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Latest RuneScape behind-the-scenes video details cryptic clue fest, evolution of combat

Matt Daniel — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, in-game, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play

It's time yet again for another RuneScape behind-the-scenes video, and this time we get to take a look at the newly announced Evolution of Combat changes that players are surely awaiting with bated breath. Jagex's developers say that they want to keep players from having to navigate through multiple interfaces in order to cast spells, change combat styles, and so forth. To this end they plan the addition of an action bar that will allow players easy access to spells, emotes, items, and anything else they want to keep at their fingertips.

The video also touches on an upcoming very special cryptic clue-fest in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A mysterious royal visitor is on her way to the city of Varrock, and it's up to players to help ensure that everything is in tip-top shape when she arrives. Players will be responsible for assisting Varrock's Tourist Office in keeping supplies for the grand celebration sufficiently stocked. For the full details on both of these exciting upcoming features, head on past the cut and check out the behind-the-scenes video for yourself.

Continue reading Latest RuneScape behind-the-scenes video details cryptic clue fest, evolution of combat

Latest RuneScape behind-the-scenes video details cryptic clue fest, evolution of combat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update

Matt Daniel — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play

RuneScape players, do you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes of Jagex's popular free-to-play title? If so, then you're in luck because today we've got the first in a series of weekly videos that take fans on a behind-the-scenes tour of the game's upcoming content.

This first video focuses on the upcoming Queen Black Dragon update, which is a members' update that will be coming in two parts. The first part of the update will bring a new questline and a "multi-level training dungeon," while part two will bring the Queen Black Dragon herself. The video promises that the fight will be one of the biggest that RuneScape has ever seen, and players who emerge victorious will have plenty of loot to look forward to. For the full, juicy details, check out the full behind-the-scenes video after the cut.

Continue reading RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update

RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial!

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, News items, Opinion, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous, The Elder Scrolls Online

Massively Speaking Episode 200 is a nice round number, and people are supposed to celebrate those, right? Join us for a Very Special Episode, during which Shawn joins Justin and Bree to reminisce about the past, talk about the behind-the-scenes activities on the site, and drop a Tabula Rasa reference or two.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:

Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial!

Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices

Matt Daniel — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News items, Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 fans are surely champing at the bit to get their hands on the game next week in the game's first public beta weekend, but you know what's cooler than taking part in GW2's beta weekends? Doing so at ArenaNet's offices in Seattle, which is exactly what the folks at Eurogamer got to do just recently.

Not only did they get the opportunity to sit down and play the Guild Wars 2 beta with the team, but they also got the chance to chat with many of the key figures behind it all. Virtually every department of development is represented in the lengthy article, which includes interviews with head honcho Mike O'Brien, QA manager Mike Zadorojny, art director Daniel Dociu, lead content designer Colin Johanson, and many, many more. So if you're interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the studio behind what could be this year's biggest MMO, just head on over and check out the full piece.

Take a behind-the-scenes tour of ArenaNet's (totally awesome) offices originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Previews, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

Ignore the man behind the curtain! Bow before the great and powerful Smokejumper! Oh... what? It's OK if they see behind the curtain? Come on in, folks -- SOE's totally fine with you seeing what's going on backstage during the development of EverQuest II's Age of Discovery and has a couple videos to prove it.

The first video is narrated by EQII Lead Game Designer Akil Hooper, who takes us on a lightning tour of the new Beastlords and their animal Warders. Hooper shows off the new additions to the UI that make viewing, customizing, and switching between the Warders possible.

Flipping over to Age of Discovery's mercenaries feature, Game Designer Carlos Mora demonstrates how the system works. Players can hire one of 10 mercenary NPCs to form a temporary party, and Mercenaries have both a hiring fee and a salary that is withdrawn from your account every 30 minutes. Mora says that a couple of the mercs are more difficult to find -- and more unique -- but are worth the search.

You can watch both of the behind-the-scenes videos after the jump!

Continue reading EverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos

EverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE development video features engineering team interviews

Jef Reahard — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

CCP has released another behind-the-scenes video that details life as a member of the EVE Online development team. This time the focus is on the engineering group, and the five-minute clip features a few talking-head interviews with CCP Atlas, CCP Punkturis, and other luminaries.

In terms of content, we don't get a lot of new information, and much of the dialogue centers on fairly mundane design items like UI scaling, improvements to the game's bookmarking functionality, and the like. That said, it's an interesting peek behind the curtain, and it's always nice to put a face with an oft-quoted developer name. Check out the full clip after the break.

Continue reading EVE development video features engineering team interviews

EVE development video features engineering team interviews originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A look behind the scenes for City of Heroes' first signature arc

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Video, City of Heroes, City of Villains, News items, Free-to-play

The second part of the first signature arc for City of Heroes is now available for players (free for VIP and in the Paragon Market for everyone else), continuing to ask the question of who will die. It's a weighty question when you're dealing with the key NPCs of the game lore for the whole of its lifespan, one that Paragon Studios isn't addressing without a keen understanding of the consequences. A new video documentary has just been released, with the staff discussing the creation of the arc.

As laid out in the video, one of the major pushes for the signature arc wasn't just to engage the players who were already committed to the game but to attract new players to City of Heroes Freedom because of the major changes being wrought upon the lore. Check out the full documentary just past the cut, with a few hints about where the arc might end up when the dust settles.

Continue reading A look behind the scenes for City of Heroes' first signature arc

A look behind the scenes for City of Heroes' first signature arc originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA podcast highlights convention news

Jef Reahard — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, TERA

Episode five of the official TERA podcast is in the can, and it's also available for your listening pleasure on the TERA website. The show finds En Masse community manager Evan "Scapes" Berman talking with producer Chris Hager and COO Patrick Wyatt for approximately 20 minutes.

The subject?

Convention season, of course, and the gang talks about everything from the TERA Gamescom demo to the preparation necessary to convey a certain message to members of the gaming media. The trio also mentions the challenges inherent in answering difficult questions on stage at a major convention, and Wyatt even chats briefly about his experiences working on Blizzard's seminal StarCraft RTS.

TERA podcast highlights convention news originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming'

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Launches, Star Wars: The Old Republic

While Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to be on track for a holiday release, BioWare's Dr. Greg Zeschuk admits to being "daunted" by the size and scope of the project. "This game's launch is going to be one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming," he said.

When talking with Eurogamer, Zeschuk said that the studio is trying to make sure that everything is "solid" enough before it pulls the trigger and releases the game, but it is also trying to get the game out the doors as fast as it can. Currently, the game is being tested by thousands of players daily, a number that is expected to increase dramatically once September's expanded testing cycle hits. "It's literally live right now," he said.

Whether The Old Republic will stand or fall, it won't be for a lack of preparation on BioWare's behalf. Zeschuk paints a picture of the hectic work being done behind the scenes: "It's one thing to get the game done, another to ensure you can login thousands of people a minute. It's a different sort of requirement. The things you need to get done to ship this are very different from a standard game. A standard game, this is like five of them, right? Our job is really simple: making sure it's great when it comes out."

BioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play

Yesterday, the Guild Wars 2 sound team got to have a day in the limelight with a video detailing the process of making the sounds that go into the game. Today, the team is back in the spotlight, showcasing an equally-important but slightly different aspect of the audio game. This time, the video isn't showing off getting the sounds just right, it's showcasing getting the sounds to work correctly in the game world, rather than just playing a footstep effect every few moments.

As demonstrated in the video, the team uses a complex dynamic layering system in which several different sounds can have varying levels of volume, frequency, and focus -- as demonstrated by a windmill, which has ten different sounds playing at intervals to create the illusion of wood and cloth slowly turning. Guild Wars 2 players might not find any tips about the gameplay just past the cut, but they will find a video that further explains how you make just the right kinds of noise in the game.

Continue reading More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2

More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go behind the scenes with RuneScape's August updates and upgrades

Matt Daniel — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Previews, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser, Family

RuneScape players have a treat in store for them, as Jagex has released the August Behind the Scenes letter today. What do players have to look forward to in the coming month? Quite a bit, actually. Not content to rest on its laurels after the ambitious clan citadels update, Jagex is maintaining full speed with a variety of upgrades and updates to the world of RuneScape.

For starters, the Grand Exchange will be seeing an upgrade that will split it into four wings in order to disperse the crowds around the central exchange booth, thereby making the service easier to use. The game's audio will be seeing an overhaul as well, with all elemental, normal, and Ancient Magick spells receiving new sound effects. Agility users will also notice some spankin'-new sounds as they scamper around. Temple Trekking is getting completely reworked, with the Temple Trekking partners' AI getting a large improvement. The largest update this month comes in the form of Branches of Darkmeyer, which will pit players against legions of deadly vampires in pursuit of shiny new vampire-slaying equipment. For all of this and more that we just couldn't fit, check out the August Behind the Scenes letter over at the RuneScape website.

Go behind the scenes with RuneScape's August updates and upgrades originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The life of the alter-ego

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Opinion, Massively Meta, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

In response to my original column about City of Heroes Freedom, I got an email. This in and of itself isn't particularly unusual; I get a lot of email, even if I don't respond to all of it. (I do read all of it, but there are only so many hours in the day.) The mail itself was pretty angry, however, claiming that I had sold out to NCsoft and was being just another corporate shill. Exact terminology has not been preserved, but you get the general idea. It's the sort of letter that pretty much everyone at Massively gets from time to time, insisting that we've sold out at some point.

Of course, after I had my usual laugh, I realized that there are some genuine misconceptions about what it's like being on the other side of the screen. They've been touched on from time to time with reader questions, but rather than scattering information hither and yon, I figured I'd just take a column to clear the air and dispel some misunderstandings about what goes on behind the scenes at Massively.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The life of the alter-ego

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The life of the alter-ego originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Season Four launch recap

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log

Captain's Log, Stardate 65037.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! As I mentioned in last week's Captain's Log entry, Season Four: Crossfire is now alive and kicking on Star Trek Online's Holodeck server. Based on past experiences with major content and code pushes, I feel that this was the smoothest to date with virtually no server issues or overload. While there have been a few snags along the way with some bugs making it past Cryptic's "white-glove" QA process, the update was a success and players are having more fun than ever before.

As discussed in one of my past log entries, Season Four was to bring many updates to the game, including the acclaimed ground combat 2.0 system, which would make it an even better Trek experience -- in all honestly, Cryptic delivered. STO is more active than ever and the fleet that I am in is having multiple newbies sign up each day; it is an exciting time to be a player and your weekly columnist. What I would like to do this week is revisit what I let you know was coming to the game and let you know some of my thoughts on them now that I have been experiencing them for myself.

Ensign, warp 12! Oh yeah, we are taking this to a whole new level...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Season Four launch recap

Captain's Log: Season Four launch recap originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: The Gospel of Tribble

Brandon Felczer — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log, Guides

Captain's Log, Stardate 64959.3...

Hello, compu... what the... shields up, red alert! Brace for impact! A giant Tribble is on the loose, and its name is Season Four. That's right -- the Star Trek Online public test server, Tribble, sometimes nicknamed the Trouble with Tribble, has finally reopened with the major update that we have all been waiting for. This build was first pushed last Friday but was taken down moments later due to a "major database error." The show-stopping kinks have been worked out now, so it is time to get to testing out all of the new content I have been writing about for the past couple of months.

If you have not seen the release notes for this build, there are dozens of updates that will be altering the way you have come to play the game. Not sure what to test? That is what I am here for. The goal of this week's Captain's Log is to provide you a checklist on what to hit up once you patch your game and get on your test toon. Also, if you have never installed the test server, now is a great time -- Cryptic will soon be announcing a Tribble Test Weekend, during which you can log in and receive an exclusive item on the live server just for helping test.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's share some text from the word of Tribble...

Continue reading Captain's Log: The Gospel of Tribble

Captain's Log: The Gospel of Tribble originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RuneScape introduces sagas and more in May

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, RuneScape, Free-to-play

The team over at Jagex always has several irons in the fire when it comes to RuneScape's future. In a recent behind-the-scenes article, RuneScape's "Mod Mark" provides us with an advance look at some of the team's plans for the game this May.

Several new capes will be added to the game, including a five-year veteran cape and one for players who have tried out RuneScape Classic at some point. Each of the capes is not only stylish but comes with special emotes as well. Continuing with the fashion theme, the devs will also make available PvP "death hats" that change in appearance as you rack up the kills.

Several other quality-of-life improvements are on the table, such as the Dwarf Lava Flow Mine becoming an actual mine for players working on that particular skill. But by far the most exciting plan in the works is the introduction of a fresh type of content in the game: Fremennik Sagas. These are replayable stories by which you step into the shoes of famous characters to experience defining moments in their lives. There are three such Sagas being developed right now, including one in which you hunt for a bandit on the run.

You can peruse all of the proposed additions to the game over at RuneScape.

RuneScape introduces sagas and more in May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Video, Previews, Post-Apocalyptic, Miscellaneous

"Monday the world can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday they eat my heart / Oh, Thursday my chainsaw doesn't start / It's Friday I'm in lab."

We're reminded of the immortal words of The Cure as we watch this neat behind-the-scenes glimpse into the inner workings of Undead Labs. Ever wonder what it might be like to actually go to work and spend your whole day creating a post-apocalyptic zombie world? And get paid for it? Watch these devs and feel the bitter sting of envy at the back of your neck.

While the video doesn't go into depth about Undead Labs' as-yet unnamed MMO or the XBLA game the studio is developing, it does offer tantalizing sights such as sheets of concept art, in-game building models, and even a brief bit of man-vs-zombie mayhem. And there are few things more surreal than witnessing a room full of businessmen and women seriously discussing zombie behaviors.

You can watch the full video after the jump!

Continue reading It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you

It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

As every day passes, more and more people are joining the Black Prophecy beta testing. Slowly, the localizations are being smoothed out, and even more goodies are being added into this hotly anticipated sci-fi space dogfighter MMO. For those of you who haven't quite made it in as yet, as well as those who have but are curious about the nuts-and-bolts, Gamigo and Reakktor Media have released a video today that offers an interesting look at ongoing behind-the-scenes production.

In this video, we take a trip to Periscope Studios and T-Recs Studios to watch just a little bit of how the voicework is done. Along with that, we're treated to a look at just how they get the voice to match the mouth animations of the NPCs without it looking completely silly or taking obnoxious amounts of time. Whether this upcoming free-to-play game is on your personal radar or you're more the type who is fascinated with the overall industry, it's a video worth spending a few minutes of your life to check out. We've embedded this new behind-the-scenes video after the break for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy

Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get a behind-the-scenes look at Perfect World International's upcoming expansion

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Perfect World International, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play

Just when you thought it was safe to wander back into Perfect World International, the time foretold by elders is coming. In the game's upcoming expansion, Genesis, the land will be torn asunder, leaving all in darkness and confusion. Along with this world-shattering event, two new classes will emerge, ready to help lead denizens of this fantasy game back into the light. Of course, before that can happen next month, there's tons of work to be completed on the back-end. Creation of new art, music, quests, animations, armor, and more.

That's why the team at Perfect World Entertainment have offered an interesting teaser trailer for Perfect World International's upcoming Genesis expansion. Rather than reiterating specifics of the storyline which are easily readable on the main site, the team has instead opted to give players a behind-the-scenes look at all the hard work the team is putting in. From character modeling and rendering to music, motion-capture, and more, it offers a refreshing look at the operations of the studio. You can check out the video behind the break or head over to the Perfect World International site if you want to see the Perfect World one last time before things change.

Continue reading Get a behind-the-scenes look at Perfect World International's upcoming expansion

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Perfect World International's upcoming expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE takes you behind the scenes at Fan Faire

Jef Reahard — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST

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

Ever wondered what it was like to throw a huge party like Sony Online Entertainment's Fan Faire? The official EverQuest II website takes you behind the scenes at Fan Faire 2010 via a new article that features SOE Events Team member Dawn Wilson. Members of the Events Team talk about everything from live quest planning, to logistics, to the rewards of a small team putting on a large event.

"Because this is 100% an SOE venture I most enjoy the pride we get when we see how happy everyone is with our hard work. We are a small department and at times it is hard to think how we will get everything done for the summer events. When we are there and it looks amazing and everyone is having a great time, it is the best feeling," Wilson says.

Read all about it on the official EQII website.

SOE takes you behind the scenes at Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Behind the scenes edition

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Massively Meta, Ask Massively

While the Ask Massively mailbag has been overflowing the first few weeks, we have a light edition this time around with what are essentially two questions. Although one question has sprouted dozens of menacing tentacles attacking from all directions, like the Watcher in the Water grabbing at your pony. Or the team's only minstrel.

These questions all focus on the "behind-the-scenes" aspect of the site and what makes us tick. As we here at Massively love to share any info on how awesome this job is, prepare yourself for a long-winded answer, which you'll find just after the jump below. And don't forget to get your own questions in for next week's installment at either ask@massively.com or in the comments.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Behind the scenes edition

Ask Massively: Behind the scenes edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine offers up a dev diary and screens for Oath of the Rangers

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, News items

We got the first details on the upcoming Lord of the Rings Online book, titled Oath of the Rangers, earlier this week. Now, to add to the excitement, Turbine has followed up on the initial information by releasing a handful of screens and an excellent developer's diary.

Flowing mightily from the keyboard of Jeff 'MadeOfLions' Libby, the diary gives Lord of the Rings Online fans much to discuss. Aside from the talk of storylines and a new skirmish, there's a really great behind-the-scenes portion about how precisely the LotRO team sets up something called "drama sequences." Essentially, these scripted sequences tailor NPC dialogue to you based on your own personal quest history -- bringing you info the story. There's also some information on ways the team is seeking to make travel a bit easier for the casual players, or more rewarding for those who take the long path.

If Middle-earth is the place you call home, then you'll definitely want to check out the new screens we've gathered up for you as well as the enlightening developer diary over on the LotRO site.

Gallery: LotRO Volume 3, Book 1 gallery

Turbine offers up a dev diary and screens for Oath of the Rangers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Designing the apocalypse: behind the scenes of Fallen Earth

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth

We know that the development teams at our favorite MMOs work hard at game creation, but we're equally aware of how much they love their jobs. It's a dream job, and while development of a new game can be tough and stressful, more often than not it's lots of fun.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the studio? What mishaps do the developers run across during the process, and what great ideas never make it to launch day? We talked to the team at Fallen Earth, and they generously shared some of their greatest bloopers and favorite ideas. Read along after the cut, and enjoy!

Continue reading Designing the apocalypse: behind the scenes of Fallen Earth

Designing the apocalypse: behind the scenes of Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spock!

James Egan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, New titles, Star Trek Online

We recently showed you a video of Zachary Quinto -- Spock Reloaded, if you will -- doing voice work for Star Trek Online. Quinto won't be reprising his role as the famous Vulcan though, and will instead guide new players through the tutorial as an Emergency Medical Hologram. Now we've come across footage of Leonard Nimoy lending his voice as well for Cryptic's massively multiplayer take on the Star Trek IP. He'll be providing the narration that brings players up to date with events in Star Trek Online's setting.

Stick with us past the jump for footage of Leonard Nimoy (and clips from the game) in a behind-the-scenes video for Star Trek Online.

Continue reading Spock!

Spock! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet gives us a sneak peek at the voices of Guild Wars 2

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, Previews, News items, Guild Wars 2

Just when you thought we'd already gotten our excellent holiday treat from ArenaNet in the form of that amazingly gorgeous Guild Wars 2 trailer, they decided to add in a behind-the-scenes video for us to enjoy! This new video titled "Giving Tyria a Voice" offers a look at the people making the characters of Guild Wars 2 come alive. Additionally, we're treated to their thoughts on what their characters are all about -- shedding a bit more light on what we can look forward to in terms of story and atmosphere. When coupled with the art from the recently released races trailer, this is a must-watch video for anyone curious about how the game is progressing.

The voice talent tagged for Guild Wars 2 is an amazing lineup of well-known, veteran voice actors. The people we meet in this trailer are Steve Blum, Troy Baker, Kari Wahlgren and geektastic favorite, Felicia Day, one of the stars of The Guild. With a rich pool of talent like this, coupled with award-winning artists and a studio dedicated to creating top-notch content for their fans, Guild Wars 2 is definitely shaping up to be an incredible game. But don't take our word for it -- check out the behind-the-scenes video from ArenaNet we've conveniently included after the break!

Continue reading ArenaNet gives us a sneak peek at the voices of Guild Wars 2

ArenaNet gives us a sneak peek at the voices of Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The next APB behind the scenes video podcast is online

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Podcasts, Video, Culture, Game mechanics, All Points Bulletin, Crime

The APB developers over at Realtime Worlds are continuing their behind the scenes video podcast series in episode 8, "Spoiler Alert." No, no, they're not talking about storyline spoilers or people who scream "Ozymandias did it!" when they come out of Watchmen. (Yes, I'm that evil.) They're talking about car spoilers.

This week the crew goes out to the Scottish Modified Car Show, all in order to point out how much customization is available for cars in the game. From decals, to new parts, to color, all of the cars in APB will have some extreme customization options that will allow players to really express themselves. Well, express themselves more past shooting one another over and over while slinging taunts.

The full video is available for your viewing pleasure at MMORPG.com.

The next APB behind the scenes video podcast is online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the scenes with "that SWTOR cinematic trailer"

William Dobson — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Sure, the Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer from E3 may have been lacking in the gameplay department, but that didn't stop it absolutely rocking the socks off anyone that saw it. The people that made that possible are from Blur Studio, specialists in CG animation for games, films, and commercials. The IGN video above features an interview with Derron Ross, an animation supervisor for the company. He explains that although you might not realize it in the final products, a ton of the highest quality game videos are from Blur -- as an example, one of the early Warhammer Online trailers that a lot of you will have seen is from them. Ross goes on to describe what it takes to create something with such dangerously high levels of awesomeness.

If this little behind-the-scenes look at the SWTOR trailer has you craving more CG goodness, Blur's website has links to a ton of their other works for your viewing pleasure.

Behind the scenes with "that SWTOR cinematic trailer" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RuneScape introduces new phoenix combat pet and more

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, RuneScape, Free-to-play

Mod Mark, the Lead Designer for Jagex's RuneScape, has written a new Behind the Scenes article for January in which he describes the changes coming down the pipe for RuneScape.

There's mention of a new phoenix combat pet that will have the ability to fire ashes at your enemies. The Achievement Diaries are also releasing this month; this time set in the peaceful Seer's Village and the surrounding areas. As with previous Achievement Diaries, this one was created to show the hidden or non-quest activities in the area. In addition to these large additions, some minor changes will be made to the game. Check out the complete article for more information on all changes that have arrived or will be arriving in the month of January.

RuneScape introduces new phoenix combat pet and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm

James Egan — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Machinima, Massively Interviews

One of the most significant works of machinima created in recent years is Clear Skies, an unconventional amalgam of the gritty, far future setting of EVE Online tempered with a more human touch, imbued with life through clever writing and exacting manipulation of Half-Life 2 character models. Fans and critics alike have praised Clear Skies since its release. Indeed, the film recently took top honors at Machinima Filmfest 2008, garnering a Mackie award for Best Long Format Film.

This success at the festival was met with astonishment from Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm as well as from his collaborators, John Guthrie and Richie Powles. But it was decidedly less of a surprise to the many fans of the film, a seemingly ever-growing number judging by the number of times Clear Skies has been downloaded from EVE-Files.

Massively recently caught up with Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm, who was gracious enough to provide us with a sequence of production stills from Clear Skies 2, explaining how he brings a scene to life in stages from voice recording, to choreography, to the culmination of this work in the final footage. While we had his attention, Ian also discussed what drives a man to dedicate years of his life to a project of this caliber, and what he has in store for us with Clear Skies 2.

Gallery: Behind the scenes of Clear Skies 2

Continue reading Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm

Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Go behind the scenes with Stargate Worlds at Comic-Con

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Events, real-world, New titles, Stargate Worlds

For all of you who have been patiently waiting to see some gameplay from Stargate Worlds, the folks from Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment have set up a series of torrents, chock-full of love for you. With the help of the folks from SGWIrc, the Stargate Worlds crew's downloadable coverage boasts not just candid gameplay video like the one above (we love the "run away!" comment) but also pictures of other shenanigans going on at the event. Also, don't forget to head over to the Stargate Worlds blog to check out the convention from their perspective.

We also have our people on the ground at Comic-Con, so be on the lookout for some more upcoming footage of Stargate Worlds, as well as all the other news coming out of San Diego!

[Via GamingToday]

Go behind the scenes with Stargate Worlds at Comic-Con originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: A new appreciation for sound design

Moo Money — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Video, Cinemassively, Machinima

Next time that you watch a machinima, or even a real movie, think about all of the different elements that go into making the film. Most of the time, we see the video and hear the music, but there are also sound effects that enhance the production. Caruu, the sound designer for Acolyte 1.5, has posted a version of the video without music or dialogue, so that the sound effects stand out.

The result is a surprising amount of work that you probably didn't even realize went into the machinima. When you're done viewing and listening, watch Acolyte 1.5 again, and you'll gain a whole new appreciation!

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

Cinemassively: A new appreciation for sound design originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spacetime Studios reveals character development for Blackstar

Akela Talamasca — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Classes, Game mechanics, New titles, Crafting, Races, Academic, Blackstar

Blackstar is a science fiction-themed MMO currently in development by Spacetime Studios, and it looks fantastic. The latest missive from their blog gives a look into their character development process -- in this case, a look at creating an identifiable, iconic aesthetic for each character class.

According to the blogpost, by locking down the character type visually, it allows for easier apprehension of the elements of that type by both the development team and publishing partners. This, in turn, solidifies its inclusion into the rest of the game earlier on, which makes further progress that much more effective.

Plus, y'know ... it's prettier. We love concept art at Massively, and a look behind the scenes is always welcome. Check out the rest of the article!

Spacetime Studios reveals character development for Blackstar originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the scenes with the LEGO art team

Chris Chester — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, LEGO Universe, Kids

There's a couple new Behind the Scenes interviews on the LEGO Universe website for the month of March, focusing specifically on the art and visual style of the game. They go through the ropes with Phillip Atencio, the art director for the game as he explains his thoughts and philosophies underlying the art process. One surprising confession on Atencio's part was that not only does he not play games recreationally, but he finds that their visual quality is still pretty low compared to other mediums. We're not really sure if Atencio has actually played any games in, ya know, the last decade, but that seemed like quite a strange point for an art director on a major gaming project to make.

The second Behind the Scenes interview (or Behind Behind the Scenes, if you like) with Atencio is available only to subscribers of the free newsletter. It only amounts to another three questions, including an interesting one addressing how they plan to maintain continuity in a game with such disparate locales as a modern city and a Black Knight's castle, so it may be worth signing up to the newsletter, just to get the extra goodies.

Behind the scenes with the LEGO art team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RuneScape February preview shows off new music, dungeon graphics

Michael Zenke — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Patches, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser

The RuneScape site looks ahead to what will be added to the game throughout February. Just as they did back in November, the folks at Jagex lay out the big updates coming to the fantastically popular free-to-play browser-based RPG. This month the two big additions are a brand new music system and a graphics update for the Edgeville Dungeon.

The music system sounds particularly noteworthy, with players able to unlock tracks achievement-style. Netting all 500(!) gives you access to a unique emote. The new graphics for the dungeon, on the other hand, are a follow-up to a brush-up that the overground area of Edgeville previously received. Other additions include a new Construction puzzle, a spring-time event involving rapidly breeding rabbits, and a new farming amulet.

RuneScape February preview shows off new music, dungeon graphics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WAR Online Newsletter out, it's elf-tastic!

Chris Chester — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lore, Warhammer Online

Even though we knew beforehand that the October edition of the Warhammer Online Newsletter was going to be prefaced with bad news, it was still a welcome surprise when it greeted us in our mailboxes this morning. This month's issue (which marks the two year anniversary for the newsletter) focuses on those always-polarizing High Elves, looking down their noses at the world from their marble palaces in Ulthuan. On the list of goodies, players can watch a video on the High Elf Shadow Warrior (or emo elves, as Paul dubs them), take an in-depth look at the High Elf Swordmaster, read the general description of the High Elf army and the Chrace zone in the north of Ulthuan, and peep at a number of other video updates.

As always, the WAR crew does a great job of inundating us with such a quantity of topical and behind-the-scenes content that we almost forget that the game still has a long way to go. While you can find all the information scattered about the WAR site, the easiest way to get it all is to simply subscribe to the newsletter, which we heartily recommend anyway.

Make sure to stay tuned, as we'll have our first-hand impressions of Warhammer Online later this morning.

WAR Online Newsletter out, it's elf-tastic! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Podcast looks back at Meridian 59 history

Samuel Axon — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Meridian 59, Interviews, MMO industry, PvP

Want to work on your old-school cred? Check out Virgin Worlds' "Online Gamer's Anthology" podcast episode #5 and learn a bit about the history of arguably the first graphical MMO ever, Meridian 59.

The podcast starts out with a somewhat awkward skit which pays homage to Meridian 59's gameplay, but if you skip ahead about 30 minutes you'll get straight to the meat of it -- an in-depth, tell-all interview with developer Brian "Psychochild" Green, who has worked on the game since 1998. He talks about what makes the game unique and relevant, its demise at the hands of 3DO, and its resurrection by his own company, Near Death Studios. Here's a highlight from the interview -- Green explaining why re-launching Meridian 59 was important to him:

If you don't have a good sense of history it's really hard to move forward. Looking at more modern games, you have the level and class based system of EverQuest or World of Warcraft. I think a lot of times people look at only the most recent things and think, "Oh, that's the way it's always been, and that's what we have to follow." I think having a wider range of history -- the Meridian 59s, the Ultima Onlines, even those older games back into the proprietary systems -- knowing more about those can kind of give you a wider perspective.

Podcast looks back at Meridian 59 history originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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