 2's Black Lion Trading Company offers more than just a way to buy and sell in-game items; it's also used to buy the game's currency known as gems. These gems can be bought and traded for real money and converted to in-game gold for the purchase of just about anything your Tyrian heart desires.

But now ArenaNet is making it even easier to buy the in-game currency through gem cards available for purchase at your favorite retail store. These cards would be perfect as a gift from your grandmother or sweet aunt Vickie, who can help support your crafting obsession without even knowing it. Just tell them that you're really interested in Geology and Gemology. It's a win-win!

[Update: ANet has just posted the complete list of retailers offering gem cards. In the US, they are Fred Meyer, Hasting, NewEgg, Fry's, and Amazon.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gems now available in plastic card form [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauction-houseblack-lion-trading-companycardscurrencyfantasygemsguild-wars-2gw2in-game-currencyncsoftplastic-cardssweet-aunt-vickieTue, 16 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Diablo III's endgame is fundamentally flawed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox title image
Diablo III was arguably the biggest online game release of the year, but its predecessor's decade of consistent popularity left some pretty big shoes to fill. Despite being the most pre-ordered PC game in history and selling more than 6.3 million units in its first week, Diablo III has started to seriously wane in popularity. I've seen over a dozen friends stop playing completely in the last few months, and Xfire's usage stats for D3 have dropped by around 90% since June. Guild Wars 2's timely release accounts for some of the drop, but there's a lot more going on than just competition.

The Diablo III beta showed only the first few levels and part of the game's highly polished first act, and soon after release it became obvious that parts of the game weren't exactly finished. PvP was cut from release, the Auction House was a mess, and Inferno difficulty was a poor excuse for an endgame. Poor itemisation made the carrot on the end of the stick taste sour, and the runaway inflation on top-end items is crying out for some kind of ladder reset mechanic. But there is hope for improvement, with new legendary items, the Paragon level system, and the upcoming Uber boss mechanic taking a few steps in the right direction.

In this opinion piece, I look at some of the fundamental flaws in Diablo III's endgame and suggest a few improvements that would make a world of difference.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Diablo III's endgame is fundamentally flawed

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Diablo III's endgame is fundamentally flawed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts
It's a good day for Tyria's Wall Street and its many denizens, as ArenaNet has brought Guild Wars 2's trading post fully online. The trading post, which works as an advanced version of an auction house for the game's players, has only been sporadically available since launch.

The defense and counter-attack against the legion of GW2 hackers continues, however. The devs report that "a Guild Wars-related fan site" was recently hacked for its account information, and say that the reset password feature for the game will remain disabled for the time being as to not allow hackers another avenue of attack.

ArenaNet said that during the past 24 hours, the team has dealt with over 2,500 hacked accounts and over 2,800 login issues.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 brings trading post online, handles hacked accounts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahanetarenanetauction-housebuyingdatabaseeconomyfantasyguild-wars-2gw2hackhackedhacked-accountshackersncsoftpasswordssellingtradingtrading-postTue, 04 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player banks $10,000 with Diablo III]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/player-banks-10-000-with-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/player-banks-10-000-with-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/player-banks-10-000-with-diablo-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Player banks $10,000 with Diablo III
A gamer who says he's been interested in item markets and economics since he started trading in Neopets is seeing that interest pay off in Diablo III. Redditor WishboneTheDog posted some screenshots lending proof to his impressive claim of making $10,000 with Diablo III's real money auction house. Then he invited other players to ask him (almost) anything.

He said he'd never botted, scammed, or otherwise cheated at all in his efforts because trading in item markets is part of how he has fun, so it "wouldn't make sense" to cheat. He wrote,
Gold is like a foreign currency. It represents value, but only within the specific game world. You can't use gold to buy things in stores in the US, just like you can't use Yen to buy things in those stores. If, however, you can convert that currency to a usable one, it has an "exchange rate." Gold has an exchange rate exactly like a foreign currency has. (Except gold is more easily exchanged than 90% of the currencies in the world.)

MassivelyPlayer banks $10,000 with Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgamaauction-housebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhow-much-did-you-just-saymultiplayeronline-multiplayerredditrmahroguelikerpgwishbonethedogTue, 07 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's first content update is coming July 31st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-secret-worlds-first-content-update-coming-july-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-secret-worlds-first-content-update-coming-july-31st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/the-secret-worlds-first-content-update-coming-july-31st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World Issue #1: UnleashedBack in the day, avid mystery fans relied on getting monthly doses of case-solving goodness from magazines such as Ellery Queen. Today, the same can be found in The Secret World. Delivering on its recent promise of monthly updates, Funcom has released the details for July's free content update in true mystery magazine style with Issue #1: Unleashed.

On July 31st, TSW players will find a number of new missions featuring a best-selling author, a daredevil, and even a crazy cat lady. Another mission will explore a character who may be more than she pretends to be. Two current dungeons are also getting a new nightmare mode; if you thought Ankh and Hell Fallen were challenging before, just wait until you test yourself in this mode.

Another upcoming feature is a cross-dimensional marketplace. Not only can players group and play together cross-dimensionally, but soon they will be able to buy, sell, and ship items across dimensions as well.

Unleashed is just the first of many updates. Issue #2 for August's update is already in the works and will be revealed soon, so stay tuned! And keep an eye on the ongoing construction in London, Seoul, and New York as new tenants prepare to move in.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World's first content update is coming July 31st originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ankhauction-housecontent-updatecross-dimension-marketplacefactionfantasyfuncomHell-Fallenhorrorissue-1issue-1-unleashedmarketplacemythologynew-questsnewsnightmare-modesci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswUnleashedFri, 13 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are black market auction houses a good idea?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-daily-grind-are-black-market-auction-houses-a-good-idea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-daily-grind-are-black-market-auction-houses-a-good-idea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-daily-grind-are-black-market-auction-houses-a-good-idea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind Are black market auction houses a good idea
With World of Warcraft's upcoming Mists of Pandaria comes an interesting addition to the game: a black market auction house. This new type of auction house will allow Blizzard to post rare items from the game for bidding only (no buyouts), and is obviously intended to be a massive gold sink for those who have more money than sense on their hands.

While the intent of the black market auction house is understandable, what it's selling has players hotly debating over whether this is a good idea or the spawn of Evil and Mrs. Evil. Raid gear, ultra-rare pets, and other hard-to-attain goods could become easily available for those with large pocketbooks.

So let's put it to the bright minds at Massively Labs (that's you): Are black market auction houses a good idea? Is Blizzard setting a trend here or cutting its own feet out from under it?

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: Are black market auction houses a good idea? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionauction-houseblack-market-auction-houseblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdaily-grindeconomyexpansionfantasygold-sinkinflationmistsmists-of-pandariamoney-sinkmopopinionpandariapandastdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender
Have you ever wished MMO developers could put away their checkbooks, pluck out the best bits of their respective MMOs, and weld them together to construct the megalopolis of MMOs? We do too! So today, we're launching a brand-new opinion column, MMO Blender, in which the Massively writers will mix and match their favorite features from existing MMOs for your amusement. But do our choices create a perfectly honed machine or a lumbering, speechless frankenstein of an MMO that deserves to be put out of its misery?

First up: Livestreamer extraordinaire and Contributing Editor Jeremy Stratton with a potent, sandboxy blend of Fallen Earth, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and more. Wet your whistle after the break and look for more MMO Blenders from the rest of our staff in the coming weeks!

Continue reading MMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction

MassivelyMMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarmchair-game-designauction-housecastlleccpccp-gamescode-clubcraftingdecoratingdigdynamic-eventseconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfantasyfavorite-mmofefeaturedfellowship-maneuversffa-pvpfrankengamefrankenmmofree-for-allfree-for-all-pvpfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefurnitureg1game-designgame-mechanicsgamersfirstguild-wars-2gw2housinginternet-spaceshipsjeremy-strattonkeepslayout-editorlineagelineage-2lineage-iilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologyncsoftopen-world-housingopinionplayer-housingplayer-vs-playerpost-apocpost-apocalypticpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisiegesiege-warfaresiegessoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinetaboreatelonterraformterraformingturbineturbine-entertainmentvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwastelandsworld-eventswurmwurm-onlineFri, 22 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: DreamHack Summer 2012 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/not-so-massively-dreamhack-summer-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/not-so-massively-dreamhack-summer-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/18/not-so-massively-dreamhack-summer-2012-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
This weekend was DreamHack Summer 2012, during which the MOBA world got together to run some awesome tournaments with huge cash prizes. Heroes of Newerth set the tone for the event with the biggest prize pool at DreamHack: a whopping $60,000. In addition to a standard tournament, S2 Games held the first ever Mid Wars tournament and invited amateur players to battle against the professionals. Bloodline Champions made its usual grand showing with its own packed tournament, and Dota 2 ran the massive $57,000 Corsair Vengeance tournament.

League of Legends continued the trend with its own $40,000 tournament and announced that Greece will get a fully voice-localised game client in the near future. Rumours of gold duplication in Diablo III continue to spread this week despite a lack of hard evidence behind the claims, and legislators in South Korea proposed a new law that will make the real money auction house illegal in that country. Path of Exile started a new community character build showcase to demonstrate the upcoming game's incredible customisation system. Finally, Blacklight Retribution showed off its interesting new Kill Confirmed game mode, while Rise of Immortals released its official Kreed immortal spotlight.

Continue reading Not So Massively: DreamHack Summer 2012 edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: DreamHack Summer 2012 edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dancing for credits is generally not on anyone's list of preferred options.
No matter what game you're playing, you need money. Luckily, pretty much every game on the market also has multiple options to earn that money. There are things to beat up and quests to be done, but usually there are other options beyond that. Playing the auction house in World of Warcraft, running teleportation services in Final Fantasy XI, or any number of business ventures in EVE Online allow you to make your money however you see fit.

Some players find that manipulating auction house prices and playing a virtual stockbroker is the most fun path to riches. Others prefer to just make their money through quests, and if they wind up a bit poorer for it, so be it.

So how do you like to make money when you're playing a game? Is it more on the intricate market manipulation side of things, or is it a fairly straightforward practice of just clearing content?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you prefer to get your money in-game? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecash-flowdaily-grindgame-mechanicsin-game-moneymaking-moneymarketmarket-manipulationmechanicsmoneyopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 17 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[South Korea to make virtual item trade, bots illegal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/south-korea-to-make-virtual-item-trade-bots-illegal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/south-korea-to-make-virtual-item-trade-bots-illegal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/south-korea-to-make-virtual-item-trade-bots-illegal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

South Korea to make virtual item trade, bots illegal
Do you want to buy and sell virtual items? Do you live in South Korea? If you answered "yes" to both of those questions, you'd better get it out of your system prior to next month (or be prepared to do it illegally). A new law is being developed that will ban real money trading and block gold- and item-farming bots.

The South Korean Ministry of Culture says that "the main purpose of games is for entertainment and [they] should be used for academic and other good purposes," according to a report at Eurogamer.

This is bad news for gold farmers, RMT fans, and Blizzard, which has come under fire for Diablo III's real-money auction house over the past few weeks. The Ministry of Culture went on to say that RMT "contribute[s] to many problems in society, including teenage crime."

MassivelySouth Korea to make virtual item trade, bots illegal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgauction-housebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbotsbottingbreakingcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiif2pfantasyfree-to-playgothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerrmtroguelikerpgsouth-korea-bans-botssouth-korea-bans-rmtFri, 15 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III pulls trigger on NA real-money auction house]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/diablo-iii-pulls-trigger-on-na-real-money-auction-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/diablo-iii-pulls-trigger-on-na-real-money-auction-house/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/diablo-iii-pulls-trigger-on-na-real-money-auction-house/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III pulls trigger on North America RMT auction house
While Diablo III released weeks ago, Blizzard's held off from launching the game's controversial real-money auction house in North America for its own reasons. All must be good on the studio's end, however, because the auction house has gone live in the game as of today.

Unlike the traditional in-game auction house, the real-money variant deals in actual currency (such as USD). Players can sell their hard-won goods for cash, which can then be either spent on the auction house, sent to their own personal PayPal accounts, or converted to Battle.net Balance credit.

The real-money auction house requires additional setup if the players have not attached a PayPal or authenticator to the account. Blizzard does take its cut, and business must be good: There are reports of items going for over $200 already.

MassivelyDiablo III pulls trigger on NA real-money auction house originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgahauction-houseauthenticatorbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerpaypalreal-money-auction-housereal-money-transactionsrmtroguelikerpgTue, 12 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/not-so-massively-lol-database-hack-and-diablo-iii-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/not-so-massively-lol-database-hack-and-diablo-iii-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/not-so-massively-lol-database-hack-and-diablo-iii-updates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Diablo III has been taking on player feedback this week with the announcement of item drop rate and gameplay changes coming in the upcoming 1.0.3 patch. In a hotfix this week, Tyreal's damage was nerfed to stop players from using him to farm risk-free, and several easy gold-farming spots were heavily nerfed in an effort to curb botting. Path of Exile is also taking notice of player feedback to Diablo III, releasing new multiplayer loot reservation and public game systems.

Dota 2 announced that a limited number of tickets to watch its upcoming tournament The International will go on sale tomorrow for $49.99 each. Heroes of Newerth revealed its new tanky melee initiator Ravenor, and Rise of Immortals released new immortal Kreed along with some much-needed gameplay overhauls. League of Legends' European password database was hacked this week; Riot Games reccomends that all players reset their passwords. The Draven patch also went live this week, adding the new champion to the game and bringing nerfs for Ahri, Darius, Graves and Urgot. Finally, we got our first taste of upcoming MOBA Guardians of Middle Earth's gameplay at E3.

Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates

MassivelyNot So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgahriauction-housebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingconsoled3Dariusdatabasediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2Dravene-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasygravesgrinding-geargrinding-gear-gameshackheroes-of-newerthhoninfernoKreedleague-of-legendslegolaslollootlord-of-the-ringslotrmiddle-earthmobamonolithmonolith-studiosmultiplayernerfnewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpasswordpassword-theftpath-of-exilepetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesplaystation-networkpoeps3psnpvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessecuritysteamvalvevideowarner-brosxboxxbox-360xbox-livexbox360Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/diablo-iii-to-benefit-from-big-brother-world-of-warcrafts-featu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/diablo-iii-to-benefit-from-big-brother-world-of-warcrafts-featu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/04/diablo-iii-to-benefit-from-big-brother-world-of-warcrafts-featu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features
Over on the Diablo III forums, player Matthest posted a thoughtful list of 35 improvements that he wanted to see added to the game. Lo and behold, his list was picked up by the game's CM and treated to a point-by-point response that revealed several upcoming changes, including those inspired by World of Warcraft's design.

Coming to the game is a lock for the action bar, font size changes, the ability to sell damaged items, social and quick join improvements, and tweaks to the game's auction house interface. The team's also considering allowing players to resize and move the chat window.

Not all ideas were embraced, as the devs had reasons for keeping them out: "We're really trying hard to avoid quickly bloating the game options, and since [numerical countdowns] would be an option, we're cautiously approaching it and a few other toggle/option requests."

MassivelyDiablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III title image
Diablo III officially launched at midnight last night, opening the floodgates on what is possibly the most pre-ordered PC game in history. It's been almost 12 years since the previous game in the series launched, and it's still going to this day. Whether you've played previous games, have taken part in the Diablo III beta or are taking your first steps into Sanctuary today, everyone starts with a clean slate. In this article, I give my top five tips for spending your first few days wisely in Diablo III.

#5 - Spend most of your time on one character

It seems like a bit of a no-brainer to initially focus on one character, but in Diablo III's case, there's a special reason to do it. You'll likely finish normal mode around level 20-30, and until then, you'll get a new skill almost every level. It's only when you've completed normal mode and moved on to nightmare that the challenge really starts and you will have picked out an effective set of skills. Your last active skill unlocks at level 30, and from then on you'll gain a combination of two to three runes or passive skills every level until you hit the level cap at 60.

Read on for four more tips you should keep in mind as you start playing Diablo III.

Continue reading Five top tips for your first few days of Diablo III

MassivelyFive top tips for your first few days of Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- TERA
TERA's May release date is less than a month away now, and En Masse Entertainment is filling the days leading up to the big event by unveiling a series of new launch features. Today's piece is focused on a number of adjustments that have been made to the game's economic system.

For starters, the trade broker has been vastly improved with "robust search features," while private stores have been abolished in order to make the broker the true hub of the game's economy. Enchanters will be pleased to know that the penalty for failing an enchantment has been removed, so while an enchantment can still fail, it won't weaken the target piece of equipment in the process. And to top it off, the currency demoninations have been changed up to prevent players from having to deal with astronomical amounts of gold. The full details, as well as previous new launch features, can be found over on the game's official site.

MassivelyTERA's new launch features section adds economic changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahauction-houseblueholebluehole-studiosbrokereconomicseconomyen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyprivate-storeprivate-storesteratrade-brokerWed, 11 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 screenshot
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

The ArenaNet post about microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 reveals that the "gems" currency will be bought with real money and be available for purchase with in-game gold in GW2. But people seem to have forgetten that Runes of Magic's cash shop operated this way three years ago. I've been playing RoM since closed beta, and the cash shop is one of the reasons RoM is so different from other F2P MMOs of its era.

Frogster eventually removed the ability to buy diamonds with gold because of fraud, so I'm curious to see how ArenaNet handles that issue. My time in RoM has shown me that there are other issues involved here, issues of security, players gaming the system, botting, and pay-to-win debates. In other words, there's more at stake here than whether cash shops sell gear or items toward gaining power.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauction houseauction-housecash-shopdiamondseditorialf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegemsguild-wars-2gw2item-shopjeremy-strattonmicro-transactionsmicrotransactionsncsoftop-edopinionpay-to-winrantrantsreal-money-tradingrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentselling-powersoapboxtaboreathe-soapboxWed, 21 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
The big announcement we've all been waiting for has finally arrived: Diablo III has a release date! This week the beta was wiped to prepare for launch, and Blizzard's Jay Wilson responded to questions about the cash auction house in hardcore mode. Competing title Path of Exile continued development toward its own release, and Torchlight II gave players a unique look under the hood of the game with a breakdown of item drop statistics. Runic Games congratulated the Diablo team on its release date announcement and published an open letter to fans urging them to just wait a little longer for their Torchlight fix.

In MOBA news, League of Legends revealed its next champion, Lulu, and explored the game's rapidly growing German community. Dota 2 added classic DotA hero Shadow Demon and performed some much-needed tweaks to bots, and Rise of Immortals released the official Azcadelia immortal spotlight. Heroes of Newerth released Gunblade, an original ranged agility carry hero that was been met with some strong disapproval in the community. Blacklight: Retribution's open beta updates continued this week with the release of its Vertigo map, a battleground set in the roofspaces of a sprawling industrial complex.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III
Blizzard Entertainment made waves last year when it announced that Diablo III would be supporting real-money trading (RMT) through its in-game auction house system. While it proved to be a divisive topic among fans, apparently it was too much with the South Korean rating board, which sees such activities as potentially violating the country's anti-gambling rules.

The board was quoted as saying that "the feature involving for-cash trades between users was not included in the presentation to the rating committee, and therefore it was not subjected to any scrutiny."

To appease the board and pave the way for release, Blizzard has dropped the RMT auction house for the Korean version. The ratings board has warned the company not to sneak in the feature in a future patch and gave the title an 18 rating for the country. Interestingly enough this makes South Korea the first country to slap a rating on Diablo III to date.

MassivelyBlizzard kills Diablo III's RMT to appease South Korea originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1818-ratinganti-gamblinganti-gambling-lawsauction-houseblizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-3diablo-iiigamblinggame-ratings-boardkoreanratings-boardreal-money-tradingrmtsouth-koreasouth-korea-ratings-boardFri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reid on Reddit: SWTOR fans ask him anything and everything]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/reid-on-reddit-swtor-fans-ask-him-anything-and-everything/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/reid-on-reddit-swtor-fans-ask-him-anything-and-everything/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/reid-on-reddit-swtor-fans-ask-him-anything-and-everything/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
"Ask me anything." That's a dangerous command for anyone to issue, nevermind the community manager of the hottest new MMO on the block. Yet that's just what Stephen Reid said today to the Star Wars: The Old Republic community on Reddit, and the length of questions and answers would make for a mini-novel if packaged as such.

While Reid certainly hedges on issues that BioWare is not quite ready to address, he doesn't shy away from direct answers when applicable. The compiled Reddit thread lists dozens and dozens of Q&As, including the much-asked-for guild housing ("on the list for future development"), the ability delay issue ("we'll talk about it publicly soon"), and an upgraded Galactic Trade Network ("improvements will come to the GTN in time, definitely").

In response to the request for non-mechanical (read: animal) mounts, Reid said, "Maybe -- it's a technical challenge, I've been told." He's most excited about the upcoming legacy system reveals, but he's not allowed to talk on it just yet.

Amidst the probing questions of the newly launched title is a personal query about what it's like for him to be at the helm of SWTOR community management. "What's it like?" Reid responded. "Bewildering and overwhelming and exciting and demanding, all at once, all day long (and often into the night). I had some idea what I was getting into, but it was bigger than expected. I'll stay as long as I'm wanted."

MassivelyReid on Reddit: SWTOR fans ask him anything and everything originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaask-me-anythingauction-housebiowarecommunity-managementcommunity-q-and-aeaea-biowaregalactic-trade-networkgtnguild-housinghousinglegacy-systemmountspetsq-and-aquestions-and-answersredditstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorWed, 28 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-holiday-wish-list-for-telara/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rift-mas
The holidays are upon us, and one of the most important parts of the season is making wish lists. Mine came in at a rather modest four pages, with another two pages of in-game items for my characters. Trion certainly has had a busy year, and while the game looks a lot different now than it did at launch, there's always room for more changes and improvements.

Since I'm on a roll with making wish-lists this year, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift will give a rundown of what should be added to the game in 2012. Read on for the list, and then add your own below!

Continue reading Enter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara

MassivelyEnter at your own Rift: A holiday wish-list for Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedkaren-bryanmaelforgeopinionplayer-housingriftrift+game+trionrift+trionrift-planes-of-telararift-wish-listriftgametrionrifttriontelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV adding market and player search improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/final-fantasy-xiv-adding-market-and-player-search-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/final-fantasy-xiv-adding-market-and-player-search-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/final-fantasy-xiv-adding-market-and-player-search-improvements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Merlwyb, of course, can always find a party anyhow.
As the release of Final Fantasy XIV's next major patch approaches, more previews continue to go up for the various improvements it will bring. Two of the major promised features are the improvements to both the market wards and the introduction of a proper player search feature, both of which have been posted to the official site. The market wards will now include several pieces of functionality similar to the Final Fantasy XI auction house, including transaction histories and the option to buy direct from the search screen.

The player search feature, meanwhile, will allow players to flag themselves as looking for a party, indicating preferred classes and activities. Searchers will be able to sort results by a variety of criteria to help identify potential teammates. It should make assembling groups for larger content much simpler than it currently is, which should in turn encourage the community to take part in more challenging content. Neither system might seem like a revolution, but there's no doubt that both improvements will have a definite impact.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV adding market and player search improvements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.20final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmarket-wardsnewspatchpatchesplayer-searchsearchsquaresquare-enixupcoming-patchesThu, 08 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/hyperspace-beacon-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/hyperspace-beacon-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/hyperspace-beacon-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Social gaming
As a roleplayer, I primarily do social things in MMOs. I take on a character, then via local chat, I communicate as if I were a smuggler attempting to swindle a gangster out of a few more credits. However, that's not the only kind of social gaming found in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Group activities of all sorts have sparked friendships that have lasted years. The people I adventure with mostly started in Star Wars Galaxies, then moved to City of Heroes, then went back to Galaxies, and now are headed to SWTOR. Because of the breadth of the internet, we have never met each other in person, but I still consider them close friends.

The social dynamics have always been a byproduct of MMOs. However, few online games give direct rewards for being social. In fact, there was a time shortly after the Combat Upgrade when Star Wars Galaxies actually punished players for grouping up by giving less XP. Perhaps the reasoning was that the larger the group, the more mobs players could kill in the same amount of time, but at the time the solo XP far outweighed the loss in group XP. Thankfully, that was eventually fixed.

In my recent venture into the SWTOR beta, I noticed several different social activities for which the game rewards players. Follow me past the cut and we will discuss them.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Social gaming

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseBioWarecarrick-stationEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedgalactic-trade-networkgary-gannongroupingGTNjames-ohlenLucasArtsquestingsocial-gamingsocial-pointssocial-vendorStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 01 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: More on the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/captains-log-more-on-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65303.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! As I discussed last week, heated discussions surround Star Trek Online's change to a F2P hybrid model and planned game mechanics updates. While new updates are being pushed to the Tribble server for testing and feedback, many aspects are in a state of flux as such feedback is collected, evaluated, and implemented. The biggest area affected is the economy. While everyone has his own thoughts on the matter, Cryptic is leaving no feedback forum post unread -- the players will help shape these changes.

Last week, we saw the push of another patch that seems to have made some giant strides toward solving some of the biggest concerns, including significant reductions in prices for most items and the return of free ship tokens for most ranks. Stephen D'Angelo, acting Executive Producer and Emergency Executive Producer Hologram (EEPH), explained: "Based on how rapidly we're getting data and revising the game, we're still probably two more weeks away from having the economy in a state that is close to good enough." Since he said a lot more in his recent dev blog post, I thought I should take some time to expound on it.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at what else the EEPH had to say and break it down...

Continue reading Captain's Log: More on the economy

MassivelyCaptain's Log: More on the economy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housec-storec-store-pointsconsumablescrypticcryptic-pointscryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscurrencycurrency-exchangedangelodev-blogdilithiumdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemeephenergy-credit-systemenergy-creditsExchangef2pfeaturedfeedbackforumsfree-to-playhigh-end-gearlivestreamperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpvpspecial-task-forcest-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarshipsstephen-dangelostfstotop-end-geartrek-onlinetribbletribble-test-serverThu, 20 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Player-run economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/wasteland-diaries-player-run-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/wasteland-diaries-player-run-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/wasteland-diaries-player-run-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth screenshot
The economy in Fallen Earth has been stagnant for a while. The auction house has been just a place for trader clones (with maxed social skill) to post wares with a small markup from the NPC vendors prices. In some cases, these traders would post mats that could only be bought in PvP conflict towns or found in secret or dangerous scavenging spots. It was hard to be competitive in a market like that. Every resource had an unlimited supply thanks to the vendors. There were a few items that actually worked on the supply and demand principle, like vibrant and volatile chemicals and pre-fall tech. These items had prices that were dictated completely by the players. Through competition, the prices got pretty reasonable (and I even bought a few pre-fall techs to allieviate the Citadel grind).

All that has changed now, and the Fallen Earth team has made some massive changes to the way the economy works. In this post, I'll take a look at what has changed. I'll try to give my best guess about what will happen to the economy in the coming weeks. A great many players are already freaking out about this concept on the forums and in global chat. While I admit it's too early to tell what will become of us in the near future, there's no need to panic. People were rage-quitting the game mere hours after the changes were made. If you ask me, it's a bit premature to make a decision like that. Nobody really knows what will happen, but click past the cut to see my best guesses.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Player-run economy

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Player-run economy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseconflict-townscraftingeconomyeconomy-changesf2pfallen-earthfefeaturedfree-to-playgamersfirstgrindinglootMarie-Croallmaterialsmatsplayer-run-economyscavengingvendorsFri, 07 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth devs answer your F2P questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/fallen-earth-devs-answer-your-f2p-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/fallen-earth-devs-answer-your-f2p-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/fallen-earth-devs-answer-your-f2p-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth - sunrise
You've got questions about Fallen Earth's free-to-play conversion, and the dev team's got answers. The latest Fallen Earth blog entry spills the beans on everything from what happens to existing subscriptions to character slots to various functionality limitations.

Surprisingly, GamersFirst is allowing free-to-play customers to make use of the auction house, mail, and trading systems, but this may change "if gold farmers get totally out of control." There's also good news for pre-existing Fallen Earth subscribers who would like to convert to a free-to-play account but are worried about losing access to their alts. "If you had ever bought the game or paid for a subscription, those character slots were included with your game, so they belong to you regardless of the change in business model," writes Joseph "Linus" Willmon. Head to the official Fallen Earth dev blog for more.

MassivelyFallen Earth devs answer your F2P questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecharacter-slotsdev-blogdev-diaryf2pfallen-earthfree-accountsfree-to-playgamersfirstgold-farmersgold-farmingicarusicarus-studiosjoseph-willmonmailpost-apocalytpicsci-fitradeTue, 20 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more.

The big news for MOBA fans this week is the release of Bloodline Champions' colossal Dawn of the Relics update, which has breathed new life into the impressive indie title. Rise of Immortals reveals details of its first post-launch Immortal Trovoc this week, and he's a great big freakin' dragon. In addition to releasing a champion spotlight on Riven, Riot Games this week published new information on how minions will feature in League of Legends: Dominion's point-capturing gameplay.

Blizzard revealed this week that PayPal will be handling sales in Diablo III's controversial real-money auction house. In preparation for opening the D3 beta to the public, Blizzard also released a series of new class pages and a Diablo III skill calculator. Fans of the Tribes series will be glad to know that its online multiplayer sequel Tribes: Ascend has officially started accepting applications to join the upcoming closed beta.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp

MassivelyNot So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionauction-housebetabetasbloodline-championsdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiablo-iii-betafeaturedhi-rez-studiosleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-gameonline-gamespaypalpetroglyphrise-of-immortalsrmtroitribestribes-ascendvideoMon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beta and bucks: John Smedley discusses PlanetSide 2's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/beta-and-bucks-john-smedley-discusses-planetside-2s-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/beta-and-bucks-john-smedley-discusses-planetside-2s-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/beta-and-bucks-john-smedley-discusses-planetside-2s-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PlanetSide 2
In an interview with Chinese site 17173.com, SOE's John Smedley shared some revealing details about PlanetSide 2, including the fact that the upcoming MMO shooter will be free.

MMOsite carried the English version of the story early this morning, but there were a few points that were lost in translation. So we contacted Smedley for clarification, and he said that while he had previously mentioned that the game will be "some form of free-to-play," SOE is not prepared to announce specifics just yet, but we should "expect something that will be very player friendly." He mentioned that a Blizzard-style auction house won't be a part of that plan but that he was fond of what League of Legends had done with its system.

It's also his opinion that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be the last large-scale MMO with a subscription fee. "The game looks great," Smedley commented, "and I will be playing myself. BioWare is doing an awesome job."

Smedley also made mention of PlanetSide 2's beta schedule. SOE is aiming to begin wider testing of the title later this year or early next year in North America, but the company doesn't know for sure just yet.

PlanetSide 2 is aiming to be bigger and better than the original, with battlefields holding up to 2,000 players at the same time, a flexible skill system that allows players to fine-tune their troops and engage in crafting, and a struggle to control territory between three factions. Interestingly enough, Smedley said that the factions might not always be at each other's throats; the PlanetSide 2 team has plans to launch PvE world events such as alien invasions where all players will put aside their differences to combat a shared threat.

MassivelyBeta and bucks: John Smedley discusses PlanetSide 2's future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>17173.comauction-housebetabuy-to-playdiablo-3diablo-iiif2pfree-to-playjohn-smedleymmosite.complanetsideplanetside-2planetside-nextps2soeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorterritory-controlThu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think Diablo III's RMT policy will affect MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-diablo-iiis-rmt-policy-will-affec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-diablo-iiis-rmt-policy-will-affec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-diablo-iiis-rmt-policy-will-affec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A pile of money
Blizzard made something of a stink in fan circles last week with its announcement of Diablo III's RMT-enabled auction house as well as the lack of offline play (and mod support) in the highly anticipated fantasy action sequel.

While hardcore fan- and forum-outrage was palpable, it's likely that the title will shatter sales records anyway, and we'll be that much closer to a gaming world devoid of offline play and festooned with microtransactions. What does all of this have to do with MMOs and Massively? That's where you come in, dear readers. Do you think Diablo III's real-money auction house will affect MMOs? How so (or why not)?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you think Diablo III's RMT policy will affect MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseblizzarddaily-grinddiablo-3diablo-3-auction-housediablo-iiifantasygame-discussiongamer-discussionmicrotransactionsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-industrymmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionrmttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 11 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a long time since we've heard anything about Diamonds being reinstituted into Runes of Magic's auction house. Since that fateful day they were removed, a lot of new players have joined, veterans have left and some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost.

Having Diamonds in the auction house is an important feature that was planned from the get-go. It allows for seamless trading and player-controlled price fluctuations that keep all items obtainable for everyone. It's about having the freedom to play multiple ways. Options are more numerous than simply paying and having everything opened up or not paying and being stuck. With RoM's cash-shop items being integrated into the title's gameplay, there's a grayscale that lets players have many more options in how they want to play.

It's not an overly complex issue, but one worth looking back on. Getting Diamonds back in the auction house isn't a lost cause, but the issue has dragged on to the point that long time players may have given up all hope. This edition of Lost Pages of Taborea is all about looking back at the beginning and bringing players up to speed on diamonds in (or not-in) the auction house.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecash-shopcurrencydiamondsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegiftinggoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreareal-money-transactionsrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttradingMon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm bouncing off last week's Lost Pages of Taborea to elaborate on why Runes of Magic's content is lackluster, especially in light of the ability to over-gear but also to come up with some ideas to keep it from becoming meaningless and boring. It's not absolutely necessary, but it will help if you've read last week's article.

RoM's gear-system ensures that you get a lot of variety in choosing what kind of character to make and how you want to play it, but there's a threshold at which the only way to allow for even more diversity among class builds is to offset the linear difficulty of new content by replacing your stats with more powerful versions of themselves, adding refinements and tiering, upgrades that just up your sheer power. Players get funneled into more restrictive builds as they gain levels.

The downfall is in the content itself because it becomes super-easy-mode killing after over-gearing. It's turning on a cheat code. Any need -- or desire -- to manage blood bars or skill rotations gets thrown out with the trash. It's a foreseeable issue in just about any game across any platform or genre in which you would allow the players to gain extra amounts of power. But is there a way to allow for it and keep in some challenge and variety? Some solutions might be to slow down the pace of combat, stretch the utility of player bars, make content more dynamic, or throw in some sandbox behavior.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecontentcraftingcrafting-systemdungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehorizontaljeremy-strattonlinearlost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-drivenplayer-driven-economyprogressionromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxthemeparkMon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Playstyles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/wasteland-diaries-playstyles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/wasteland-diaries-playstyles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/wasteland-diaries-playstyles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Most MMOs have three playstyles. Well, that's incorrect; they actually have any number of play-styles with varying degrees of three types of play. PvE (player vs. environment) is the style of play in which the antagonists are a part of the gameworld itself. PvP (player vs. player) pits the players against each other. And RP (roleplaying) has the players vying for... whatever they decide they need to vie for. Most players engage Fallen Earth (or any MMO, for that matter) with a mix of the three.

Fallen Earth is a great setting for the RPers. Its vastness and its interesting-looking locales make for a variety of backdrops. The interesting locales usually make for some great locations for open world PvP. And there are hundreds and hundreds of PvE missions here, there, and everywhere. All three types of players can get a lot out of Fallen Earth if they approach the game properly. The purpose of this post is to help you along with getting what you can out of the game with your preferred playstyle. So without any further ado, click past the cut and read on.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Playstyles

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Playstyles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-countyauction-houseblockadeCraftercraftingfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefeaturedgamersfirsticarusicarus-studioslevel-capPlayStylepvepvproleplayRolePlayingRPsocialtraderFri, 01 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have a confession to make. My name is Justin, and I'm a Lord of the Rings Online altoholic.

I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES!

I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak!

And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it.

If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltaholicaltitisaltoaltoholismaltsauction-housebank-altburglarcodepenencycraftingcurrencyeconomyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhtclord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromichel-delvingmoneymulethe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AIKA Global gearing up for nation merge, in-game events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/aika-global-gearing-up-for-nation-merge-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/aika-global-gearing-up-for-nation-merge-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/aika-global-gearing-up-for-nation-merge-in-game-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

AIKA's plans for global domination are ramping up in the month of May. The free-to-play fantasy title now features four major in-game events, and a new press release hints at "exciting new game and website updates" to be revealed.

First up is the month-long Nation Wars II event in which AIKA's nation-states transform into all out war zones. Four players from each nation will represent their homelands on the Lord Marshall Alliance, and national armies will be able to march on enemy territory for fun and profit.

Next up is the Legionaires of May event in which participants compete to level new characters from 10 to 50 as swiftly as possible. The first five legions to complete the requirements by May 31st will snag a prize pack. The final two events, A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed and Auction House, span the entire month. Specifics for each will be given in-game during the lead-up to the event. Finally, AIKA Global is introducing an offline mailing system as well as a nation merge that will have a major impact on the game's political landscape. Head to the official AIKA website and read all about the coming changes.

MassivelyAIKA Global gearing up for nation merge, in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-friend-in-need-is-a-friend-indeedaikaaika-onlineauction-housebattleseventsf2pfantasyfree-to-playin-game-eventslegionaires-of-maymay-eventsnation-statesnation-warsnation-wars-2nation-wars-iipress-releaseredbanat3funwar-zonesWed, 11 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fallen Earth has a complex, robust crafting system. The vast majority of the items in the game can be crafted from things you find lying on the ground. I am not exaggerating when I say "vast majority" because it's well over 90%. You can literally level your way to the cap simply by scavenging and crafting. It used to be much easier, but it is still possible. Tradeskills are different from other skills in Fallen Earth in that you raise them through use rather than spending AP on them. The system itself can be quite daunting when you are first starting out, but once you have a basic grasp of how it works, the rest is pretty intuitive.

In this post, I'll touch on the basics of crafting. I'm no expert, but I do have a completely maxed-out social/crafter that has most of the game's recipes in his repertoire. You may know what you are doing, but I think even the most learned of crafters might learn something from this piece. The novice crafter will learn a few simple tricks (tricks that I wished I had known when I was just starting out) that will make his life a little easier out there. It's tough when you just want to make something with your hands and there are legions of bloodthirsty miscreants trying to kill you. So grab your toolkits and click past the cut for more.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter?

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseconflict-townscrafterscraftingcrafting-queuecrafting-systemfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedicarusicarus-studiosmaterialsmerchantsnodespvp-zonesrecipesresearchsalvagingscavengingscavenging-nodestradeskillsFri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST