Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Transformation-focused Eclipse War Online debuts with video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/transformation-focused-eclipse-war-online-debuts-with-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/transformation-focused-eclipse-war-online-debuts-with-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/transformation-focused-eclipse-war-online-debuts-with-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Transformationfocused Eclipse War Online debuts with video
Players of the upcoming Korean MMO Eclipse War Online can transform into a variety of familiar and unique fantastical creatures, from massive-clawed scorpions to dragons to a blob with antennae. SC Internet recently introduced its new game that puts a twist on the standard adventuring: Instead of just being characters from stock races fighting against mobs, players can become the mob in fights!

If players acquire the transformation card, they will be able to transform into almost every monster in game -- including bosses. When in altered form, players then get some of that monster's special abilities to use on top of their own. Want to be a wolf? Go kill a wolf. The principle flows through to PvP as well; killing another player will net the victor some of the loser's skills. Choosing which form to fight in also becomes a matter of strategy, as some monsters' powers change depending on time of day, location, etc.

Want to get a gander at some of the available forms players can turn into? Catch a glimpse in the trailer after the break.

Continue reading Transformation-focused Eclipse War Online debuts with video

MassivelyTransformation-focused Eclipse War Online debuts with video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesEclipse-War-OnlinefantasyKorean-MMOnew-titleSG-Internettrailertransform-into-mobstransformationvideoMon, 12 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Diablo III's endgame is fundamentally flawed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-endgame-is-fundamentally-flawed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionanetarenanetauction-housebarbarianbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbossbossesd3demon-hunterdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiiendgamefantasyfeaturedgame-designgothic-fantasyguild-wars-2gw2hellfire-ringsinfernoladderlegendarieslegendarylegendary-itemslegendary-weaponslootmagic-findmonkmultiplayerncsoftoculusonline-multiplayeropinionparagonparagon-levelparagon-studiosparagon-systempvepvprantrantsrpgskornsoapboxthe-oculusthe-soapboxuberuber-diablouberswarcraftwitch-doctorwizardwizardspikeworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 25 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Chasing TERA's BAMs with Rielene]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/choose-my-adventure-chasing-teras-bams-with-rielene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/choose-my-adventure-chasing-teras-bams-with-rielene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/choose-my-adventure-chasing-teras-bams-with-rielene/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What what? Basilisk butt.
Higiri will be delving further into the depths, seeking that fundamental alchemy that separates a generic implementation of mechanics from a standout one. I wish her luck, but this week doesn't focus on her adventures. No, it's time for Rielene to once more take center stage, complete with her twin blades and her dangerous game. Rielene's destiny was to hunt the great beasts of TERA, the monsters whose colossal stature relegates them to assault by groups or fearless individuals.

I speak, of course, of BAMs.

OK, for the epic names that could have been chosen for these creatures, that's probably not one of the better ones. But they're still pretty distinctive. They're these roaming monsters that don't just wing you a bit if they connect with a hit; they shred you to pieces. They're bosses that roam around, daring you to try and take them on alone. And I did just that, and I emerged victorious, and it was undeniably worth the price of admission.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Chasing TERA's BAMs with Rielene

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Chasing TERA's BAMs with Rielene originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bamsbig-ass-monstersblueholebluehole-studiosbossbosseschoose-my-adventurecmaen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedhands-onnamesopinionpollpollsreaders-choicesilly-namessolosoloingteravotevotingWed, 04 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest WildStar Wednesday talks about creatures like a boss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/newest-wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-creatures-like-a-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/newest-wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-creatures-like-a-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/newest-wildstar-wednesday-talks-about-creatures-like-a-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Spew venom! (like a boss) Consume adventurers! (like a boss) Spawn monsters! (like a boss) Eat a bagel! (like a boss)
When you're out in the wilds of WildStar, you're going to run into some creatures strong enough to throw you to the ground. That's why this week's installment of WildStar Wednesday discusses the minibosses one can expect to find out in the Northern Wilds. Only three of the denizens are given a full writeup, but the triumvirate should be more than enough to give potential players a sense of what dangers lurk in the planet's unexplored regions.

If you like your enemies with a thick carapace, the Xenobite Queen should be right up your alley, complete with vile poison and ravenous young. If you'd prefer to be pounded into the dirt by a mechanical emissary of the Dominion, the Ultrabot should provide you with all the laser-guided missile-flavored death you could want. Or you could face down a Frost Giant and enjoy watching a long-haired beast with poor eyesight hammer you into oblivion. It's all interesting flavor for fans of the game's development thus far, and it includes small factoids about the beasts that should prove completely irrelevant when fighting them. The more you know.

MassivelyNewest WildStar Wednesday talks about creatures like a boss originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossescarbinecarbine-studioslike-a-bossloreminibossesmonstersncsoftpreviewsandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwsWed, 28 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/vindictus-brings-out-a-dragon-with-accompanying-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/vindictus-brings-out-a-dragon-with-accompanying-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/vindictus-brings-out-a-dragon-with-accompanying-ink/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In any fantasy game, downing a dragon is what you want. Sure, there might be other monsters that are technically stronger, but nothing else has quite the feel of straight-up slaying a dragon. Nexon realizes this, which is why the strongest foe in Vindictus' latest game update, is the massive dragon Elchulus. Players will need to have quite the team to bring down this massive foe, as a full raid of 24 characters at level 40 are required to slay the beast.

The update also adds a lower-level raid for levels 20 and 30 as well as some brand-new tattoos to help signify your battle against the scaly menace. You can buy new tattoos, or you can face off against the new bosses and have a chance at winning one for free. Not quite convinced? Then take a look at the dragon in action just past the break, and see if you don't have a sudden urge to put a flying lizard in its place.

Continue reading Vindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink

MassivelyVindictus brings out a dragon with accompanying ink originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobossesdragonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-updatesinternet-dragonsnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentpatchesraidstrailertrailersupdateupdatesvideovideosvindictusFri, 23 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus Europe video shows off new boss, new hero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/vindictus-europe-video-shows-off-new-boss-new-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/vindictus-europe-video-shows-off-new-boss-new-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/vindictus-europe-video-shows-off-new-boss-new-hero/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Vindictus Europe - Thor
The latest Vindictus Europe video has a scary new boss monster on display. Nexon is introducing Thor (no, not that Thor), a giant crocodile-like creature with three mouths and a nasty disposition.

Nexon describes Thor as an "outlaw of the dark and damp underworld," and the trailer shows a cross-section of Vindictus heroes slicing and dicing the new monster using the title's unique action combat mechanics.

While we're on the subject of heroes, the video also teases the latest Vindictus Europe playable character, a giant brawler named Karok. Check out all the gory details after the cut.

[Source: Nexon Europe press release]

Continue reading Vindictus Europe video shows off new boss, new hero

MassivelyVindictus Europe video shows off new boss, new hero originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesbrawlerclassesf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-mechanicskaroknexonnexon-europethorvideovindictusvindictus-europeWed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus invites players to explore sewers and fight with monsters in newest update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/vindictus-invites-players-to-explore-sewers-and-fight-with-monst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/vindictus-invites-players-to-explore-sewers-and-fight-with-monst/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/vindictus-invites-players-to-explore-sewers-and-fight-with-monst/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Fighting... LIKE A BOSS.
Nexon Europe is pushing Vindictus forward with the game's newest update, which brings two large content improvements to the game. Players mostly interested in the PvE side of the game can start investigating Rocheste's sewers, braving dangerous beasts in the hopes of obtaining new treasures and three new armor types. Fortunately, the three characters of the game each receive a new skill to go along with all of the dangerous, hopefully making it just a little easier to tear through whatever lies beneath.

If you'd rather go for the PvP route, however, the update is introducing a new combat mode known as M-Match. It's two teams of players pitted against one another, with the added twist that each side has a boss monster under its control. The first team to take out the opposing team's boss is the winner. The new arena also contains a number of chained boss fights for players to pit themselves against, either one at a time or multiple bosses in sequence, just to reward players who decide to hack their way through greater challenges.

[Source: Nexon Europe press release]

Continue reading Vindictus invites players to explore sewers and fight with monsters in newest update

MassivelyVindictus invites players to explore sewers and fight with monsters in newest update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenabossboss-monstersbossescontentm-matchmonstersnexonnexon-europepatchespvppvp-modesquestssewersupdatesvindictusWed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
They're big! They're bad! They're da boss(es)! And they've got your loot!

That's right: Lurking about all corners of Aion, powerful monsters beckon (lure?) Daevas with promises of tantalizing loot and illustrious glory. Who doesn't like the rush of downing a powerful foe or nabbing a coveted item?

Previous tours of Heiron and Inggison scouted out said monsters and offered some tips as to who was worth fighting and who should be avoided when hunting alone. Those lands focused on higher-level players. However, with double XP weekends throughout January, there will undoubtedly be an influx of players in the lower levels. What better time to take stock of the bosses available to this crowd?

This week, Wings Over Atreia takes a tour of Eltnen to expose the available bosses to treasure-hungry Daevas. Be warned, though: The opportunity to take on these behemoths may be short-lived during a time of double XP, especially when combined with mentoring. So before you move on to bigger, brighter lands, take a moment to stop and smell the roses -- or kill the bosses, as it were.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebossesdropsErucas-TemplefeaturedgearguideKaiden-Headquarterskaiden-mineKHQLepharist-Citadellootnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionWings-Over-Atreiaworld-bossworld-bossesWorldBossesMon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Taking a look at the world bosses of ArcheAge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/taking-a-look-at-the-world-bosses-of-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/taking-a-look-at-the-world-bosses-of-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/taking-a-look-at-the-world-bosses-of-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Set players on fire (like a boss)!
The upcoming sandbox game ArcheAge has turned quite a few heads with its design principles, graphics, and game mechanics. But mechanics alone don't make a game fun to play -- you need to have some content to make use of them, after all. Content like, say, a large number of bosses wandering the world for players to take up arms against. The folks over at Steparu have gone out and shown off precisely those bosses with a new series of videos, showing the latest beta build in action by demonstrating pitched fights against these enemies.

As the preview indicates, defeating bosses rewards you with enchantments, equipment, and reputation, with the last being quite useful to gain access to new prizes through the game. The first of several videos is embedded past the cut, but if you want to see the full spectrum of enemies you can fight like a boss, you'll need to check out the full array of videos yourself and possibly join the legions of hopeful fans wondering when the game will get a stateside release.

[Thanks to ArcheAge Fan for the tip!]

Continue reading Taking a look at the world bosses of ArcheAge

MassivelyTaking a look at the world bosses of ArcheAge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeagearcheage-bossesbetabossboss-fightsbossescbtclosed-betaclosed-beta-testpreviewpreviewsvideovideosxl-gamesMon, 09 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New EVE dev diary talks PvE content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/new-eve-dev-diary-talks-pve-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/new-eve-dev-diary-talks-pve-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/new-eve-dev-diary-talks-pve-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online - space battle
CCP has fired off another EVE Online press release, this time extolling the virtues of the PvE content coming in the winter expansion. New DED complexes are on the way, as are new bosses, modules, and "more reasons to generate massive explosions in space," according to CCP Affinity.

Anomalies will feature increased payouts and more NPCs, and consequently more ISK for the players. Magnometric sites will also see their overall value increase, and CCP is even adding a minimize function for dungeon-related pop-up messages to improve capsuleer quality of life. Read all about it on the official EVE website.

MassivelyNew EVE dev diary talks PvE content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesccpccp-affinityccp-gamesdedded-complexeseveeve-onlineflying-in-spaceinternet-spaceshipslootnew-edenpositivitypvesandboxsci-fiserious-businesswinter-expansionFri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spiral Knights adds Shadow Lair boss content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/spiral-knights-adds-shadow-lair-boss-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Spiral Knights - little sword guy
Darkness! Danger! Death! All await you in the latest Spiral Knights content update from Three Rings. More specifically, the game features new Shadow Lair boss zones, which in turn feature big baddies with names like Lord Vanaduke and Snarbolax (yep, that's really his name, Snarbolax).

Players who recover iron lockboxes have a chance to find shadow keys which can then be used to unlock one of several express elevators that lead right into the depths of the Shadow Lairs. The bosses themselves will provide "trickier, tougher boss fights [and] will challenge even the bravest, boldest, and best-equipped knights, presenting the greatest challenges the game has seen so far," according to a new Three Rings press release. There's more info available on the official Spiral Knights forums, and you can download the game via the official website.

MassivelySpiral Knights adds Shadow Lair boss content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-lairsbossesdungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-vanadukepress-releaseshadow-lairsnarbolaxspiral-knightsthree-ringsThu, 20 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Voyage Century Online introduces new Crete instance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/voyage-century-online-introduces-new-crete-instance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/voyage-century-online-introduces-new-crete-instance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/voyage-century-online-introduces-new-crete-instance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Voyage Century - ship
Voyage Century has been around for four years now, and the dev team is always searching for new ways to freshen up the free-to-play nautical title. To that end, the latest game update includes the isle of Crete, which IGG calls a "primary instance."

Accessing Crete requires players to be sea battle level 15 and class level 15. Once these requirements are met, it's a matter of navigating to the Straight and preparing for three waves of pirate forces. The baddies include Gibraltar pirate flagships and North Sea pirate flagships, both of which will challenge high-level players as well as lower-level types who want to advance quickly by doing the daily quest and defeating the three bosses.

There's a fair bit of incentive to run the instance due to its loot drops as well, and enterprising captains have a chance to snag buckshot cannon and dartling cannon drops, not to mention rare gold and high-grade forging materials.

[Source: IGG press release]

MassivelyVoyage Century Online introduces new Crete instance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossescretedailiesdaily-questsf2pfantasyfree-to-playigginstancesnew-instancepatchespress-releaserare-dropsrare-materialsupdatesvoyage-centuryThu, 15 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Elsword developer Q&A, final round]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/massively-exclusive-elsword-developer-qanda-final-round/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/massively-exclusive-elsword-developer-qanda-final-round/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/massively-exclusive-elsword-developer-qanda-final-round/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

That's right, Elsword fans, it's time for the final installment of the ongoing Elsword dev diaries. This last episode includes only a lone pair of questions, both of which focus on the developers' favorite things about the game -- particularly, their favorite bosses and best and worst moments while playing the game. What boss would the developers most like to see as a playable character? What have been the best and worst moments in their Elsword gaming career?

For the developers' answers to these questions, including a rather amusing anecdote regarding having one's face smashed in by an elementary school kid, head on past the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Elsword developer Q&A, final round

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Elsword developer Q&A, final round originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesdev-diarydev-qAelswordf2pfree-to-playkill3rcombokogkog-studiosmemorable-momentsmemoriesqaTue, 23 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Lucent Heart's Scaena zones and bosses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/exclusive-lucent-hearts-scaena-zones-and-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/exclusive-lucent-hearts-scaena-zones-and-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/exclusive-lucent-hearts-scaena-zones-and-bosses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Lucent Heart screenshot
If you were looking for something a little more "traditional fantasy" after Lucent Heart's music-and-dance routine video last week, then today's dev diary will suit your tastes. In it, the folks at Gamania have delivered to us an exclusive preview of the upcoming Scaena update's zones and bosses. The world of Acadia is being enhanced with the Witch's Cliff on the continent of Cropolis; the level 65-69 Heart of Fire in the lands of Fostyre; the crafting hub Minotsize, City of Industry; and the continents of Edea and Aislan. The dev diary also highlights two of the opponents that players can expect to encounter: the formidable God's Advocate in Mount Destiny and the scorpion-riding Medea in the Witch's Cliff.

Hit the break for the full scoop, and check out screenshots of some of the bosses and zones in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lucent Heart Core Gallery

Continue reading Exclusive: Lucent Heart's Scaena zones and bosses

MassivelyExclusive: Lucent Heart's Scaena zones and bosses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossbossesf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygamanialhlucent-heartnewspatchpatchesscaenascreenshotscreenshotsupdateupdateszonezonesThu, 18 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Rusty Hearts dev diary gets bossy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/new-rusty-hearts-dev-diary-gets-bossy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/new-rusty-hearts-dev-diary-gets-bossy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/new-rusty-hearts-dev-diary-gets-bossy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Rusty Hearts
It's time yet again for another Rusty Hearts video dev diary. This time the focus is on the big baddies that players will be pitting their skills against in the anime-style brawler. We're talking, of course, about boss fights. As any brawler or beat-'em-up fan should know, no true game of the genre is complete without a challenging boss fight to cap off a level.

The dev diary introduces players to a couple of the early bosses they'll be encountering, such as the nasty Blood Skeleton and the hulking Butcher. In addition, it details the rewards players can reap for defeating these challenging fights, such as copious amounts of gold, high-quality equipment, and high-value loot cards. For the full diary, including some footage of players facing off against the game's many bosses, jump on past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading New Rusty Hearts dev diary gets bossy

MassivelyNew Rusty Hearts dev diary gets bossy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beat-em-upbossboss-fightsbossesbrawlerdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpwerhrusty-heartsvideovideosWed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-throne-instan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-throne-instan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/massively-exclusive-battle-of-the-immortals-titan-throne-instan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ready for another exclusive Battle of the Immortals dev blog? If not, too bad, because we've got one and you're reading it!

Like our last Perfect World Entertainment-powered exclusive, this one concerns BoI's Titan update. The patch contains a new instance called Titan's Throne, and players at level 115 or higher will be able to run through it once per day in order to challenge a fearsome gauntlet of monsters, elite bosses and finally Kronos himself.

Head past the cut for more on the new content courtesy of the BoI dev team, as well as a few screenshots of the instance in action.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-the-immortalsbattle-of-the-immortals-titanboiboi-titanbossescronoselite-monstersf2pfeaturedfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpwescreensscreenshotstitan-updatetitans-throneTue, 05 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: A complete guide to angel-slaying, volume two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/behind-the-mask-a-complete-guide-to-angel-slaying-volume-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/behind-the-mask-a-complete-guide-to-angel-slaying-volume-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/behind-the-mask-a-complete-guide-to-angel-slaying-volume-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week on Behind the Mask, we covered the puzzles and trash mob fights of Therakiel's Temple. TT is the toughest lair in Champions Online, and it's not over yet. You've still got to handle the boss fights!

This week, we'll be covering the deadly boss battles of the temple, from the alluring Valerian Scarlet to the big bad Therakiel himself. Caliburn will provide commentary for your fights, but don't expect him to help out; your team is going to need to bring out the big guns.

Just as it did last week, this guide contains some spoilers!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: A complete guide to angel-slaying, volume two

MassivelyBehind the Mask: A complete guide to angel-slaying, volume two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskboss-fightsbosseschampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosendgameendgame-lairf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguideslairrevelationstherakieltherakiels-templewelcome-to-therakiels-rave-partyThu, 16 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/wings-over-atreia-2-5-going-live-on-25/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/wings-over-atreia-2-5-going-live-on-25/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/wings-over-atreia-2-5-going-live-on-25/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The wait is nearly over! Before long, we... oh... pardon me a moment while I grab the door...

Ah, it was just the grammar police. Yes, I know that technically it should be the 25th, but that really doesn't have the catchy ring to it. And who doesn't want a catchy title? Luckily, I was let off with just a warning this time. So back to our topic at hand!

This past week, before Aion's public test server reopened its doors to the masses, Massively had the opportunity to explore patch 2.5 right at NCsoft's PR offices in San Francisco (*cries for having moved to the East Coast*) -- diving into the new content, enjoying the graphical upgrades, and even asking a few questions about what's still to come.

Our very own Bree Royce donned some leather, grabbed a bow, and descended upon the new instances -- Esoterrace and Empyrean Crucible -- to get a taste and share some hints about these new fights. Catch a windstream past the break to check out her impressions as well as some other interesting tidbits about what is in store for Daevas in Aion's upcoming patch, Empyrean Calling.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: 2.5 -- Going live on 25! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.52.5-patchabyss-pointsacademy-bootcampAdam-Christensenaionaion-gameAParakabossescharacter-customizationEmpyrean-Callingempyrean-crucibleesoterracefeaturedgraphical-upgradegraphical-upgradesinstancesloot-rightsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionptsScott-HannusSean-Orlikowskiselling-loot-rightsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiesta Online's Burning Rock expansion packed with new content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/fiesta-onlines-burning-rock-expansion-packed-with-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/fiesta-onlines-burning-rock-expansion-packed-with-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/fiesta-onlines-burning-rock-expansion-packed-with-new-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's expansion time for Fiesta Online, and gamigo is trotting out some new content called Burning Rock to keep the hearts of its loyal fans aflame. In addition to the new stuff, the free-to-play fantasy title's existing zones have been tweaked to "reduce the amount of time it takes to level up," according to a gamigo press release.

Regarding the new content, it's a mixture of new quests, new boss monsters, and new zones, including the Cave of Fever, the Burning Cave, and mobs like the Stone Giant and Fire Golem. There are also 19 new quests, all of them designed for players between the levels of 84 and 92. Head to the official website for more on Fiesta Online and the new expansion.

MassivelyFiesta Online's Burning Rock expansion packed with new content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-monstersbossesburning-caveburning-rockcave-of-feverexpansionexpansionsf2pfantasyfire-golemfree-to-playgamigonew-contentnew-questspatchpress-releasestone-giantFri, 06 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom teases new Age of Conan group dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The city of Paikang is getting a bit of an update in the next few weeks, and players of Funcom's Age of Conan should be pleased to note that the Imperial capital will soon be the home of two new level-80 instances.

The dungeons are designed for elite groups and take place in two outdoor zones that were recently profiled at MMORPG.com. The Ai District features an expansive playfield along with two "set-piece" boss encounters and "the odd secret to be revealed from careful investigation."

The Tian'an District is quite different in that it features six boss fights as well as a race against the clock to clear them all. Funcom has deliberately elevated the challenge level in this district, and Tian'an will reportedly require a skilled (and coordinated) group to claim its rewards. While Funcom hasn't revealed those rewards in detail, it has hinted that they will be on par with the existing Kara Korum dungeon drops.

MassivelyFuncom teases new Age of Conan group dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaiai-districtaocboss-fightsbossesdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyfuncomgroup-dungeongroup-instanceinstanceskhitainew-contentpaikangpverise-of-the-godslayertianantianan-districtTue, 03 May 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-inggison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-inggison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-inggison/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back in January, Wings Over Atreia brought you the first installment of a series highlighting the who, where, what, and even some how of Aion's world bosses. At that time, we took a tour around the land of Heiron and met up with those tough (and some not-so-tough) bosses who taunt players with their juicy, coveted loot. But Heiron is for youngins; this week, we will focus our tour on the playground of the highest levels, the lands of Balaurea -- specifically, Inggison.

It never fails -- the best goodies are never the easy-to-get goodies. As much as Daevas may want to get their hot little hands on some of the weapons, armor, and crafting materials dropped by these world bosses, they have to first find these giants and second actually defeat them. So much easier said than done. On the bright side, some of the mobs are easier to kill and can even be soloed (although they are also well-camped). On the not-bright side, others don't seem to show their faces as often as hungry loot-hunters would like, or they take a friend or 20 to take down. So what's a Daeva to do?

Soar past the cut for some tips, tricks, and a handy map for seeking out those Inggison bosses and convincing them to give up their loot.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebalaureabossbosseseliteelite-grade-mobseliteseternal-grade-lootexploitexploitsfeaturedgold-armorgold-weaponherohero-grade-mobhinthintsInggisonlegendarylegendary-grade-moblootmapsnamed-mobnamed-mobsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aiontipstricksWings-Over-Atreiaworld-bossworld-bossesMon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Bosses and battles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/wasteland-diaries-bosses-and-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/wasteland-diaries-bosses-and-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/wasteland-diaries-bosses-and-battles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week in Fallen Earth has been, for me, a good mix of PvP and PvE action. I've gotten plenty of both. I literally wished that I had more time to play. Alas, real life was standing in the way again. I haven't played any other games all week. Unless you consider the Fallen Earth forums a game (which I sometimes do). Between protecting territory that rightfully belongs to the CHOTA and cracking the skulls of world bosses for their precious volatile chemicals, I've found myself pretty busy.

I know that everyone feels that Sector 4 is long overdue; it's probably the reason most people haven't come back to Fallen Earth. If you are on the fence about re-subbing or are waiting for Sector 4, there is still plenty to do, especially if you left before Deadfall Point and Deadfall were released. Even if you left in the past couple of months, things have changed, and new content has been added. There is plenty of PvP action if you know where to look, and new faces are joining the fray every day. After the cut, I'll give you some examples of what I've experienced this week, and it may help you decide to come back... or to keep holding out for Sector 4.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Bosses and battles

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Bosses and battles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bosseschotadeadfalldeadfall-pointearthwalkerfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedhaiettaleakyPantherpark-citypvepvppvp-zonesector-4sniperspeedyterminal-woodsVolatilewastelandwasteland-diariesFri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your least favorite sort of boss fight?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-least-favorite-sort-of-boss-fight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-least-favorite-sort-of-boss-fight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-least-favorite-sort-of-boss-fight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you study a fair bit of literary theory, you'll come across the idea that there are only a handful of different stories at the most basic level. The same is true of boss fights in most MMOs -- while there are variants, you can generally break a fight down to its component elements. DPS races, gear checks, endurance fights, add management, positioning battles... from World of Warcraft to Lord of the Rings Online to City of Heroes, there are going to be fights where you have to avoid standing in things while killing the boss gradually.

Of course, each of these fights can bring different challenges, but not all of them are entirely welcome ones. So which set of mechanics do you find the least appealing? Do you find positioning fights irritating as they completely disregard character stats in favor of dancing? Do you dislike DPS races where everyone just brainlessly pounds on the keyboard? Are you sick of burning down non-entities in order to fight the actual boss? Or is there another mechanic altogether that gets your goat?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your least favorite sort of boss fight? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossboss-fightbosseschallengescultureendgamefight-mechanicsgame-mechanicsopinionskillstrategytacticstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 16 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jade Dynasty dev diary previews Spring Content Update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/jade-dynasty-dev-diary-previews-spring-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/jade-dynasty-dev-diary-previews-spring-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/jade-dynasty-dev-diary-previews-spring-content-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's a new content update coming to Jade Dynasty later this month, and Perfect World Entertainment has released an accompanying video dev diary that aims to give interested fans an early look-see.

The video is hosted by Jade Dynasty community manager Greenthorne, and he walks us through a brief demo of the game's new Chroma skills. These skills are affinity-specific and grant access to a wide range of powerful abilities. Chroma skills are quite devastating, and as such, aren't easily obtained. Greenthorne hints at a series of trials that players will undergo in order to unlock the skills and also mentions that skill power may be increased by contributing to the destruction of the game's dragon gates via various quests.

User interface enhancements are also coming courtesy of the Spring Update. The events list has been renamed JD Revelations and now features information relating to weekly events, dungeon timers, battlegrounds, level requirements, and bosses. The boss tab is particularly interesting given that it tells a player just about everything worth knowing about various Jade Dynasty boss mobs including respawn rate, recommended level, and related loot drops. The tab even provides an auto-routing function for players having a hard time navigating to a particular boss. Check out the new enhancements in the video after the cut.

Continue reading Jade Dynasty dev diary previews Spring Content Update

MassivelyJade Dynasty dev diary previews Spring Content Update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-mobsbosseschromachroma-skillsdev-blogdev-diaryevent-pagef2pfantasyfree-to-playgreenthornejade-dynastyuiui-tweaksuser-interface-updatevideoTue, 15 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Happy "I like you just enough to outweigh the annoyance of breaking up with you" day edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ask-massively-happy-i-like-you-just-enough-to-outweigh-the-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ask-massively-happy-i-like-you-just-enough-to-outweigh-the-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/ask-massively-happy-i-like-you-just-enough-to-outweigh-the-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Valentine's Day was Monday, a celebration for those happy couples incapable of showing mutual affection during the other 364 days of the year. But many people haven't given their hearts to their beloveds so much as they have been in those relationships too long. It's not being in love; it's being unwilling to deal with the irritation that comes with splitting up after the situation has become a comfortable routine. Since I assume that the week basically downgrades from Monday, happy day of things not being bad enough to break up!

I may have just wanted to link Dogs Die in Hot Cars. But I'll deny it in further comments.

This week's questions cover nothing of a romantic nature. Instead, we're talking about World of Warcraft, or more specifically, how doing well on a boss one week seems to mean doing worse next week. As always, you can leave your questions for the next edition of Ask Massively in the comment field or just send us an email to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Happy "I like you just enough to outweigh the annoyance of breaking up with you" day edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Happy "I like you just enough to outweigh the annoyance of breaking up with you" day edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelyaveragesbeing-eaten-by-wolvesbell-curveboss-fightsbossescolumnfeaturedopinionperformanceworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 17 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New TERA trailer boasts battlegrounds, bosses, and more [updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/new-tera-trailer-boasts-battlegrounds-bosses-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/new-tera-trailer-boasts-battlegrounds-bosses-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/01/new-tera-trailer-boasts-battlegrounds-bosses-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Fans of En Masse Entertainment's upcoming TERA action MMORPG are anxiously awaiting news of a North American beta and release date. In the meantime, Bluehole Studio and Hangame are gearing up for the title's Korean open beta, which is scheduled to begin on January 11th, according to a recently released trailer.

The four-minute clip is crammed full of new footage, and in addition to the usual suspects of combat and harvesting, you can check out new bosses, destructible terrain, and what appears to be a type of capture-the-flag battleground scenario. Have a look at all the mayhem after the cut, and head to the official TERA forums for further discussion.

[Update: We've replaced the Korean version of the trailer with the newly released English-language version. Enjoy!]

Continue reading New TERA trailer boasts battlegrounds, bosses, and more [updated]

MassivelyNew TERA trailer boasts battlegrounds, bosses, and more [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobattlegroundsBlueHolebluehole-studiobossescinematicen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyhangamekorean-open-betateratera-onlinetrailervideoSat, 01 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Spam heal is the enemy of strategy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-spam-heal-is-the-enemy-of-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-spam-heal-is-the-enemy-of-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-spam-heal-is-the-enemy-of-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, I spoke a bit about whether Runes of Magic was too easy or not. In that article I harken back to the mana strike that players held to remove part of a patch that added a percentage-to-cost modifier on all spells for all classes. This week I wanted to flit around the same subjects, but from the viewpoint of healing and strategy.

I want my readers to be well-versed in RoM 101. Just like I set out to do with my community guide for new and old players, I want to educate players today on the fine art of button-mashing. Let's start by covering what spam healing -- or spamming any skill -- is, and why it's not always fun. I'll put this into the context of dungeon-running, cover some fun strategy that results from not being able to spam heal, and give my opinion on how well (or not-so-well) all this works in RoM.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Spam heal is the enemy of strategy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Spam heal is the enemy of strategy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-fightsbossesbutton-mashingdungeondungeonsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehealinghealsinstanceinstancesmanamana-poolmana-regenpriestpriest-spellspriest-strateyromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentskill-spammingspamspam-healspammingstrategyMon, 08 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online previews Thanquol's Incursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If there's one note that Warhammer Online has been hitting rather steadily of late, it's the solid note of the Skaven. The vicious rat-men have been a popular race in the franchise for years, and the promise of an increased presence for the group has been met with nothing but anticipation. So it's unsurprising that Thanquol's Incursion is the newest element of the game under development as a 24v24 RvR dungeon -- a chance for both Order and Chaos to fight back against a Skaven operation of enormous scope.

While the dungeon contains several Skaven bosses, the theme is still RvR, with boss fights tallying victory according to both damage dealt and enemy players slain. Players will engage in battles on multiple fronts, and the preview suggests that there's a definite element of trying to work the bosses to deal the most damage possible to your enemies. Take a look at the full preview for what promises to be an all-out brawl between three different sides for Warhammer Online enthusiasts.

MassivelyWarhammer Online previews Thanquol's Incursion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicboss-battlesbosseschaosdungeon-previewmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-dungeonorderpreviewpvp-dungeonrvrrvr-dungeonskavenskaven-dungeonthree-way-battletier-4under-developmentwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 19 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Hours of entertainment from just one boss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-mog-log-hours-of-entertainment-from-just-one-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-mog-log-hours-of-entertainment-from-just-one-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-mog-log-hours-of-entertainment-from-just-one-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Every so often, column topics fall into my lap. Like when someone mentioned in the comments the other day that they were dreading the 18-hour boss fight from Final Fantasy XI would return in Final Fantasy XIV. For those of you who don't know what in the world that was referencing... well, it's time to take a look back at Pandemonium Warden, and the now legendary story of what it took for one linkshell to bring him down. Although by "bring him down," we really mean "fight him for nearly a full day and finally give up."

That's the image that Final Fantasy XI's boss fights have in a lot of people's heads. It's a great and evocative image, and it's also riddled with inaccuracies. That having been said, the nigh-on insanity of some boss fights in the game merits discussion as we get closer and closer to Final Fantasy XIV's release. Whether you're wondering about the warden's odds of return or just still believe that the boss fight properly went on for nearly a day, jump on past the break. There's a lot to go over.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Hours of entertainment from just one boss

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Hours of entertainment from just one boss originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absolute-virtueboss-battlesbossesendgamefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivjune-version-updatenmnotorious-monsterpandemonium-wardensquaresquare-enixSat, 17 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/12/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/12/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/12/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's just as well that there haven't been any huge revelations of late regarding Final Fantasy XIV (aside from the lovely new character creation video), because we're knee-deep in the trial of the second Final Fantasy XI expansion and we've got no room for anything else. After last week's examination, which included excellent discussion and some really interesting viewpoints from the community (seriously, guys, pat yourselves on the back), we're going to dive back into the meat of the trial and try to determine the worth of Chains of Promathia via examining everything there is to examine. And that's a lot, I tell you.

Last time, we examined the use of level caps and the lack of new jobs in the expansion. The former looked awful at a glance, but upon closer examination had some notable positives. The latter was... well, it was just plain a keenly-felt omission. This week we're going to dive into what's considered by many to be the biggest part of the expansion -- something so overwhelming that its repercussions are felt to this day. No serious discussion of the expansion would be complete without this most celebrated element.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part 2

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bosseschains-of-promathiacontentcopdropsequipmentexpansionfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiopinionprogresspromyvionrepetitionrewardssquaresquare-enixSat, 12 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gameplay on parade in newest Battle of the Immortals video diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/gameplay-on-parade-in-newest-battle-of-the-immortals-video-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/gameplay-on-parade-in-newest-battle-of-the-immortals-video-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/gameplay-on-parade-in-newest-battle-of-the-immortals-video-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a big day for Battle of the Immortals, as the open beta has finally started on the most recent Perfect World Entertainment game. Closed beta was quite successful, with the development team rolling out requested features like improved access to the high-end Soul Gear and improved keybinding (complete with standard WASD movement schemes). To celebrate the occasion, and to give players who haven't been following the game too closely an idea of why they might want to start, the game has released its fourth video developer diary today, this time focusing on the content found within the game.

Jon Belliss, Product Manager for the game, focuses on the game's dungeons, starting off with one dubbed Knight's Jail. Everything from gameplay to rewards gets covered, complete with a semi-snarky reference that "you can complete it in ten to fifteen minutes, as long as you have a group that isn't full of idiots." He goes on to discuss the later Dragon Emperor Catacombs, which can switch between a low-level "easy mode" and a more rewarding "normal mode," and Spectre Island even beyond that. Take a look past the cut for the full diary, and keep your eyes open for more news on the open beta for Battle of the Immortals.

Continue reading Gameplay on parade in newest Battle of the Immortals video diary

MassivelyGameplay on parade in newest Battle of the Immortals video diary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 May 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's National Boss Day today, which means you should probably be doing something nice for your boss (which might include not browsing the web while you're at work, but that's not our call). However, if you're a frequent player of MMOs -- or video games in general, at that -- you have a very different definition of boss. And after years of playing MMOs -- or even for a few months -- there are certain bosses who hold a soft spot in your heart for whatever reason.

Perhaps they were a truly challenging fight the first time you faced them, maybe they just looked impressive and they stuck in your mind, or it could even be something as simple as getting exactly wanted from them the first time you went through the encounter. In honor of National Boss Day, we're asking you what boss holds the nearest and dearest spot in your memories. If you were sending a missive to one of your personal favorite bosses, who would it be? What would you say? Would you thank them for being generous in their drops when you fought them, or would you offer consolation at how easy they are to kill these days? And if you want to get creative and phrase it like a greeting card, on this day, it's certainly appropriate. Just take a moment to give thanks to the bosses... before you go back to killing them for loot, anyway.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: National Boss Day edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesholidayhumoropinionpvetdgthe-daily-grindFri, 16 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Champions Online trailer shows who's boss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/latest-champions-online-trailer-shows-whos-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/latest-champions-online-trailer-shows-whos-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/latest-champions-online-trailer-shows-whos-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Where would a superhero story be if it didn't include a cast of dastardly supervillains for the good guys to face off against? In Champions Online, the Nemesis system will allow players to customize their own ultimate enemy boss -- but that doesn't mean that there aren't top tier villains already built into the game's lore, planning evil deeds and waiting for brave heroes to challenge them. The game's latest trailer (located past the break) introduces some of these big bosses and shows groups of players in combat with them. Qwyjibo, Kigatilik, Grond and Dr. Destroyer make up the roster for the video, and from the looks of things, each of them will put up a mean fight when cornered on their home turf.

Hit the jump to see these four pillars of evil-doing in action.

Continue reading Latest Champions Online trailer shows who's boss

MassivelyLatest Champions Online trailer shows who's boss originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boss-battlesbosseschampionschampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosdr-destroyergrondkigatilikqwyjibotrailervideoWed, 12 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragonica Online screens show off boss battles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/dragonica-online-screens-show-off-boss-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/dragonica-online-screens-show-off-boss-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/dragonica-online-screens-show-off-boss-battles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We haven't heard a great deal about Dragonica Online before now, but it seems as though it's been cruising through its testing phases quite successfully under our noses. The game is an English adaptation of a fairly new Chinese MMO called Dream Dragon, and features 3D side-scrolling combat in a free-to-play format. Embedded above is an old video we found on Youtube that will give you an idea of how it works -- comparisons to MapleStory are inevitable.

The game's publishers THQ*ICE have sent along some screenshots of a few of the bosses you'll find in-game, and we've put them in a new gallery for you to check out. The main thing to point out here is that a boss wolf, for example, doesn't just look like a slightly-different-colored regular wolf, which is always nice to see. If it's starting to look like your kind of game, make sure to visit THQ*ICE's official Dragonica Online site and register an account, as there's a preview beta test coming very soon.

Gallery: Dragonica Online gallery

Regular wolvesBoss wolfRegular raccoonRaccoon Plumber bossBoss: Lavalon

MassivelyDragonica Online screens show off boss battles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barunson-interactivebetabossbossesdragonica-onlinedream-dragonf2pfree-to-playgalleryscreenshotsthqthq-iceTue, 12 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft Molten Core raid for ATARI becomes reality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/world-of-warcraft-molten-core-raid-for-atari-becomes-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/world-of-warcraft-molten-core-raid-for-atari-becomes-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/world-of-warcraft-molten-core-raid-for-atari-becomes-reality/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Earlier this year, Blizzard won the prank wars with Molten Core, a faux ATARI game based on World of Warcraft's Molten Core raid complete with eight directions of movement, glorious 2D graphics and, yes, sound. We bet you thought that was just a joke, and that everyone would have forgotten about it after a week had gone by, but guess what? It's back, and this time it's real!

Gamer's University made a "port" of the ATARI game for WIndows PCs, and it includes all that was promised in Blizzard's trailer. One player plays as a priest, the other as a warrior, and each has eight movement directions and one action button (heal for the priest, attack for the warrior) with which to defeat the ten bosses. Hard to believe people used to pay big bucks for these sorts of games, isn't it?

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft Molten Core raid for ATARI becomes reality originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsatariblizzardbossesgamers-universityjoystickmolten-coreportprankpriestwarriorworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 02 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[D&DO Module 7: Bosses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-bosses/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The first fight we got to see was Suulomendes (unfortunately, that spelling might not be right -- the big winged guy wouldn't sit still long enough for us to ask his name), a winged devil who sits up on a big pedestal while he sends baddies out to finish the raid off, a wave a time. Every once in a while he deigns to get off the pedestal, and beat you up himself, but when he does, it's not pretty -- various curses fell down on our heads every time he showed up. It seemed like a fairly straightforward fight as we did it (defeat the minions, work over the boss for a while), but the devs told us there were quite a few wrinkles (and the fight would take a little longer) than what we saw.

The other boss we got to check out was, in our opinion, a little more fun. There is a Lord of Darkness supposedly hanging out in the dungeon below the Marketplace wreckage, but when you show up to take him out, he's not actually home -- his guard dog, named Xy'zzy, is, and she is a real bitch. Literally. She has puppies and minions that you have to fight as well, and oh yeah, one more thing: you can't actually damage her by hitting her. We'll refrain from telling you exactly how to take her out (the devs didn't want us to spoil all the surprises), but we will say that when you figure it out, you'll get to see something really, really hilarious happen. And yes, if you're nerdy enough to recognize the dog's name, you'll realize that these DDO devs know their gaming history.

Like many of the boss battles in DDO, both of these fights (and most of the quests we saw) were all about group coordination and cooperation. While a lot of the Three Barrel Cove quests are soloable, the devs at DDO seem committed to make sure that players find ways to coordinate and work together. They are still working on making sure the Monk has a role of his or her own to play in every group ("this is just the beginning of our development on this class," Paiz told us), but in almost all the quests we say, there were lots of ways for group members, no matter what classes or types of players they were, to make themselves useful.

But the new content isn't all that's being added to the game -- we also saw a number of new UI updates, and we got to talk with Turbine's communications director about what they thought of the Age of Conan release and the future of this game.

Click here to continue the preview...

MassivelyD&DO Module 7: Bosses originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlesboss-fightsbossesDDOdemondungeons-and-dragons-onlinehound-of-xoriateminionssuulomendesxyzzyTue, 27 May 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New patch for TR on PTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/new-patch-for-tr-on-pts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/new-patch-for-tr-on-pts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/new-patch-for-tr-on-pts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Tabula Rasa's long-awaited patch 1.5 has finally entered the process of rolling out (at least, we assume it's 1.5 - it's called 1.5.4 on the update screen, but the notes make no mention of it), as the Destination Games crew has released a new build onto the public test server, and the patch notes along with it. Just a note before you drop what you're doing and go try and log into the PTS, it appears as though only those on the Pegasus server got their characters copied over this time around, so suckers like me on Orion will just get to QQ for another week or so.

There's a lot of small changes, but some of the ones that most immediately stuck out to us were:
  • Green, Blue, and Purple Healing Discs and Repair Tools now offer +20%, +40%, and +60% effectiveness like other equipment. Since itemization finally became a big deal, Specialists have had to put up with repair tools that were not as proportionately effective as their weapon counterparts. I've never actually seen a blue or purple repair tool though, so presumably those will be added as rewards.
  • You should no longer be stunned for a significant duration after standing up from a knockback. This may not sound big, but it's a pet-peeve of most players. Thrax have a habit of kicking players in the face, which takes an inordinate amount of time to recover from.
  • We're also getting reports on the Planet TR forums that boss drops have increased significantly, and now drop named items. This is a big (and welcome!) change, as bosses were rarely worth the trouble in previous versions.
We'll have more on this patch as it develops. Check out the full patch notes after the jump.

Continue reading New patch for TR on PTS

MassivelyNew patch for TR on PTS originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossespatch-1.5patch-notespegasusplanet-trrepair-toolstabula-rasatrThu, 21 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leading casual raids, and doing it well]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/leading-casual-raids-and-doing-it-well/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/leading-casual-raids-and-doing-it-well/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/09/leading-casual-raids-and-doing-it-well/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This must be the season for casual raiding leaders to get their tips-- both Clockwork Gamer and Sanya Weathers at Guildcafe recently posted some great tips for raidleaders in charge of making sure that dragon ends up dead at the end of the night. If you've found yourself in charge of a large group of MMO characters recently, both writeups are worth a read for sure-- the tips range from the practical (start earlier than you plan, because things will take longer to get started than you think) to the emotional (keep it fun, address drama when it happens, and make sure everyone remembers that these are not the only epic drops they'll ever see).

Raidleading is a tough little pasttime, and casual raidleading more than anything-- people are on your raid with all kinds of different reasons and a larger variation of abilities and gear. I especially like Clockwork Gamer's mantra: "raiding is dying," and that's truer with casual raiding than anything else, in any MMO you play in. It's not easy to be a casual raidleader, but these tips will definitely help you get to where it's worth it: a big down on a progression night.

MassivelyLeading casual raids, and doing it well originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossescasual-raidingdownedemotionalpracticalraidleadingraidsWed, 09 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Save our bosses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/behind-the-curtain-save-our-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/behind-the-curtain-save-our-bosses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/behind-the-curtain-save-our-bosses/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Without lore, MMOs as we know them wouldn't exist. Lore means different things to different people. Some of us embrace it, some of us let it define who we are and what we do in-game, and some of us ignore it as best we can.

Lore plays an important, central part to any MMO. Central to that lore is the creation of solid, entertaining bad guys - evil, despicable, wicked bad guys that we all take for granted, call out as 'on notice', and sweat blood to chalk up world-first kills for. But you've all been so busy running around taking down bosses left, right and center that it probably never occurred to you that if you're not careful, there's every chance we could run out of bosses to kill.

There's a reason that Blizzard aren't removing old world content from WoW, and it's not because they feel bad that the old bosses don't have anything to do with their time it's because they're scared. Scared of what might happen if there were no more bad guys for us to kill. New content only lasts so long when we've got guilds like Nihilum burning through new content in a matter of days (attracting controversy as they go), and as good as the Blizzard developers are, it's not like they're churning out patch-worthy content every week, is it?

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Save our bosses

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Save our bosses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossesevilfeaturedhumourloreraidingworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST