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[EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/eve-evolved-nine-years-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Last week I celebrated the fourth anniversary of the EVE Evolved column with a competition to win one of two 30-day pilot's licenses. Congratulations to winners Dong Yi and Atrameides Denard, whose prizes have been contracted in-game. Today EVE Online itself turns nine years old, and so this week's EVE Evolved column takes a look back at the top EVE stories of the year. It's been a rollercoaster of a year for CCP, with the infamous monoclegate scandal hitting subscriptions hard during the summer and only recently starting to recover.

The drama kicked off as the much-touted Incarna expansion drew close and CCP revealed that it would contain no multiplayer elements and would introduce a microtransaction store for vanity items. Players didn't seem to mind the cash shop as long as it contained only vanity items, and CCP had previously promised that microtransactions would be limited to those types of items. When the Incarna expansion finally launched and players got a first-hand look at the cash shop, however, it became apparent that something was fundamentally wrong.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the top EVE stories of the year, from the incredible videos and scams to the story of how CCP brought EVE Online back from the brink of disaster.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Nine years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayccpccp-gamesconsolecrucibledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedfpsincarnainfernommofpsnine-yearnine-year-oldnine-yearsplaystationplaystation-3ps3sandboxsci-fishooterSun, 06 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/guild-wars-what-keeps-fans-coming-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars
Spring is in the air in Guild Wars! I can hear the pitter-patter of speed-enhanced feet coming from the Dragon Arena, the roar of the crowds watching Rollerbeetle races, and the endless grunts of unlucky players on the Nine Rings. It's a celebration -- the celebration of the seventh anniversary of Guild Wars, to be precise.

In and around the annual birthday cupcake hoarding that's going on for the duration of festivities, this year has a few other exciting tricks up its proverbial sleeve. For one thing, a new and limited-edition pet has been made available; the Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by having a brief chat with Ceira, Sworn to Fire, in Embark Beach. For another, the bonuses from all weekend events are active for the anniversary, so players will have to go pretty far out of their way to not reap sweet, sweet rewards for any time spent in-game between now and May 8th.

Seven's a pretty nice number, don't you think? This is something of a special event, as ArenaNet's promise to get Guild Wars 2 shipped before year's end means that this'll be the last birthday that Guild Wars gets to have before the sequel comes along and grabs everyone's attention -- if, indeed, that's not already happening, what with the beta weekend that's going on right this moment. Even with Guild Wars 2 soaking up some limelight, though, Guild Wars is doing its creators proud and aging with grace and dignity. Let's take a look at some of the building blocks of the game's longevity.

Continue reading Guild Wars: What keeps fans coming back

MassivelyGuild Wars: What keeps fans coming back originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7th-anniversaryaging-gracefullyanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2hall-of-monumentsncsoftopinionseventh-birthdaywhy-players-keep-coming-backSat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/guild-wars-celebrates-its-7th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars
It's that special time of year again! Despite the amount of effort that has got to be getting poured into the upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event, ArenaNet isn't neglecting the baby game's elder sibling. The Guild Wars site has been updated with some information about festivities for the in-game celebration.

From April 24th through May 8th, players will be able to enjoy the time-honored traditions of Guild Wars' birthday celebrations: Players can stroll down the Shing Jea Boardwalk for some festival games, race Rollerbeetles, unlock birthday hats, and collect some sweet, sweet treats. In addition, a new pet is being made available. The Hound of Balthazar can be unlocked for free by visiting Ceira, Sworn to Fire in Embark Beach and then traveling to the Zaishen Menagerie and tracking down the fiery beastie. After the anniversary has drawn to a close, the Hound will still be unlockable, but at the cost of 100,000 Balthazar Faction or 20 golden zaishen coins and 100 gold -- so maybe don't dawdle if you're interested in a shiny new pet. The updated page also promises "drops and activities never before seen in anniversary celebration," so join in the fun to find out what's new!

[Update: According to a Gamebreaker TV special, all of the normal weekend events observed in Guild Wars will be running simultaneously for the anniversary celebration!]

MassivelyGuild Wars celebrates its 7th anniversary [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7th-anniversary7th-birthdayanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayfantasyfestivalguild-warsguild-wars-turns-7gwhound-of-balthazarncsoftrollerbeetle-racingshing-jea-boardwalkTue, 24 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/runescape-seventh-anniversary-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/runescape-seventh-anniversary-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/runescape-seventh-anniversary-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

RuneScape title image
Although RuneScape officially launched in 2001, today marks the seventh anniversary of the end of the RuneScape 2 beta. This was a complete gameplay and graphics overhaul that signaled the rebirth of the game, and it's a date well worth celebrating. The past year has been filled with massive content updates that added clan support, upgradeable clan citadels, a new website, and countless new quests. Player-made battlefields put game design in the hands of players, who have used the system to produce ton of content.

Understandably, most people will likely remember this year for one thing: This was the year that RuneScape beat the bots. Following the momentous Bot Nuking Day, players logged in to find a distinctly emptier world but one filled with real people. RuneFest 2011 was a success, with presentations from the game's developers and a special focus on breaking the bots. This year also saw the interesting story that the Dutch Supreme Court ruling that stealing RuneScape items is the same as theft of real life goods.

In this anniversary retrospective, I look back at some of RuneScape's top news stories and game additions of the year.

Continue reading RuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective

MassivelyRuneScape: Seventh anniversary retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaybotsbottingbreaking-the-botsbrowserbrowser-basedclanclan-citadelsclansclassic-mmocourtdutchf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playjagexjagex-games-studiolegalrmtrsrscrunescaperunescape-2runescape-classicseven-yearseven-year-anniversaryseven-yearstheftvideoWed, 28 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic on its third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic 3rd B-day image
Runes of Magic's third anniversary is finally upon us. Frogster has been gearing up for the event by holding diamond sales and cash-shop specials. Each anniversary, you can also take part in multiple frog-related quests and events. Frog-bashing, frog disguises, and more frog-bashing have long been a staple. Frog-racing and frog etiquette have been added to the roster. What's frog etiquette? Why, it's either insulting or complimenting frogs, silly. During the festivities, various freebies are usually handed out to players who log in, as well.

The real question is what's new in the land of Taborea, but if you wanted to know about new lands or dungeons, you'll have to wait a little bit longer. There's no official word, but given the time that's passed and the unofficial images and information that are floating around the Internet, we know Chapter 5 can't be too far off. There are still players out there who are far from making their way through the Chapter 4 content, but many guilds on the cutting edge are starting to trample Tomb of the Seven Heroes into a well-worn path.

During this intermediary period, Runewaker added the random attribute extractor and the costume interface. This isn't a replacement to aggregating; it's more like an extension. Most recently, the team introduced a patch containing bug fixes and a sprinkling of changes to the user interface, guilds, pets, vendor NPCs, quests, crafting, and skills. Some of the most exciting information is sketchy but does point to two possible new classes. And what class (or race?) could possibly have skills with names like "forge" and "runecraft" in them? Hmm...

Continue reading Runes of Magic on its third anniversary

MassivelyRunes of Magic on its third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-years-oldanniversariesanniversarybirthdayf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehappy-anniversaryhappy-anniversary-romhappy-anniversary-runes-of-magichappy-birthday-romhappy-birthday-runes-of-magicjeremy-strattonromrumorrumorsrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttaboreathird-anniversarythree-years-oldMon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/the-mmo-report-where-the-mobs-raid-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO Report goes to Trion
The MMO Report returns this week with a special RIFT edition in celebration of the game's first birthday. In this extra-long show, Casey visits the Trion Worlds studios in Redwood Shores, California for a beard's-eye view of the game as it turns one. He meets up with such Trion notables as Scott Hartsman, Hal Hanlin, and Russ Brown as they chat about the Carnival of the Ascended, the anniversary events, the mobile app, and the record-breaking 20,000 marriages recently performed in-game. The devs also discuss how they balance fan feedback (endgame players are apparently the loudest) and claim that the latest patch features the "greatest balloons ever put into a game."

Eavesdrop on Casey's tour in the HD video after the break!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Where the mobs raid you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaycasey-schreinerhal-hanlinhumormmo-reportnewsopinionriftroundupruss-brownscott-hartsmanthe-mmo-reporttriontrion-worldsvideovideosThu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Rift carnival
As I ran around smacking loot piñatas (finally, someone acknowledges these things for what they are), I wondered how on earth RIFT's first year went by so fast. The Carnival of the Ascended is just around the corner, and on March 1st, the game officially celebrates its first birthday.

In just one year, RIFT has seen seven game updates, a handful of world events, and all sorts of new additions and improvements to the world of Telara. Rather than being a straight-up retrospective, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift is looking back on the first year with a Justin-style list of highlights and even a glimpse of what's coming in 1.8.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaycarnival-of-the-ascendedchroniclesember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureskaren-bryanmaster-dungeonsopinionplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-1.8rift-birthdayrift-mentoringrift-one-year-oldrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansoul-presetssoul-systemtelaratriontrion-worldswarfront-accoladeswarfrontsWed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaycorpse-runningdeath-mechaniceqeverquestf2pfan-fairefeaturedfree-to-playftphardcorelive-gamerpatchesretrospectivesilium-grantsiliusSOESony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iris Online celebrates its first birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/iris-online-celebrates-its-first-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/iris-online-celebrates-its-first-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/iris-online-celebrates-its-first-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Iris Online
Iris Online publisher gPotato has a very optimistic outlook on sharing a birthday with a holiday, saying that "you can either be sad that all your friends are busy doing holiday things or you can throw such a tremendous party that they make time to drop by and visit you!" Of course, the studio is choosing the latter (we still feel for you, people with late-December birthdays) to celebrate Iris Online's first birthday.

The celebration begins today and runs until November 26th. For the duration of the festivities, players will be granted experience, skill, and battlefield point boosts. Drop and enhance rates will also be increased, and to top it off, any player who's been part of Iris Online since September will be given a unique costume just for logging in. To get in on the celebration, just head to the game's official site.

[Source: Gala-net press release]

MassivelyIris Online celebrates its first birthday originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaycelebrationeventeventsf2pfirst-anniversaryfirst-birthdayfree-to-playgala-netgpotatoin-game-eventin-game-eventsirisiris-onlineWed, 23 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II celebrates its seventh birthday with free things]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/everquest-ii-celebrates-its-seventh-birthday-with-free-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/everquest-ii-celebrates-its-seventh-birthday-with-free-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/everquest-ii-celebrates-its-seventh-birthday-with-free-things/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- EverQuest II
EverQuest II just celebrated its seventh birthday a few days ago, and we all know what that means: time for a celebration! In order to commemorate seven glorious years of Norrathian adventures, SOE is giving players a lovely statue of Lucan D'Lere free of charge for a limited time. The new eight-year veteran reward is also available for players who are nearing the mark, and it includes a number of nifty bits like XP potions, a new title, and more. For the full details, head on over to the game's official forums, and don't forget to check out our own Karen Bryan's seven year retrospective.

MassivelyEverQuest II celebrates its seventh birthday with free things originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdayeq2eq2xeqiieqii-retrospectiveeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 09 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EQII ring war
You can say a lot of things about EverQuest II's past year, but I'm sure everyone will agree that it's been memorable. A year ago, I had just begun my turn at the helm of this column, and it seems like the game is in a similar position now as it was back then, with a lot accomplished but even more unanswered questions. For a look back at the first six years, be sure to check out my retrospective column from last year. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll play catch up and look back at the past year in EverQuest II and the events that shaped the game.

Continue reading Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective

MassivelyTattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdayeq2eq2xeqiieqii-retrospectiveeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfeaturedkaren-bryanRetrospectivetattered-notebookSat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus: A one-year retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Vindictus
It's time for a celebration, y'all. It's been a year since Nexon's popular physics-based hack-'n'-slash title, Vindictus, officially launched, and what a year it's been. Between constant content updates, seasonal events, awards, and more, Vindictus has had a rather successful first year, and it doesn't seem to show any signs of stopping.

So exactly how far has Vindictus come since the title's inception a year go? Well, follow along past the cut and join us as we take a short look at the game's history and find out how it holds up today.

Continue reading Vindictus: A one-year retrospective

MassivelyVindictus: A one-year retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayf2pfeaturedfirst-anniversaryfirst-birthdayfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsnexonone-yearretrospectivesecond-impressionsvindictusThu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends turns two this Thursday, celebrations planned]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/league-of-legends-turns-two-this-thursday-celebrations-planned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/league-of-legends-turns-two-this-thursday-celebrations-planned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/league-of-legends-turns-two-this-thursday-celebrations-planned/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

League of Legends title image
The relatively new MOBA genre has seen a massive surge in popularity over the last few years, due mainly to the popularity of DotA remakes like League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth. It's hard to believe it, but League of Legends is already almost two years old. The free-to-play giant celebrates its second birthday this Thursday the 27th of October, and the developers at Riot Games aim to make sure the day goes down in players' memories. Celebrations have been planned for the big day, but Riot is keeping the details a secret until the day. Players are urged to keep an eye on the LoL website on Thursday.

To help celebrate reaching the two year mark, Riot has released an interactive development timeline page showing the game's development from launch day all the way up to last week's Graves patch. The timeline shows when each of LoL's champions was implemented, as well as major developments like the Twisted Treeline 3v3 map, the player-mediated banning tribunal and the recent release of the Dominion game mode.

MassivelyLeague of Legends turns two this Thursday, celebrations planned originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaydevelopmentleague-of-legendslolmobanewsriot-gamestimelinetwo-year-anniversarytwo-yearstwo-years-oldSun, 23 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlantica Online celebrates three years with in-game events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/atlantica-online-celebrates-three-years-with-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/atlantica-online-celebrates-three-years-with-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/atlantica-online-celebrates-three-years-with-in-game-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Atlantica Online
Atlantica Online, Nexon's quirky tactical MMORPG, has been running for three whole years now. You know what that means, right? Anniversary celebration time! From now until November 16th, players can celebrate Atlantica's third anniversary by participating in a variety of in-game events.

For starters, there's the Hunt for the Warlord's Poem. Players have to hunt down monsters that have stolen fragments of Khun Phaen's poetry. Completing this task will net players "Khun Phaen's Carrier Pigeon, a Title: People's Champion, Khun Phaen Skill Books, and other essentials."

If you'd rather put your combative skills to the test, you can take part in the third anniversary Grand Championship Battle Royale, which will take place on October 31st at 6:00 a.m. EDT and again at 6:00 p.m. EDT. The top four players will receive a prize of precious NX Credit.

Lastly, Nexon is asking players to take a picture of either themselves or their avatars with a sign reading "Happy Anniversary Atlantica!" Players who submit such a picture will be entered into a drawing for 20,000 NX.

For the full details, head on over to Atlantica Online's official site.celebrates three years with in-game events

MassivelyAtlantica Online celebrates three years with in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-anniversaryanniversaryatlanticaatlantica-onlinebirthdayeventeventsf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventin-game-eventsnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentthird-anniversaryTue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncharted Waters Online celebrating first anniversary with special events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/uncharted-waters-online-celebrating-first-anniversary-with-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/uncharted-waters-online-celebrating-first-anniversary-with-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/uncharted-waters-online-celebrating-first-anniversary-with-special/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Uncharted Waters Online - ships in harbor
Birthday cakes and kazoos are the order of the day in Uncharted Waters Online. The nautical MMORPG is celebrating its first anniversary, and the team at gPotato has prepared a series of events designed to reward long-time players and entice new captains into the fold. First up is the premium ticket blast, and funnily enough, it rewards players with a premium ticket, provided that they are logged in at precisely 8:00 a.m. on October 8th. The ticket is, well, your ticket to trying out a "coveted sailing vessel or other valuable prizes."

There's also a three-week marathon event in which players will receive daily boosts and free items simply by logging into UWO. Beginning on October 5th, you'll want to check in once a day to claim your prizes, skill proficiency buffs, and extra fame points.

Finally, the devs are hosting a UWO writing contest, and there are 13 prizes up for grabs (including a few custom ships).

[Source: gPotato press release]

MassivelyUncharted Waters Online celebrating first anniversary with special events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayf2pfame-boostsfantasyfirst-anniversaryfree-to-playgpotatoprizesship-prizesskill-boostsuncharted-waters-onlineuwowriting-contestTue, 04 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online celebrates 14 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/ultima-online-celebrates-14-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/ultima-online-celebrates-14-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/ultima-online-celebrates-14-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ultima Online ankh
Happy birthday, Ultima Online! In an era when some games last not even a year and others seek to continually reinvent themselves, the grand-daddy of the genre has made it to 14 years.

To usher in the anniversary, Mythic Entertainment released publish 72.0 to the live servers last week. The patch introduces another round of the Clean Up Britannia event, which allows players to trash their junk items (thus cleaning up the servers of wasted data) in return for lucrative rewards. The devs also tweaked the Honesty virtue mechanic and added new anniversary gifts that are claimable through Halloween.

Finally, the UO team has promised a high-resolution art update, one of many graphical overhauls in the game's long history.

Here's to 14 more, old girl.

[Update: After the break, we've embedded an anniversary video by Sosaria Reels over on the official forums at UO Stratics. Enjoy the stroll down memory lane!]

Continue reading Ultima Online celebrates 14 years

MassivelyUltima Online celebrates 14 years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayclean-up-britanniaeaElectronic-ArtshalloweenhonestymythicMythic-EntertainmentnewssandboxultimaUltima-OnlineuovirtuesFri, 30 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/captains-log-whats-your-energy-type/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Trek Online screenshot
Captain's Log, Stardate 65244.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear meeeeeee, happy birthday to me. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Yes, today is my birthday, and the best present I could receive is being able to share this week's Captain's Log with you all. As we get closer and closer to the F2P re-launch of Star Trek Online, I expect that there will be new captains tuning into this column each week, so to help support our new comrades in between the weeks that feature an influx of breaking news and developments, I am going to be taking some time to educate everyone on a few of the game's mechanics.

When I first started playing STO, I often found myself wondering about many of the choices available to my different characters. From armor to shields, deflectors to engines, and kits to weapons, there is an endless array of options that we can decide to play with and use. One of the most frequently asked questions I get from new players is, "What is the best energy type to use for my ship's weapons?" In the past, when I really did not know much, I would choose my type by the color it emitted. I now know that "pretty" does not equal "power." While each type has its own special bonuses, it's up to you to decide which to use and why. Here's to hoping I can aid in that decision.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at the spectrum of colors and their abilities...

Continue reading Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type?

MassivelyCaptain's Log: What's your (energy) type? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antiprotonarmorbirthdaycaptains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdeflectorsdisruptorenginesF2Pfeaturedfree-to-playkitslivestreamperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentphaserplasmapolaronprocpweshieldsspecst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosubsystemstertryontrek-onlineTribbleweaponsThu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/wings-over-atreia-aion-anniversary-take-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/wings-over-atreia-aion-anniversary-take-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/wings-over-atreia-aion-anniversary-take-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
Time to double the candles on the cake for Aion! That's right -- just two short years ago on September 22nd, the world of Atreia opened its skies to a swarm of aspiring Daevas. After a rocky start including horrendous launch week queues, some Daevas folded their wings and left for bluer skies (*cough cough* nothing to see here, move along) while others stuck it out through thick and thin and grind. But even of those who flitted off, many found their way back into Aion over the last two years. And why not? Much has changed.

In the past year, NCsoft has added and tweaked the game to make it a better experience for veteran and returning players alike. And that is on top of the many additions brought about in the game during the first year! This is not your 2009 game; Aion has more content and more options. Sometimes, less is even more -- there is even less grind.

Now what's a celebration without... celebrating? NCsoft is offering goodies galore to citizens of Atreia throughout the month-long anniversary celebration. And so that no Deava is left out of the festivities, a 10-day reactivation event will take place beginning at 11:00 a.m EDT on September 22nd and running until 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 2nd. All inactive accounts in good standing on or before September 14th are eligible for reactivation.

Wondering what exactly you are missing? Catch a breeze and float past the cut as Wings Over Atreia looks at how Aion has evolved over the past 12 months as well as what gifts, goodies, and events await Daevas during the celebration.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameanniversaryanniversary-eventsanniversary-giftsap-eventbirthdaycelebrationcelebrationseventsfeaturedgiftsincreased-drop-ratesincreased-xpnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionreactivationspecial-eventsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 19 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/behind-the-mask-two-years-and-two-thousand-miles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/behind-the-mask-two-years-and-two-thousand-miles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/behind-the-mask-two-years-and-two-thousand-miles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Champions Online screenshot
Some of you will recall what Champions Online was like at launch. I think that a lot of readers here at Massively still remember that soreness. The first year of CO was kind of a rough, rocky ride. At some point or another, I think all of us expected the game to fail. It was really only in the in the last few months of that year that Cryptic started to turn the game around.

The second year of Champions has been a lot more successful. I'm pretty sure that from a bottom-line perspective, the F2P launch helped turn the game into a profitable venture. However, that hasn't been the only major change. If Cryptic had held this kind of attitude from day one, I think things would have turned out differently.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-long-way-to-goanniversarybehind-the-maskbirthdaybirthdayschampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playhey-i-think-the-game-is-funtwo-year-anniversarytwo-yearsThu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-party-guide-for-the-fashionably-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-party-guide-for-the-fashionably-late/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-party-guide-for-the-fashionably-late/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Rift skeleton
Last week, Justin presented a great overview of what's on the horizon for RIFT via his interview with Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman. On August 25th, everyone is invited to celebrate RIFT's six-month birthday, with special events and prizes for the next seven days. New and returning players get to play for free, while subscribers get lots of special perks like extra experience, increased drops, and even a special birthday gift at the end of the celebration.

Curious about why players names are certain colors? Having a hard time deciphering an acronym? Wondering how you can find the calling and level of someone talking in open chat? Read on for some helpful game tips for those who are thinking of checking out the game (and perhaps a few tips that even veterans might appreciate)!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdayenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedkaren-bryanriftrift-birthdayrift-inventory-managementrift-new-player-guiderift-planes-of-telararift-wardstonessoul-systemtoptriontrion-worldsWed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-happy-half-birthday-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-happy-half-birthday-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-happy-half-birthday-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT header
It's hard to believe -- but amazing nevertheless -- that RIFT is almost a half-year old. Six months ago, hundreds of thousands of gamers rushed through the gates to become the first to explore Telara, included me, and we were introduced to what's become one of the most dominating MMOs of the year.

Following this smooth release (and it was smooth), Trion Worlds set a remarkable standard for itself by pumping out meaty content updates at a steady, rapid pace and marketing RIFT out the wazoo. We've already witnessed two live events, numerous subscription specials, the addition of a ginormous raid, and my not having hit 50 yet -- to my eternal embarrassment. Of course, there have been bumps in the road as well: a lackluster initial world event, a segment of disgruntled players and opponents, and the looming specter of several heavy-hitting MMOs waiting in the wings.

But for right here and right now, this is Trion's time, and the company is taking advantage of this half-year milestone to light the fireworks and lay out the good china in celebration. We got on the phone with Scott Hartsman and his Justice League to talk about what the studio has up its sleeves for this event -- and what's next for this rapidly expanding title.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT!

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaybirthday-cakebonus-xpbuffcelebrationchronicles-of-telaracontestcustomersdiscountsfeaturedfree-gametimefree-weekgencongencon-2011gencon-indygiftgrassrootsgrassroots-movementhalf-birthdayhalf-birthday-cakehalf-birthday-celebrationinstant-adventureinterviewplanar-attunementriftstate-of-the-gamesubscriberssubscriptiontriontrion-worldsWed, 17 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time to party for AIKA's first birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/time-to-party-for-aikas-first-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/time-to-party-for-aikas-first-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/time-to-party-for-aikas-first-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wish AIKA a happy birthday, because it's turning one year old this month! To celebrate the occasion, T3fun is hosting a plethora of exciting events for AIKA players. For starters, all players will receive double experience for the entire month of August, making it the perfect time to grind out those levels you need.

Also on the calendar is the "WAR is Back" event, in which players "kill hostile characters and get rewarded with whatever is behind the W, A and R medals left behind." For the PvP-inclined, every Wednesday and Saturday the team will host a King of Ka-Hill PvP match, which pits two teams of 24 against one another in a struggle for control. And finally, there's the Run for Glory. On August 19th and 26th, each nation's Lord Marshall will be granted access to a special Invader account containing an extremely powerful Paladin. The Invader must run through an opposing nation with the objective of reaching that nation's Regenshein. It's up to members of that nation to ensure that his job isn't an easy one.

The events are going on all month, so jump in and join the festivities.

MassivelyTime to party for AIKA's first birthday originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikaaika-globalanniversarybirthdayeventsf2first-birthdayfree-to-playking-of-kahillone-year-anniversayrun-for-gloryt3funwar-is-backWed, 03 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiesta Online celebrating third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/fiesta-online-celebrating-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/fiesta-online-celebrating-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/fiesta-online-celebrating-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Three years ago today, Fiesta Online's first server opened to the public, and gamigo has just announced plans for the title's birthday celebration via a new press release. The festivities will run through August 18th and include "special events and major contests."

First up is the Birthday Cooking Competition and Come Party With Me events on the the Fiesta Facebook page. There's also the Fiesta Birthday Quest and Fiesta Online Summer Festival events, as well as new and exclusive track suit and mini gift items in the game's cash shop.

Fiesta is free-to-play and features five classes as well as PvP, in-game weddings, and an estate system that allows for decoration and personalization.

MassivelyFiesta Online celebrating third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-year-anniversaryanniversarybirthdaycome-party-with-mecooking-contesteventsf2pfiestafiesta-onlinefree-to-playgamigooutsparkpress-releasesummer-festivalthree-year-anniversaryFri, 29 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/second-lifes-ceo-rod-humble-talks-anniversaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/second-lifes-ceo-rod-humble-talks-anniversaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/second-lifes-ceo-rod-humble-talks-anniversaries/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Second Life recently hit a milestone in the MMORPG industry: eight years in service. This is ancient in MMO terms, and yet the game has shown continued growth. How would you explain such success, especially when the game... er, world... is such an enigma? Even the players are not sure how to describe it.

Well, we called out the big guns and sat down with Rod Humble, CEO of Linden Lab, the maker of Second Life. He was kind enough to not only do the interview but allow us to embed the audio in the article for you to hear! Don't worry; we've also written up much of what was said, so you can choose to listen, read, or both!

Click past the cut and let's get right to the interview with Rod as he talks about success, explaining Second Life and some of the surprises he's met with along the way.

Continue reading Second Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries

MassivelySecond Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdayeighth-anniversaryfeaturedinterviewinterviewslinden-labrod-humblesecond-lifeSLvideovideosThu, 23 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan year three retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-year-three-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-year-three-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/22/the-anvil-of-crom-age-of-conan-year-three-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The past 12 months have been something of a whirlwind for the Age of Conan team. While content updates for the game were a bit lighter than normal, Funcom was nonetheless working quite hard behind the scenes for much of the game's third year.

As a result -- and despite the residual stickiness of the outdated "Failcom" rhetoric that floats around the internet -- there's never been a better time to be an AoC fan. The dev team has expanded, content updates are coming at regular intervals, and there's even a new server ruleset on the way for those of you in favor of unforgiving PvP action. Add to that the cryptic hints of a big announcement that Craig Morrison has been dropping over the last little while and you've got a recipe for Hyborian intrigue the likes of which we haven't seen since launch.

Speaking of AoC's launch, it happened three years ago this week, and today's Anvil of Crom offers you a look back at year three's most memorable moments. Put on your birthday hats, break out the kazoos, and join me after the cut for more.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan year three retrospective

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan year three retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanalways-fastly-wellanniversaryanvil-of-cromaocaoc-anniversaryaoc-anniversary-retrospectivebirthdaycraig-morrisondreamworldfantasyfeaturedfuncomnew-contentopinionpatchesrip-salvosalvosilirrionthe-anvil-of-cromupdatesSun, 22 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE anniversary lottery offers over 40 billion ISK in prizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/eve-anniversary-lottery-offers-over-40-billion-isk-in-prizes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Since the beginning of time, or at least the beginning of the EVE Online universe, players have gambled their ISK for a chance to win it big in the BIG lottery. First launching on May 13th 2003, the BIG lottery has sold over 48,000 tickets worth a total of over 613 billion ISK. Each year, a special bumper edition of the game is launched to commemorate the birthday of both EVE Online and the BIG lottery, with CCP donating some awesome prizes.

Last year's seventh anniversary lottery included billions of ISK in prizes, including a free year of game time, a battleship model from the EVE store, and more donated by CCP. This year's eighth anniversary lottery has a similarly massive prize fund, with official prizes of 25 billion ISK and 10 billion ISK for the first and second place winners respectively. The EVE Online Hold'em poker league has sponsored two additional prizes of 5 billion ISK and a full year of EVE game time. To top things off, CCP will be giving each of the four winners a $50 gift certificate to be used in the EVE store.

Head over to the official forum thread or website for details on how to enter the contest. Tickets must be purchased before Sunday 15th May, and the drawing will occur on Monday the 16th at 2:00 p.m. EDT (18:00 EVE time) in the "BIG Games" in-game chat channel. Good luck to all those who enter!

MassivelyEVE anniversary lottery offers over 40 billion ISK in prizes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-yearsanniversarybigbig-lotterybillionbirthdayccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineisklotteryprizesThu, 12 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MapleStory invites you to a Jubilation!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/maplestory-invites-you-to-a-jubilation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/maplestory-invites-you-to-a-jubilation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/maplestory-invites-you-to-a-jubilation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a stupendous month for MapleStory as the obscenely popular MMO not only dinged its sixth year in operation but also racked up over eight million accounts and 24 million characters created. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Nexon is throwing a joyful celebration for the game code-named Jubilation.

As the name suggests, Jubilation is all about partying, and party the players shall. For starters, there's a dual-raid for two teams of three competing to down a balloon first. Those looking for more relaxing activities may want to help grow a small maple sapling into a mighty tree by collecting sunshine, assembling an anniversary jigsaw puzzle by collecting all the trees, or simply logging in every day to earn enough stamps for a loyalty medal with spiffy stats attached.

MapleStory's sixth anniversary events are going on now through June 14th, so there's plenty of time to check it all out! You can read the full details of the game's Jubilation at the official site.

MassivelyMapleStory invites you to a Jubilation! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-anniversaryanniversaryballoon-raidbirthdaycelebrationdual-raideventf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventjigsaw-puzzlejubilationjubileeloyalty-medalmaple-saplingmaple-treemaplestorynexonpartysixth-anniversarywiggity-wiggity-whackFri, 06 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online giving players tasty beverages!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/eve-online-giving-players-tasty-beverages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/eve-online-giving-players-tasty-beverages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/eve-online-giving-players-tasty-beverages/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As we reported before, EVE Online is celebrating its 8th anniversary! As a great big thank-you to all of their loyal players, the fine folks at CCP are gifting everyone a six-pack of delicious Quafe Zero. What is Quafe Zero, you ask? According to the devblog, "Made from compounds found only in Sleeper vessels, each can of Quafe Zero promises to boost your Speed and Scan Resolution 5% for one hour, with zero booster side effects. Tastes great, won't fill you up, and makes you a better pilot."

Can't wait to get your hands on this tasty beverage? Just log into EVE tomorrow and click the Redeem Items button in the lower right corner. Select the character to receive these refreshing libations and reap the revitalizing rewards.

For full instructions and a small note of thanks from the EVE Online devs, click on through to the full article!

MassivelyEVE Online giving players tasty beverages! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8th-anniversary8th-birthdayanniversarybirthdayccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinequafe-zeroyou-mind-if-i-have-some-of-your-tasty-beverageFri, 06 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/eve-evolved-eight-years-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In last week's EVE Evolved column, I celebrated the third anniversary of the column with a competition to win one of three prizes worth over 500 million ISK. Congratulations go to Uniqdragon, mdubs28 and Thorium88, who will be contacted via email to arrange receipt of their prizes. In a bizarre twist that I can't believe I haven't noticed for three years, it turns out that the anniversary of my column occurs just over a week before EVE Online's own birthday on May 6th. With that in mind, this week's column is dedicated to the game's anniversary and to looking back at another successful year.

The past eight years have been a wild ride for EVE Online and its developer CCP Games. EVE has grown from a fledgling niche game with under 40,000 launch subscriptions to a global melting pot of over 360,000 actively subscribed accounts. The company itself has seem similar expansion, starting from humble beginnings as a small independent studio in Iceland and growing into a multinational monster with offices in China, Iceland, North America and the United Kingdom.

In this huge two-page anniversary edition of EVE Evolved, I look at how EVE Online has kept up with the industry over the years and then go on to examine this past year in detail, from the highs and lows to all the scams and awesome events.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Eight years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-yearsanniversarybirthdayccpccp-eveccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdominioneveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfanfestfeaturedgameplaygraphicsgraphics-updateincarnaincursioniterationiterative-designlagmmo-industryopinionrmtserverserver-upgradestrinitytyranniswar-on-lagSun, 01 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate six years of Guild Wars with prizes and an exclusive update interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/celebrate-six-years-of-guild-wars-with-prizes-and-an-exclusive-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/celebrate-six-years-of-guild-wars-with-prizes-and-an-exclusive-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/celebrate-six-years-of-guild-wars-with-prizes-and-an-exclusive-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Let the celebration begin! Guild Wars is six years old, and as promised earlier this morning, ArenaNet has handed out the party hats and kicked off the festivities.

Here at Massively we've got plenty of party treats for you! Not only do we have the full scoop on the anniversary update, but we chatted with Guild Wars Live Team members John Stumme and Matthew Moore about the creation of the event. Finally, we've got a special Livestream look at the new content along with a pile of prizes for Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 fans, so follow along after the jump for all the details!

Continue reading Celebrate six years of Guild Wars with prizes and an exclusive update interview

MassivelyCelebrate six years of Guild Wars with prizes and an exclusive update interview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-anniversaryanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdaycontestcontestseverlasting-tonicgiveawaygiveawaysguild-warsguild-wars-anniversaryguild-wars-birthdayguild-wars-sixth-anniversaryguild-wars-sixth-birthdaygwinterviewinterviewsjohn-stummematthew-mooreMinipetsminisncsoftsixth-anniversarytonicThu, 28 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sixth anniversary bringing big changes to Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/sixth-anniversary-bringing-big-changes-to-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/sixth-anniversary-bringing-big-changes-to-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/sixth-anniversary-bringing-big-changes-to-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The sixth anniversary of Guild Wars is here, and ArenaNet is celebrating in a big way with an update today. This sixth anniversary brings new content, some surprising new birthday tonics, and some big changes to PvP. That last item on the list comes courtesy of the Lunatic Court members and their efforts to free Mad King Thorn last Halloween. "While these events have long passed, the aftereffect of this plot has caused instability to seep into the land causing fluctuations. This Flux will come and go monthly and cause alterations to PvP that will encourage players to alter their playing style in order to take advantage of the current Flux."

The update coming later today offers fans plenty of other changes and upgrades as well. Players will have new challenges in the form of hard mode quests, a new look to the game with optional high-resolution town textures, and an overhauled friends list. If you're mutual friends with another player, you'll be able to see what map he or she is currently in. Finally, ArenaNet is celebrating six years with six weeks of sales -- starting today, a different item will be on sale in the NCsoft store every week. The sales will be updated every Thursday at noon PDT.

Massively has joined in the party too! We'll be bringing you even more news on the celebration events, an exclusive interview with two members of the Live Team, a chance to win some Guild Wars prizes, and maybe even a few more surprises! You'll want to keep a very close eye on the site, our Twitter feed, our Facebook page, and our forums so you don't miss anything!

MassivelySixth anniversary bringing big changes to Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-anniversaryanetanniversaryarenanetbirthdayguild-warsguild-wars-anniversaryguild-wars-birthdayguild-wars-sixth-anniversaryguild-wars-sixth-birthdaygwncsoftsixth-anniversaryThu, 28 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape: Sixth anniversary retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/runescape-anniversary-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/runescape-anniversary-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/runescape-anniversary-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When it first launched back in 2001, RuneScape was a primitive beast. Its blocky three-dimensional world was littered with hand-drawn two-dimensional sprites, and most of its sound effects could have been created by whacking random objects with a hammer. Only a handful of quests and skills existed, and there wasn't much land to explore. After over a decade of development, the RuneScape we have today bears little semblance to its primitive ancestor. The map is an order of magnitude larger, the list of quests has grown immensely, and there are countless things to do in the world.

With several million actively playing free accounts and over a million paid subscribers, RuneScape has risen from its humble beginnings to be one of the world's most popular free-to-play MMOs. It's been a long road, with a few important milestones along the way. Today marks the sixth anniversary of the date that the RuneScape 2 beta was officially completed and the game's first major overhaul was launched live to players. Anyone who played back then will remember the beta fondly as the rebirth of a game they loved. Since then, regular game updates have added a huge amount of depth and content every year.

In this retrospective article, I look back at RuneScape's past to see how it got to where it is today and what's new to the game over this past year.

Continue reading RuneScape: Sixth anniversary retrospective

MassivelyRuneScape: Sixth anniversary retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaybrowserDaemonheimdungeoneeringelemental-workshopfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-tradegraphicsHatihati-wolfiterationjagexjavammo-industrypvpquestquestsrmtrunescaperunescape-classicsixth-anniversarytradewildernessTue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic celebrates its second birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Happy birthday, Runes of Magic! Two years have gone by, and you're growing up so fast. Anniversary celebrations are already underway in RoM. If your account has been lying dormant, you may want to wake it up, join the festivities, and get some free goodies while you're at it. For me, these two years flew by. It doesn't seem all that long ago that I wrote a look back at the first year of RoM.

In two years, RoM has seen three major updates, and a fourth is just around the corner. The first two chapters made it into the first year, and although Chapter 4 didn't quite make it into this article, chapter 3 brought a whopping amount of content and features.

If your extra ginger beer isn't cutting it anymore and you're feeling brave, move on up by grabbing a bottle of Blenhiem's old #5 and join me for a look back at the last year of RoM.

Continue reading Runes of Magic celebrates its second birthday

MassivelyRunes of Magic celebrates its second birthday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaychapter-3chapter-iiifeaturedfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefrogster-interctivehouseinstancesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamementomonster-cardsmonster-compendiumpet-systemrelationshipsromrunes-of-magicrunewaker-enterainmentrunewaker-entertainmentsecond-anniversarysecond-birthdaythe-elder-kingdomstwo-yearstwo-years-oldvivoxvivox-voice-chatFri, 18 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Time grows many layers, and this is especially true in MMORPGs. After all, not only are new quests, stories and chunks of content added to a game as it goes along, but the players themselves add their own memories and experiences to the mix. MMOs truly are virtual worlds, and they change over time and become richer. EverQuest is no exception. After 12 years of adventure, danger, and story-telling, the game shows no signs of stopping.

What is planned for the game? How will the last 12 years affect the decisions for the next 12 years? EverQuest has been one of the flagships of the genre, but how does a game of its age maintain any type of market visibility? Massively sat down with SOE President John Smedley, EQ Assistant Lead Designer Alan VanCouvering, and Associate Producer Harvey Burgess to find out. We'll also be taking a look back at the long history of Norrath and will even throw in some nuggets about EverQuest Next.

Click past the cut and let's take a look!

Continue reading Celebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley

MassivelyCelebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12th-anniversaryAlan-VanCouveringanniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaychampions-of-norratheqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfippy-darkpawhappy-birthdayhardcoreharvey-burgessinterviewjohn-smedleyNorrathshadows-of-luclinSOESony-Online-EntertainmentWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-cloneWed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crashing the parrrty: DDO's producer joins the fifth anniversary festivities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/crashing-the-parrrty-ddos-producer-joins-the-fifth-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/crashing-the-parrrty-ddos-producer-joins-the-fifth-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/crashing-the-parrrty-ddos-producer-joins-the-fifth-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What's better: birthdays or pirates? For Dungeons and Dragons Online Executive Prodicer Fernando Paiz, both are equally awesome, which is why DDO's fifth anniversary is smoothered in secret pirate sauce.

In a birthday letter to DDO's playerbase, Paiz gushes about the game's accomplishments over the past half-decade, including its action-based combat, DX11 graphics and free-to-play transition. But all that is the past, as he talks up the myriad of in-game events that are currently happening in the game, which include fighting off pirates, collecting lost goodies and claiming your rightful booty.

Paiz also expressed excitement about DDO's future, starting with the European F2P edition that's coming soon to the international community. He also hints at several developments that are coming down the pike for the game, such as a new crafting system, high-level adventure packs, and a never-before-seen content system.

You can read the full producer's letter over at DDO.

MassivelyCrashing the parrrty: DDO's producer joins the fifth anniversary festivities originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-anniversary5th-birthdayadventure-packsanniversaryanniversary-eventbirthdaybooty-is-a-funny-wordddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedx11fernando-paizfifth-anniversarypiratesturbineturbine-entertainmentMon, 28 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online celebrates player's 83rd birthday in game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/ultima-online-celebrates-players-83rd-birthday-in-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/ultima-online-celebrates-players-83rd-birthday-in-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/ultima-online-celebrates-players-83rd-birthday-in-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Think Ultima Online is all about ganking, Lord of the Flies, and survival of the fittest? Think again, as the feel good story of the week comes courtesy of the long-lived granddaddy of sandbox MMOs. Speaking of long lives, UO player Hollie Macrall recently celebrated her 83rd birthday, and while we don't know for sure whether that's some sort of MMO record, we do know that the Ultima devs were duly impressed enough to reward her with an in-game flower marking the occasion.

As you can see in the accompanying screenshot, Hollie was surrounded by friends and family for her virtual celebration and is also the proud owner of the one-of-a-kind item bearing the inscription "In appreciation of age and wisdom. Happy 83rd birthday Hollie from the UO Team."

MassivelyUltima Online celebrates player's 83rd birthday in game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>83rd-birthdaybirthdayeaElectronic-Artseventsfantasyholliehollie-macrallin-game-birthdaymythicMythic-Entertainmentsandboxultimaultima-onlineuoWed, 09 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard's fourth anniversary raises new questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/vanguards-fourth-anniversary-raises-new-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/vanguards-fourth-anniversary-raises-new-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/vanguards-fourth-anniversary-raises-new-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vanguard is somewhat of a unique beast among other "AAA" MMOs; it's a forgotten child that still offers great adventure, open-world excitement, and hardcore raiding. While we all have heard of the botched launch and practically dead-in-the-water development cycle of the game, the fact of the matter is that players are still playing it. You can't force a player to enjoy himself, so why are the members of the Vanguard community still playing?

Is it possible that they are having a good time? Or do social ties mean more than great adventure? Could it be that players simply have not found a game that they enjoy more than Vanguard, warts and all? We asked the players on the official forums and received a total of four responses. The thread was immediately pushed down by standard complaint posts. Could it be that the community has been the worst thing for the game, a game that needs, more than anything, positive word-of-mouth?

Click past the cut and we'll look into it.

Continue reading Vanguard's fourth anniversary raises new questions

MassivelyVanguard's fourth anniversary raises new questions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-anniversaryanniversariesanniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaybirthdaysdc-universe-onlinedcuofantasyfourth-anniversaryhigh-fantasyjohn-smedleyLive-Gamerlive-gamer-exchangesmedsmedleySOESony-Online-EntertainmentvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The Professor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-the-professor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-the-professor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-the-professor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This past week on January 3rd, J.R.R. Tolkien celebrated his 118th birthday -- or rather, we celebrated it for him. Tolkien was born in South Africa in 1892 and lived a rich and full life, from fighting in the first World War to working on the Oxford English Dictionary to taking a position at several universities that would earn him the nickname "The Professor."

He is, of course, most well-remembered for his seminal works of fantasy -- The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion -- although his writings didn't end there. Due to Tolkien's love of nature, linguistics, and mythology, his creations were born out of comprehensive backgrounds and rich histories, which he seemed to love making up just as much as the stories themselves.

For years now, Tolkien fans around the world have remembered his birthday by raising a glass on his birthday and giving a simple toast, "The Professor," at 9:00 p.m. wherever they lived. Likewise, in Lord of the Rings Online, many players gathered at their tavern of choice to do the same.

Today I thought I'd remember the Professor in a slightly different way by exploring the quest chain "Missing the Meeting." While it's not completely overt if you happened to come across it, "Missing the Meeting" is a tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien and his life, and it's worth going through at least once if you want to pay homage and get a nifty token by which to remember him.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The Professor

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The Professor originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bird-and-baby-innbirthdaybrandywinebullroarers-swardcarlo-williamscharles-williamschronicles-of-narniacs-lewiseagle-and-child-pubelfevendimfeaturedfrostbluff-theatrehomagehugo-dysoninklingsjack-lewisdownjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelost-doglost-leaflotrolotro-wikimiddle-earthmissing-the-meetingnarnianpcowen-barfieldowen-farfieldoxford-english-dictionarypipepostal-servicequestronald-dwaleroverandomsouth-africathe-hobbitthe-inklingsthe-professorthe-silmarilliontoasttolkientolkiennaturbineuniversity-of-oxfordworld-war-iyule-festivalFri, 07 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I looked down at the dog-eared journal and shivered. As excited as I was to finally be in possession of The Tattered Notebook, I recalled the fates of its previous owners. First, seemingly out of madness, Seccia made a sudden and unexpected career change to blog about kittens. Now, Scarve, a Ratonga, has disappeared in the night, leaving behind only a wedge of cheese, this tattered notebook, and a tiny stuffed Kerran doll. Rumors spread of his appearance among a shadowy cult of Gnomish tinkerers, but it's unclear whether he's with them by choice or by force.

Regardless, I took a deep breath and opened the cover. What a perfect time to begin adding my entries to the journal, right at the celebration of EverQuest II's six-year anniversary! To celebrate, the game is holding its second annual Festival of Heroes, from November 19-30. In honor of this milestone, my first entry into The Tattered Notebook is a retrospective of those past six years, with an eye towards the future.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packanniversaryappearance-slotbillybirthdaybloodline-chroniclesdesert-of-flamesechoes-of-faydwereqEQ2EQIIeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiexchangeexchange-serversf2pfallen-dynastyfan-fairefan-faire-2010featuredfestival-of-heroesfree-to-playfreemiumhousingkingdom-of-skymarketplaceNorrathplayer-housingRetrospectiverise-of-kunarksentinels-fateSOEsoe-eq-2SONYSony-Online-Entertainmentsplitpaw-sagathe-shadow-odysseythe-tattered-notebookMon, 08 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Week in Review: And many more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/week-in-review-and-many-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/week-in-review-and-many-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/week-in-review-and-many-more/#commentsFiled under: ,

At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on the site and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big story last week? Curious about what's going on next door at our sister site, WoW Insider? Don't worry -- we've got you covered.

This week, Massively celebrated its third year online with a bundle of birthday posts and features. The cake's all gone by now, but we've still got something to show for it: a look at the staff's favorite posts over the last three years and a rundown of all our former writers who now work in the MMO industry proper (it can be done!). Then our lovely readers asked us questions for a change in the birthday Daily Grind, and we answered you in Ask Massively before moving on to party in One Shots and scramble for the last slice of virtual cake over in Massively Speaking. Thank you to all of our readers for your birthday wishes! We hope to be delivering MMO news and columns to you in another three years... and another three after that... and on and on!

Join me past the break for a look at this week's other top stories!

Continue reading Week in Review: And many more

MassivelyWeek in Review: And many more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaybirthday-2010massively-metametarounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 07 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST