Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Drew Karpyshyn set to pen another Star Wars: The Old Republic novel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's probably not set on Taris, but doesn't the planet look kind of pretty from this art?
Drew Karpyshyn, a lead writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic and the author of the tie-in novel Revan, is no longer with BioWare. That's old news. What might be somewhat more surprising news is that he is still penning novels for the game, with new information about the second novel having finally surfaced from a Facebook posting by Del Ray Books. If you've been eagerly awaiting more details about the bridge between Knights of the Old Republic and the MMO's setting, it's your lucky day.

Titled Annihilation, the novel will focus on agent Theron Shan and his companion Teff'ith as they investigate an Imperial counterattack spearheaded by an apprentice of Darth Malgus. The posting goes on to confirm that the novel is currently on target for release on November 13th of this year. So if you can't get enough of your story in the game, it looks like it won't be too much longer until you can get even more story out of game as well.

MassivelyDrew Karpyshyn set to pen another Star Wars: The Old Republic novel originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbioware-mythicbooksdel-ray-booksdrew-karpyshyneaea-biowareelectronic-artsfictiongame-fictionsnewsnovelsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictie-in-novelstorWed, 29 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another round of Star Wars: The Old Republic questions answered by the developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/another-round-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-questions-answered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because fans are PROBING for answers! Get it?
It's been two months since Star Wars: The Old Republic launched, and players have some questions. So it's a good thing that the development team is still hosting a weekly question-and-answer session for the community, with the latest installment addressing several new concerns about future updates. Among the answers are new features that will be coming with the second major patch, including animation adjustments for cross-faction parity and tweaks to docking at planets with orbital stations such as Tython and Korriban.

There are also plans for players to gain the ability to roll on equipment specifically for companions; the Need option will be disabled unless the item in question is designed for your advanced class. Amidst all of the good news, however, there is some bad in the sense that new ship models and customization are apparently on the table -- but for much further in the future. Take a look at the full list of answers if you're interested in seeing what players can expect for new features in the near future and the slightly further future.

MassivelyAnother round of Star Wars: The Old Republic questions answered by the developers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccommunitycommunity-questionseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfuture-patchesfuture-updatesnewspatchesq-and-aquestions-and-answersstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdatesFri, 24 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/war-producers-letter-talks-bug-fixing-patch-schedules/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - Knight of the Blazing Sun
Hey kids, it's time for another Warhammer Online producer's letter (no, it's still not dead, doomsayers). The dev team is currently hard at work on the 1.4.5a patch, and in case you were wondering, that little "a" basically indicates additions to the previous 1.4.5 update. Said additions will take the form of "functionality, messaging, and tweaks to the fortresses and relics," all of which are still being discussed on the official WAR forums.

Next up is the 1.4.6 patch, and Mythic has switched gears to focus on bug fixing instead of the previously planned open RvR tweaks. There are also some additional items of interest on the horizon, including a new live event and some changes to crafting. Head to the WAR Herald to read up on all the details.

[Thanks to Benjamin for the tip!]

MassivelyWAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.5-patch1.4.6-patchbioware-mythicbug-fixingbugscraftingfantasylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentopen-rvrproducers-letterrvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic lets you make a holocall to the first guild summit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-lets-you-make-a-holocall-to-the-firs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-lets-you-make-a-holocall-to-the-firs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-lets-you-make-a-holocall-to-the-firs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No word on whether or not said holocall will allow you to get all the Social Points you're owed.
Maybe you want to head down to the first guild summit for Star Wars: The Old Republic but just can't quite fit a trip to Austin into your budget at the moment. The bad news is that no matter how awesome your guild is, BioWare is not going to provide you a private jet. The good news is that you can still get some of the impact of the event, as portions of the event will apparently be available via livestream for those who can't attend in person.

Watching the event rather than attending might sound like a weak compromise, but according to the official announcement, players watching via livestream will be able to participate in some of the event discussions. It also looks like the streams will be covering the most important elements and highlight the developer presentations and feedback discussions. So you might not be able to take part physically in the events, but you can still get some of the feel.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic lets you make a holocall to the first guild summit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiceaea-biowareelectronic-artsguild-summitlivestreamplayer-eventsreal-world-eventsspecial-eventsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-guild-summitthe-old-repubilctorMon, 13 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare kicks off Star Wars: The Old Republic Q&A Fridays]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/bioware-kicks-off-star-wars-the-old-republic-qanda-fridays/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Perhaps Jedi can finally get this armor. And the chance to put hoods down.
When BioWare first announced the addition of a regular community Q&A feature for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the team stated that each session would answer about 10 questions. However, the first installment has gone up with a grand total of 15 and answers more questions about the Legacy system. Patch 1.2 will bring in the first set of rewards, allowing players to combine races and classes in new ways, but the company promises there will be more enhancements and expansions for future patches.

In fact, the next major patch is will bring several requested features. A new same-faction Warzone, the Hue to Chest feature, Medium and Heavy social armor, and guild banks are all on the table for the update. For players more concerned with the immediate state of the game, there are also answers about the best ways to submit feedback and how the team prioritizes which bugs to fix. It's certainly a good place to kick off the series, and community members should find something to be pleased with in the answers.

MassivelyBioWare kicks off Star Wars: The Old Republic Q&A Fridays originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccommunity-q-and-aea-biowarepatchpatchespreviewsq-and-aquestions-and-answersstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-patch-1.2the-old-republictorupdatesFri, 10 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/bioware-bringing-weekly-blogs-and-video-guides-for-star-wars-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Video guides to being a Sith mostly include a whole lot of pictures of puppies for you to scream at.
Bringing someone new into the world of an MMORPG can be a difficult task. BioWare is trying to make it easy for MMO newcomers to get into Star Wars: The Old Republic, and to that end the team has launched the first of a series of video guides to playing the game. The first video, narrated by Social Media Coordinator Eric Musco, covers starting fresh in the game, creating a character, and taking part in your first conversations.

Of course, you might be an old hand at playing the game by now. (If not, the video is embedded just past the cut.) For those players not in need of a helping hand, BioWare has also announced the launch of two weekly features -- a blog post rounding up all developer posts to the forums over the prior week, and a Q&A session that will pull 10 questions from a community thread to be answered each week. So even if you don't need help getting into the game, you can have a little extra guidance about what's going on behind the scenes.

Continue reading BioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyBioWare bringing weekly blogs and video guides for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccommunitycommunity-blogdevelopmentdevelopment-questionseaea-biowareelectronic-artseric-muscoguidesq-and-astar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideo-guidevideosFri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Subscriber numbers lead to a new hope for Electronic Arts stock]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/subscriber-numbers-lead-to-a-new-hope-for-electronic-arts-stock/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Okay, it's more of a continuation of an existing hope. You can live with the play on words, Justin does them all the time.
It's official: As of yesterday, Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.7 million active subscribers and has sold 2 million copies. That's good news for fans of the game, but it's also good news for both BioWare and Electronic Arts. Apparently, it's seen as very good news for Electronic Arts, as the company's stock has gone up by 6.1% in the announcement's wake. The stock closed on Wednesday at $18.44 a share and closed today at $19.56, an appreciable gain for the company and a sign of good health.

This is sharp contrast to some of the early analyst responses before subscriber numbers were released, as well as some suspicions that the game was falling after a few first-patch fumbles. Whether the game will rise further or stabilize where it is remains to be seen, but it's certainly making a strong showing out of the gate, and the financial sector is taking note.

[Thanks to Robert for the tip!]

MassivelySubscriber numbers lead to a new hope for Electronic Arts stock originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiceaea-biowareelectronic-artsfinanciallegalmmo-industrystar-wars-the-old-republicstock-marketstockssubscriber-numberssubscribersswtorThu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A WoW player's guide to The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/a-wow-players-guide-to-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/a-wow-players-guide-to-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/a-wow-players-guide-to-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not pictured: looking up from this point on the map to see several docked battlecruisers. It's unexpectedly impressive.
Whether you're a longtime World of Warcraft player or someone who's just recently tried the game and fallen in love with it, you're probably aware that there are other MMORPGs out there. Recently, the game that's been getting the most press is Star Wars: The Old Republic. And if you've sat down and tried it out as a veteran on World of Warcraft, you probably had some idea of what was going on when you started playing, with the only initial speedbump being the lack of an auto-attack feature.

But there's more to the game than combat and more things that might trip you up in the long run. So Eliot Lefebvre and Matt Daniel are here to help you out with a massive guide to coming into TOR when you're accustomed to the environment of WoW. Take a skip past the break to find out almost everything you'll need to know when converting from the world of Azeroth to the galaxy of Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading A WoW player's guide to The Old Republic

MassivelyA WoW player's guide to The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alignmentbattlegroundsbiowarebioware-eabioware-mythicclassescraftcraftingcrew-skillsea-biowarefeaturedgame-mechanicsguideinstanced-pvpmechanical-guidesopinionpvppvp-rewardspvp-systemssocialsocial-pointsspacespace-combatstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorsystemsthe-old-republictorwarzonesworld-of-warcraftwowwow-player-guideFri, 20 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic posts new video for future content updates [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/star-wars-the-old-republic-posts-new-video-for-future-content-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/star-wars-the-old-republic-posts-new-video-for-future-content-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/star-wars-the-old-republic-posts-new-video-for-future-content-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Maybe he's just a human Sith with sensitive eyes?
It's safe to say the past two days haven't been the best for the nascent Star Wars: The Old Republic, with its bugs, breaks, and bearish concerns. That doesn't mean that BioWare is packing it in and heading for the hills, however; the studio has just put out a new video detailing the content slated for the game in the coming months. Director James Ohlen lays out several new additions planned for the near future, several of which are features players had been asking for.

PvP will see the addition of a new Warzone as well as an overall ranking system for avid PvP players to track personal progress. UI customization is also coming, starting with a fully resizable and reconfigurable layout. And the Legacy system is being rolled out in full, complete with the promise of new races being available as Legacy rewards for the factions. So if you're a Star Wars: The Old Republic fan and have been feeling a bit down with recent news, this might help perk you back up.

[Update: A reader named Jon has tipped us off to an article on Gamesradar in which BioWare's Daniel Erickson confirms that the character in today's video is "definitely a Miraluka Sith," which suggests that the Miraluka may be ported cross-faction as part of the Legacy system rewards.]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic posts new video for future content updates [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>additionsbioware-mythiccoming-attractionscoming-sooneaea-biowareelectronic-artsimprovementsjames-ohlenpatchesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailertrailersuiupcoming-patchesvideovideoswarzonesThu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst believes Star Wars: The Old Republic had a $500 million price tag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Half a billion dollars to choke someone with your mind. Not an awful investment.
Is Star Wars: The Old Republic the next big thing in MMOs? The same old thing in a new shell? Innovative? Routine? Polished? Buggy? Ask seven different people and you'll get nine different opinions. The one thing that everyone can agree on is that the game was expensive, and while most analysts are estimating somewhere between $100-$300 million, analyst Doug Creutz suspects that Electronic Arts has sunk nearly half a billion dollars into the project.

This is in stark contrast to the estimate from analyst Michael Pachter, who targeted the price tag at roughly $80 million when all was said and done. Unfortunately, the precise cost won't be known unless EA decides to release the game's official budget and how much was spent on development, which seems unlikely. What is certain is that the performance of Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to be under close scrutiny over the coming months among both fans of the game and fans of financial speculation.

[Thanks to Ben for the tip!]

MassivelyAnalyst believes Star Wars: The Old Republic had a $500 million price tag originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystbiowarebioware-mythiccostdevelopment-costeaea-biowareelectronic-artsfinancial-analystinvestmentmmo-industryprice-tagstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First major patch and maintenance delayed for Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/first-major-patch-and-maintenance-delayed-for-star-wars-the-old/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/first-major-patch-and-maintenance-delayed-for-star-wars-the-old/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/first-major-patch-and-maintenance-delayed-for-star-wars-the-old/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

No word on whether or not rakghouls overran the programmers.
Cleared your schedule later today to try out the new content in Star Wars: The Old Republic's first major patch? Well, we hate to disappoint you, but it looks like your adventures against hordes of space zombies will be delayed a little longer. According to an official announcement this morning, the scheduled maintenance has been delayed and patch 1.1 along with it, with the most definitive new information simply being some time next week.

While the announcement doesn't go into details about the rationale, it notes that there were late-surfacing issues uncovered by players on the test realm that required additional maintenance to correct, forcing the team to bring the patch back and polish it a few more times. A definite time will be posted to the community as soon as it's available. It's disappointing, certainly, but the idea of putting out the game's first major patch before the game had even been out of retail release for a month may have been overly ambitious.

MassivelyFirst major patch and maintenance delayed for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementsbiowarebioware-mythicdelayseaea-biowareelectronic-artsmaintenancerise-of-the-rakghoulsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-patch-1.1the-old-republictorupdateupdatesTue, 17 Jan 2012 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare Docs
If BioWare's not in a war against the free-to-play business model, it certainly is skirmishing with the notion that F2P is the only way to go. In speaking with our sister site Joystiq, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk defended the traditional subscription model by saying that it not only works but allows dev teams to achieve games on a larger scale.

Zeschuk mentioned that it was simply a case of the right business model for the right game: "I'm not saying it's better or worse. It just doesn't supplant the other things. 'Cause we can do some things no one else can. The free-to-play people can't invest to the level we can invest, and can't create something of the size and scale of something we can create."

Even with its love of the subscription model for Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare is open to free-to-play where it sees fit. Muzyka dropped a tantalizing hint as to the company's F2P aspirations: "We have some other stuff we haven't announced yet coming from our play-for-free team that I'm really excited about. It's gonna bring back some IP that people have a lot of fond memories around."

MassivelyBioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modeldocsdoctorsdoctors-whoeaea-biowaref2pfree-to-playGreg-ZeschukinterviewjoystiqmythicRay-Muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-two-docsthe-two-doctorswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesWed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/ring-in-the-new-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tomorrow is a long way away, and it gets further away with each successive drink.
Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition.

The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer.

MassivelyRing in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aleannual-eventsbeerbioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsholiday-eventsin-game-eventsintoxicantskeg-endliquormythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentspecial-eventswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaTue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic preps for guild imports, server list takes shape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

No word yet on the riots that will ensue for each player who doesn't get an access pass tomorrow.
At 7:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning, the coveted early access invitations will be sent out for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Some of them, anyway. (Some players will have to wait a little bit longer.) If you're in one of the many guilds that prepared and recruited prior to the game's launch via the on-site recruitment feature, you're also in line to start in on the early guild deployment, which is outlined in detail on the official site. Long story short, you'll be given your guild's server assignment, and if you're unhappy with it, you're going to have to start up on a different server rather than using the automated joining.

Unfortunately, players aren't being given a full preview of servers ahead of time, but based on the deployment messages, a list is taking shape over on Ask a Jedi. The list is, of course, not absolute -- it's simply what servers are known that have been passed along -- but it's certainly extensive, with several different PvE, PvP, and RP servers for both US coasts and Europe. Keep checking back for more information, and keep your eyes on your mailbox early tomorrow morning.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic preps for guild imports, server list takes shape originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaearly-accessearly-game-accesselectronic-artsguild-importguild-launchlaunchlauncheslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgnewsserver-listserversstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/waaaghon-ho-warhammer-online-merging-servers-following-free-tr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WAR
Saddle up, rough riders: It's time to head to more fertile lands! Starting next week, select Warhammer Online players will be given the option to transfer between servers for free. The decision is Mythic's attempt to merge underpopulated servers, and the company hopes that this move will drive up the action in RvR for previously quiet locations.

Players on the Gorfang (North America) and Karak Azgal (Europe) will be able to move house to Badlands and Karak Norn, respectively, starting December 14th. Once this happens, Gorfang and Karak Azgal will be marked as "Legacy" servers, keeping new players from rolling on them, and then after three weeks, the two servers will be shut down completely. Any characters left on those servers will not be playable until they transfer to their new homes.

Mythic is also paving the way for guilds to move wholesale to new servers, with more information about this coming next week.

MassivelyWaaaghon Ho!: Warhammer Online merging servers following free transfers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badlandsbioware-mythiccharacter-transfercharacter-transfersea-mythicgorfangKarak-AzgalKarak-Nornlegacymergemythicretireretiredretired-serversserverserver-mergeserver-mergesserver-transferserver-transfersserverswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively Extra: First impressions of Wrath of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/not-so-massively-extra-first-impressions-of-wrath-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/not-so-massively-extra-first-impressions-of-wrath-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/not-so-massively-extra-first-impressions-of-wrath-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
When BioWare-Mythic gave details of Wrath of Heroes during its talk at Gamescom, I was genuinely surprised. The emerging MOBA genre has been kind to small studios, even turning indie studio Riot Games into an industry giant in just two years. The incredible income generated by League of Legends has even started to attract big name studios, with Blizzard and Valve both developing MOBAs to enter the now booming genre. It was only a matter of time before EA entered the arena, but I really didn't expect BioWare to be at the helm.

Wrath of Heroes celebrated its third closed beta weekend at the end of November, and I was there to get some hands-on experience. I found a fundamentally fun game with a strange identity crisis -- the game adopts some ideas from existing titles while trying its hardest to be different. It has LoL's persistent levels and a variant of its rune system, but no character levels or items. There's a selection of heroes with five abilities each, but the traditional two team format present throughout online team games is discarded in favour of WoH's signature three team "6v6v6" game mode. The game is littered with these contradictions but somehow makes it work.

Skip past the cut to read my first impressions of Wrath of Heroes and see some screenshots of the game in action.

Gallery: Wrath of Heroes

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: First impressions of Wrath of Heroes

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: First impressions of Wrath of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabiowarebioware-mythicfeaturedFirst-Impressionsgalleryhands-onmobamultiplayeronlinepreviewpreviewspvpscreenshotwarwarhammerWarhammer-Onlinewohwrath-of-heroesThu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot celebrates 10th birthday with limited edition lithograph]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Badger badger badger badger
Mythic Entertainment's popular RvRvR-based MMORPG, Dark Age of Camelot, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. In order to commemorate this momentous occasion, Mythic is selling a limited edition Dark Age of Camelot 10th anniversary lithograph. There will only be 300 prints available, each signed and numbered by artist Eric Polak, so if you want to get your grubby paws on one of these beauties, you'd better preorder now.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot celebrates 10th birthday with limited edition lithograph originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversary10th-birthdaybioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artslimited-editionlithographmythicmythic-entertainmentpvprvrstoretenth-anniversarytenth-birthdayTue, 29 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dark Age of Camelot
Last month was a historic occasion for MMOs, as Dark Age of Camelot joined the exclusive Decade Club, turning 10 years old and making most of us sit down heavily and wonder, "Has it really been that long?"

It has indeed. You may wish to invest in a calendar. While it might be a tad tardy, I got the chance to interview the ever-busy Mythic about this milestone... and here it is!

The Game Archaeologist: Could you please introduce yourself, your role on the team, and the faction for which you live, breathe and sleep?

Stuart Zissu: I am Stuart Zissu, producer on Dark Age of Camelot. Asking which Realm I prefer is like asking which child is my favorite, I love them all! They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and each one brings something different to the table. With that said, my first level 50 was an Albion Enhancement Friar (before Enhancement Friars were "viable").

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.110-patch10th-anniversarybioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewmythicmythic-entertainmentpatch-1.110realm-vs-realmrvrStuart-Zissuten-yearsten-years-oldtenth-anniversaryultima-onlineuowarwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesTue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Republic agents preparing to beta test The Even Older Republic. It's pretty meta.
It's hard to believe that after all this time, Star Wars: The Old Republic is launching in less than a month. As you would expect, the game is making its final testing pushes for players. According to Stephen "Rockjaw" Reid's Twitter feed, players selected for the final testing weekend will be seeing schedules sent out over the next 12 hours, with players allowed to start testing either Friday or Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST. Existing testers and visitors to the site will also have to contend with some degree of maintenance trouble, as the site is experiencing an understandable groundswell of traffic.

The final push also means that the deadline is approaching for players to get in on the Pre-Launch Guild Program, which ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on December 2nd. This means that players who fulfill all the requirements will be able to transfer their guilds straight into the live game -- but they'll have to finalize everything before the deadline. So if you're a guild leader with a few things left to finish up before launch, the holiday weekend might be an ideal time.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-conclusionbeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgpre-launch-guild-programrockjawstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicstephen-reidstephen-rockjaw-reidsw-torswtortestingtesting-conclusionthe-old-republicWed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New interview talks Warhammer Online and Wrath of Heroes synergy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-interview-talks-warhammer-online-and-wrath-of-heroes-synergy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - Chaos hound
Warhammer Online fans can be forgiven if they took to scratching their heads in puzzlement as BioWare-Mythic announced the Wrath of Heroes MOBA at last summer's Gamescom convention. After all, here was a new fantasy title that was brazen enough to borrow the IP and arguably the best gameplay mechanic (scenarios) from an existing MMO that's still alive and kicking.

The distinction between the two games is up for discussion in a new Warhammer Online interview at Stratics. "There is no direct link currently between your WAR and WOH characters. That being said, we plan on giving WAR subscribers benefits in WOH," explains producer James Casey. "We are also looking at other ways to connect them and have the benefits go both ways."

The interview also touches on the next WAR update (currently slated for the PTS next month), as well as the fact that the devs are considering a level-cap increase on the game's endless trial offering.

MassivelyNew interview talks Warhammer Online and Wrath of Heroes synergy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiceaelectronic-artsendless-trialf2pfantasyfree-to-playinterviewjames-caseymobapvpsubscriber-benefitswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesWed, 23 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Dark Age of Camelot patch introduces New User Experience, RvR changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Dark Age of Camelot
It's a big day for Dark Age of Camelot players, as patch 1.110 is going live today. The update includes the revamped New User Journey, which redesigns the tutorial and many mainland areas in each of the three realms in order to "make character progression more efficient and enjoyable than ever before." And of course, DAoC is all about the RvR, so many updates have been made to the game's Battlegrounds in an attempt to make them a "one-stop source for character progression and RvR action through level 49."

A number of UI updates have been made as well, which should hopefully make the game more user-friendly and customizable. Balance passes have been made on all classes, with some classes being given free respecs to account for the changes. All-in-all, it seems to be a rather comprehensive update to the game, so if you're a denizen of DAoC, head on over and check out the changes.

MassivelyNew Dark Age of Camelot patch introduces New User Experience, RvR changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsbioware-mythiccontent-updatedaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-journeypatchpatch-1.110updateWed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
BioWare Mythic says that the market is big enough to support both free-to-play and subscription models -- and everything else in between. Talking with Gamasutra, GM Eugene Evans said that the company has to acknowledge that there are people who don't like F2P and those who do, and it's important to reach out to both groups.

With Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes in beta testing, BioWare Mythic is testing the waters of free-to-play while preparing for Star Wars: The Old Republic's massive subscription launch. "We often got asked about taking our old games free-to-play, and in the case of Warhammer, we felt there was a different way of doing it," he opined, going on to say that the Mythic branch was learning a lot about polish and quality from the BioWare team.

Evans commented on the observation that the widening global market means that no one business model is guaranteed to work in every country: "We're all still figuring out what free-to-play means, what the best way to monetize is, and how to run it as a business and engage players in ways they're prepared to accept."

MassivelyBioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modelsEugene-Evansf2pfree-to-playgamasutramythicpolishstar-wars-the-old-republicsubssubscriptionsubscriptionsswtorwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesMon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer sticking with its subscription model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - still not F2P, hehe
Those of you holding out for a freemium conversion for Warhammer Online may as well resign yourselves to waiting on the upcoming Wrath of Heroes MOBA. In a new piece at PC Gamer, BioWare-Mythic vice president Eugene Evans says there are still no plans to give away the game aside from the ongoing endless trial that covers the title's newb tier content.

"Right now, we're focused on Wrath of Heroes as our free-to-play offering in the Warhammer universe," Evans said at this week's GDC. "We believe in the community of players who are playing Age of Reckoning. Yes, we could have attracted a lot of players to it [via F2P], but it's unclear how long you'll keep them. We wanted to support our game as it currently exists."

MassivelyWarhammer sticking with its subscription model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicea-biowareea-mythicf2pfantasyfree-to-playgdcgdc-2011hehemobamythicMythic-Entertainmentwarwarhammerwarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
It's not every day that an MMO turns 10, and Mythic is taking full advantage of the situation to hype up Dark Age of Camelot's impressive milestone by treating players to a few goodies. First up is a highly detailed mural depicting the conflicts, races, and classes of DAoC over the years. Mythic has been revealing the mural piecemeal over the last few weeks before finally unveiling it today to the playerbase.

In addition to this poster, Mythic's unleashed Producer Stuart Zissu to film a video laying out the plans for the game's celebration. Zissu talks about the new training hubs designed to get beginners on their feet, epic encounters in the world for groups to tackle, moral arcs that give players concrete choices to make, UI changes, and the 10th anniversary t-shirt. Players logging into the game in October will also find that they'll be enjoying several bonuses to XP, crafting, and more.

You can watch Zissu get the crowds pumped up for the party after the jump!

Continue reading Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-celebrationartworkbioware-mythiccelebrationdaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythici-played-this-game-and-all-i-got-was-this-awesome-t-shirtmuralmythicmythic-entertainmentposterStuart-Zissuvideoxp-bonusTue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mark Jacobs
It's been a couple of years since Mark Jacobs abruptly left -- or perhaps was let go -- from EA Mythic, but curiosity around the split persists in the MMO industry. Yesterday, Jacobs opened up about the event that occurred after EA's acquisition of Mythic and BioWare.

Long story short: The merge brought about changes, and Jacobs wasn't on board with them. "They made a decision on a direction they wanted to go and obviously, as we put out in our joint statement, that wasn't a direction that had a role for me, or at least the role that I wanted. It really is as simple as that. Or at least publicly. Whatever went on behind the scenes, whatever we talked about, I have no intention of sharing that," he said.

Jacobs insists that EA has been kind to him in the subsequent years. "One thing I'll say publicly about EA, they have been very good in what they've said post-departure regarding me. Similarly I've been good about what I've said about them post departure."

He has since gone on to form a new company to create social and mobile games. In an ironic twist, Jacobs says that the idea for getting into the social gaming market took root while he was at Mythic, but he left before acting on that notion.

MassivelyMark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccity-state-entertainmentdepartureeaea-biowareea-mythicfirefiredfiringJohn-riccitiellomark-jacobsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamessocial-gamingsplitTue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Also, bear stampede.
Dark Age of Camelot is taking aim at bounties. Specifically, the development team is taking aim at the bounty points that players can now earn via quests in the game's battlegrounds. Longtime players have no doubt noticed this change, and in the latest developer diary for the game, Kai Schrober outlines the team's plans to continue improving player experience via a new set of equipment purchasable from special bounty vendors inside the battlegrounds.

The equipment available isn't meant to just be good -- it's pre-templated and should bring characters close to the apex of their abilities. The goal, obviously, is to help players feel rewarded for their participation in the game. But the diary also goes into detail about more enhancements to gameplay, including new epic events surrounding quest hubs and new teleporters to give players easy access to battlegrounds. It's a laundry list of improvements for DAoC, a clear sign that even though the past few months have been a bit quiet for the game, development hasn't abated.

MassivelyNew bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsbioware-mythicbounty-pointsdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaea-mythicelectronic-artskai-schrobermythicmythic-entertainmentpatchesupcoming-patchesupdatesWed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/warhammer-online-celebrates-third-anniversary-with-bonus-xp-vet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warhammer Online - vanity pets
It's time to raise a glass to Warhammer Online, as Mythic's fantasy PvP title turns three on September 18th (time flies when you're WAAAGHing, we suppose).

What's on tap for the inevitable celebration? Bonus XP/RP, of course, and a whopping 10 days of it. Starting today, players can enjoy increased advancement potential and loot a few fireworks from the twitching carcasses of their foes. Also, three-year veterans are being recognized for their loyalty, as Mythic is gifting them with a Jack-O-Lantern vanity pet and an endless supply of both chaos black and blazing orange dyes.

Don't forget that the 1.4.4 patch was recently deployed, and the Wild Hunt event is currently ongoing. Finally, check in with Massively on Sunday for our three-year Warhammer Online retrospective.

MassivelyWarhammer Online celebrates third anniversary with bonus XP, veteran goodies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-year-anniversarybioware-mythiccelebrationchaos-blackdyesea-mythicelectronic-artsmythicpetsvanity-petswaaaghwaaagh-hammerwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 16 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot takes players to school]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
Dark Age of Camelot's new website is already paying off in spades for players, as the developers are able to pass along a host of new information, concept art and previews for the populace. DAOC will be 10 years old as of next month and isn't slowing down. Exhibit A: The team is already hard at work on the 1.110 patch.

John Thronhill penned a dev diary about the patch this week; he focuses on the new Lesson Quests that will go hand-in-hand with the beginner experience. Lesson Quests are designed to help newbies get their footing in this complex setting, especially since the game continues to see a "large amount of returning and brand-new players" each month.

As players progress through Lesson Quests, they'll not only get a better understanding of how DAOC works but be rewarded with buff tokens, potions, and other nice goodies. As part of the quest chain, NPCs will demonstrate crowd control techniques and other RvR survival skills in the hopes that new players will be able to make a better contribution to the war. These tutorial quests can also be skipped if players already know the ropes.

Lesson Quests aren't the only new additions coming with 1.110, although Thornhill says we'll have to wait until another day to hear about the rest.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot takes players to school originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversarybeginner-experiencebioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diarydeveloper-diaryea-mythicJohn-Thronhilllesson-questsmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-experiencenew-user-journeypatch-1.110pvprvrtrainertutorialFri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - humans
Warhammer Online's latest patch is here, and it's just in time for the fantasy title's third anniversary week. Well, technically the 1.4.4 patch isn't here yet, as the servers are still down and scheduled to rez at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT today.

The new patch introduces the Wild Hunt live event, which allows players the chance to "test their skills tracking and slaying fierce animals, collecting sacred pelts, and sighting the elusive White Stag." There's also an opportunity to earn event influence and participate in the Curse of Kurnous public quest.

Mythic has also tweaked the RvR keep defense mechanics, introduced new vanity pet packs, and shifted the scenario lineup. Finally, you can vote for the next batch of scenarios via the Dev Discussions forum on the official WAR website.

MassivelyWarhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.41.4.4-patchbioware-mythicea-mythicfantasylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4.4public-questsscenariosWARwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewild-huntwild-hunt-live-eventTue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
Mythic is taking an interesting approach in promoting its new MOBA, Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes -- it's throwing Warhammer Online under the bus. At the Wrath of Heroes reveal panel at PAX, the Mythic team talked up its new project as something that Heroes' parent game is not.

The team found that people liked WAR but couldn't justify investing in it, so Mythic wanted to create an experience for them. The team took what it saw as one the more popular aspects of WAR -- the scenarios -- and modified them to pit three teams (six on each) against each other for quick, 15-minute gameplay sessions. On death, you can choose any hero in your arsenal so you can adjust to whatever your team needs.

This game format allowed the team to strip away the parts of the game it saw as unnecessary. "We went, you know what? If you play the MMO, we give you all this cool equipment on your adventure, and it's a neat thing to do, but let's just get rid of the boring crap and give people cool [stuff] to wear," Paul Barnett said.

Citing the accumulation of multiple -- and sometimes quite situational -- skills over the course of "748,000 hours of grinding," Barnett said that his team got rid of this approach by focusing on only five skills per hero in Wrath of Heroes. He thinks that the small incremental progress of skills and skill effects in Warhammer Online is "dull" and instead extolls Wrath of Heroes for picking the best skills, effects and armor so that players don't have to worry about getting all of them.

You can watch the full reveal panel of Wrath of Heroes after the jump.

[Thanks to Joris for the tip!]

Continue reading Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR

MassivelyMythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6v6v6bioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdeveloper-panelea-mythicf2pfree-to-playgamespotgearmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-prime-2011reveal-panelthrow-under-the-buswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesTue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/choose-my-adventure-dats-it-boss-im-outta-here/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As of today, I'm finished with Warhammer Online. Today is my final installment of Choose My Adventure, with the torch passing along next week to Larry Everett. Before anyone asks, yes, I'm definitely going to miss the feature... but that's not really what you're here for at the moment, is it? You're here for the fanfare, and it's all over but the depressing part.

Last week's vote was overwhelmingly meta -- rather than a recounting of events, the audience clearly wants to hear my thoughts on the future of Warhammer Online, what worked and what didn't, and why the game followed the trajectory it did. (Also, an awful lot of people want to know about the Choppa Song.) I'm admittedly coming into the game late and with somewhat less passionate eyes than many of the game's fans, but looking at my experience, I think I found a lot of the game in microcosm. I see all of the things it did right... and in hindsight, where certain choices went wrong.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicchoose-my-adventureea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsfailurefeaturedmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentopinionsuccesswarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Da udder half lives]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/choose-my-adventure-da-udder-half-lives/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I remember thinking quite distinctly that I was ready to be done with the Tier 1 scenarios, oh, forever ago. It's not that Nordenwatch is inherently a bad scenario; it's just that when you see it often enough, you start to get sick of it. So I was very happy when the voting closed on last week's poll and I saw that I had a very different list of scenarios available to me in Warhammer Online. That had probably happened several levels ago, sure, but I hadn't been queueing.

Unfortunately, I found out that Oscar Wilde's old chestnut about the gods granting our wishes when they want to punish us proved entirely accurate. Jump on past the break for this week in Klurgind's somewhat less than epic adventure, with the caveat that it's going to be just a wee bit depressing in places. But hey, I never promised this story had a happy ending.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Da udder half lives

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Da udder half lives originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecolumnea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsfeaturedmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentopinionquestingwarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaWed, 27 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ever thrown a birthday party and had no one attend? I haven't, but I experienced a similar sensation on Saturday, probably due more or less to my own poor planning. But it wasn't just events that didn't go according to plan this past week. Virtually nothing did, mostly due to real life intruding into my play time in frequently unpleasant fashion (not to mention a nicely bizarre computer problem that took several weeks of research and effort to finally identify and fix). So, awesome all around!

So this week featured distinctly less choppin' than usual. But there are still interesting anecdotes to relate, even if I've got a bit less material about Warhammer Online than usual. Click on past the break for this week's exploits, the latest round of polls (a bit different than the predecessors), and the usual randomly assembled letters that form words which hopefully entertain the audience.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecmaeaelectronic-artseventsfeaturedmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 20 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: I da popular ork]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/choose-my-adventure-i-da-popular-ork/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Klurgind may not be the smartest ork in Warhammer Online nor the strongest one, but he's certainly a popular greenskin. What is it about him? That beady, penetrating stare? The way he eulogizes Squig Herders on the fields of Nordland? His sharply alluring green-blue skin and bright orange tattoos? Or just the fact that everyone knew he was my character, thus ensuring that every regular reader went out of the way to shower him with praise, advice, and adulation?

I don't know. But I do know that special thanks go out to Tsavonglah for some excellent in-game advice and a veritable wall of information in the comments, Daswagga for a large pile of Strength talismans, and the many people who gave me a wave or cheer for bring a touch of Massively WAAAAGH to the game. So read on past the break for talk about my adventures in the twilight of Tier 1, the dawn of Tier 2, scenarios, open RvR, and the general stages of the Choppocalypse.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: I da popular ork

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: I da popular ork originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurechoppaclassescmacolumneaea-mythicfeaturedmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpollpollstier-1waaghwarwarhammerwarhammer-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-onlineWed, 06 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/choose-my-adventure-cue-da-ork-estra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It took me some hunting to find a copy of Warhammer Online on shelves. I could have just bought one online, yeah, but I will admit to being a fan of sentimental clutter like retail boxes. Once I finally nabbed one -- an adventure in and of itself involving a trip around Farmington, CT in a dismally overcast evening -- I installed it and got busy making a character.

Or at least, I would have, if not for the fact that one of the polls was a dead heat from start to finish. See, while my faction and class were apparently pretty easy to assign by consensus, getting my ork-or-goblin's class decided proved quite an ordeal. By the time the class poll closed, ranged DPS and melee DPS were in a dead heat.

Well, I had to have a little executive initiative, right? Klurgind the Choppa was born on Gorfang and given the oldest and most intelligent ork face I could find. (I would have gone with Grignr, but it was sadly taken.) So jump on past the cut to see what I got up to during my first foray into Warhammer Online and to let me know where I'm going next.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Cue da ork-estra originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbiowarebioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecmacolumneaea-mythicelectronic-artsfeaturedmythicopinionplayer-choicepollpollspvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 29 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The readers have spoken! More specifically, the fans of Warhammer Online have spoken, and so the game is my destination for the next several weeks. And what a surprising speech it was, especially given that I, my editor, and my co-workers all assumed that with RIFT on the ballot we might as well just close up the voting after half a day. But the forum thread on the official boards kept people coming over and voting, and thus I'm heading over into the world of Order and Chaos.

I'm glad to see Warhammer Online as the selection, as it's long been a game and setting that I've found interesting even though it's never quite made it on my list of things to play next. The game has certainly seen its fair share of hardship over the past several years, so it's going to be interesting to take a look at the game as it exists now. So click on past the break to start me down the path that leads me into the game and check out my usual disconnected ramblings.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicchoose-my-adventuredcmacolumneaea-mythicElectronic-ArtsfeaturedmythicMythic-Entertainmentplayer-opinionpollpollsvotingwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot launches new website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dark-age-of-camelot-launches-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dark-age-of-camelot-launches-new-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dark-age-of-camelot-launches-new-website/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's extreme makeover time for Dark Age of Camelot's website, and it's a good thing too. The game launched in late 2001, and while its former web portal wasn't quite GeoCities-awful, let's just say it was time for an update in terms of aesthetics and layout.

The new version of The Herald is leaner, meaner, and much easier to navigate, though it does come with an "under construction" caveat. DAoC producer Stuart Zissu provides users with a brief introduction to the new site via an embedded video on the front page, and he also hints at the long-running title's 10th anniversary celebration currently scheduled for October.

Head to the official website to, er... check out the new official website.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot launches new website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversarybiowarebioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsfantasyheraldmythicMythic-Entertainmentnew-websiterealm-vs-realmrvrstuart-zissutenth-anniversarythe-heraldwebsiteWed, 15 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer community update talks crafting, scenario tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/warhammer-community-update-talks-crafting-scenario-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Community update posts are piling up as the calendar rolls on toward May, and a new letter on the official Warhammer Online website adds Mythic's RvR title to the list.

The letter addresses the recently released 1.4.2 patch as well as a tentative time window for 1.4.3 (late June). Crafting adjustments are also on the discussion table, and before you scratch your head regarding the importance of tradeskills in a kill-'em-all PvP-fest like WAR, someone's got to make all the bows and blades, amirite? Details are sketchy, but the update letter indicates that interested craftsmen should keep an eye on the dev discussion forums over the next week.

There's a blurb about some upcoming scenario changes too. Gromril Crossing and Thunder Valley are expanding to include 18 players over the Easter weekend, and both instances will also reward combatants with double scenario tokens. Finally, Mythic is ponying up for a 50% renown and XP bonus for the weekend.

MassivelyWarhammer community update talks crafting, scenario tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythiccraftingea-mythicelectronic-artsfantasymythicrenown-bonusscenario-tokensscenario-tweaksthunder-valleywarwarhammerWarhammer-Onlinexp-bnousFri, 22 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New producer's letter for Ultima Online hints at future updates and an end to sobriety]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/new-producers-letter-for-ultima-online-hints-at-future-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/new-producers-letter-for-ultima-online-hints-at-future-updates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/new-producers-letter-for-ultima-online-hints-at-future-updates/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For all that Ultima Online allows player freedoms, it's always had certain lacking features. As far back as the game's launch, you could run up and rob someone blind, but you've always been unable to do so while inebriated. But fear not -- as part of the project to revitalize Magincia, the distillery is being introduced, allowing players the freedom to brew and distribute all the joys that liquor can bring. It's only a small note as part of the overall producer's letter for the game, but it's still noteworthy.

There's a lot else in the letter, however, including planned upgrades to the Enhanced Client and a number of story arcs set to begin in June. The restoration of Magincia is also ongoing, and while the distillery is one of the new additions, there are also new gardening additions and enhancements set to make unused land more vibrant. Ultima Online players can check out the full letter for a rundown of features in the pipe and on the horizon.

MassivelyNew producer's letter for Ultima Online hints at future updates and an end to sobriety originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcoholbioware-mythiccoming-updatescraftingeaelectronic-artsmoonshinemythicmythic-entertainmentnew-craftingnewspending-patchesproducer-letterultima-onlineuoSat, 16 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The modern era of MMOs began in 1997 with a little game called Ultima Online, and it's fair to say that the genre would look very different if that first example hadn't gone live. These days, outside of a dedicated playerbase and stalwart fans, the game is no longer at the center of attention. But there are a lot of players who still remember it fondly as an introduction to the field... and there are hints here and there that it might be time for a sequel to the game that started it all.

It's a known fact that Paul Barnett has been hinting at a secret project that is quite possibly an RPG, and it's also no secret that Electronic Arts is recruiting for an MMO programmer at its Redwood location. The company has also stepped up defending its trademarks for the Ultima franchise of late, which leads to a bit of interesting speculation. Could it be time for Ultima Online to get a sequel and a new generation of players, a project which has been started and stopped twice before? There's surely something happening behind the scenes...

MassivelyRumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythiceaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpossible-sequelrumorrumorsspeculationultima-onlineultima-online-2uouo2Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST