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[Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/not-so-massively-extra-our-impressions-of-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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Of all the games in the newly emerged MOBA genre, League of Legends is by far the biggest and most successful. The original Defense of the Ancients mod for WarCraft 3 propelled that game to become one of the most played games of the past decade, and standalone remakes have come to challenge that position. LoL recently passed the 15 million registered player mark, with much of that success being due to the game's free-to-play business model and casual gameplay.

The recently launched Dominion game mode added capture-point gameplay in shorter and more casual matches, and we were keen to try it out. Last week Massively staffers Patrick Mackey, Matt Daniel and I were joined by Tina Lauro and friends from GamerGaia for a few games of League of Legends as part of our Not So Massively livestream. While we were all vaguely familiar with MOBA gameplay, most of us had never played League of Legends. After the stream, Patrick and I played several more games of Dominion to get a feel for LoL's newest game mode.

If you've ever been tempted to take the plunge into LoL, skip past the cut for our first impressions of both normal League of Legends games and Dominion matches.

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of League of Legends

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: Our impressions of League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-draincapture-pointsdefense-of-the-ancientsdotafeaturedgamergaiahands-onleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlivestreamlolnot-so-massivelynsmnsm-extraopinionpatrick-mackeypvpriot-gamestina-laurotrailervideowarcraft-iiiSat, 29 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/pirates-to-get-more-rvr-love-from-flying-lab-software/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Pirates are always the underdogs in MMOs, aren't they? That seems to be the case in Pirates of the Burning Sea, where the Pirate nation has been at a disadvantage with the game's Conquest system. While their ports can't be controlled (permanently) by another nation, they're likewise unable to keep the ports they conquer. The latest devlog from Flying Lab's Lum is titled Pirates and Conquest and addresses this disparity between the Pirate nation and all other nations in the game.

One solution they plan to implement is increasing the four points that Pirates gain by capturing a port to five. Lum explains, "Currently, Pirates get four points every time they Raid a port, while Nationals get 10. This means that for a Pirate to keep pace with Nationals, they have to win three port battles in order to get the same amount of points. Since every nation can only attack three ports at a time, this means that Pirates would always have to have their maximum amount of attacking ports at all times, and then they have to win all of those battles." Ouch. However, by increasing their capture points to five, Pirates will only have to win two battles and won't need to maintain constant port attacks to stay on par with other nations.

Continue reading Pirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software

MassivelyPirates to get more RvR love from Flying Lab Software originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capture-pointsconquestconquest-systemdev-blogdevlogfantasyflying-labflying-lab-softwaregame-mechanicsguildshistoricallummartial-lawpirate-nationpiratesport-battleportspotbspvpraided-staterealm-vs-realmrvrSun, 05 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online: play test factional warfare, June 4-6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/eve-online-play-test-factional-warfare-june-4-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/eve-online-play-test-factional-warfare-june-4-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/eve-online-play-test-factional-warfare-june-4-6/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP Games announced a new series of factional warfare playtests for EVE Online's imminent Empyrean Age expansion, and are seeking help from all available pilots in New Eden. EVE dev CCP Tanis stated that the first release candidate for the Empyrean Age is being put on the Singularity test server, and that CCP is now focusing its attention on the gameplay mechanics of the long-anticipated factional warfare system.

The playtest will focus on the offense and defense of capture points and the conquering of solar systems. Players will be divided into either Caldari or Gallente factions; each faction will have an offensive and defensive team. The ultimate goal is to capture as many systems as possible while preventing the opposing faction from gaining any territorial control. CCP developers and ISD will be on hand to answer questions and guide players.

When: June 4 to 6 (Wed., Thurs., Fri.) from 11:00 to 14:00 EVE time (GMT).
Where: Singularity test server
Why: "We really cannot stress how important your feedback is to us."
Another Why: Each day the players on the winning side will be given a stock of officer modules !! ... *dramatic pause*... on the test server only. (Sorry.) Also the player who submits the best bug report will be given maxed out skills on the test server.
How: Join the in-game channel "Faction Testing" for instructions.

CCP Tanis also reminds players that the latest Singularity test server patch is required to participate in the playtest. The patch should ONLY be applied to a second copy of the EVE client, and NOT the main client used for everyday play on the Tranquility server. That is, unless you'd prefer to call the test server "home" from now on. Further details can be found in the official announcement; EVE Online account login is required to access this information.

MassivelyEVE Online: play test factional warfare, June 4-6 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcaldaricapturecapture-pointcapture-pointsccpccp-gamesdevdev-blogdeveloperempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineeventexpansionexpansionsfactionfactional-warfarefeedbackgallentegame-mastergame-mechanicsgameplaygmgoalisdnew-edenpatchsci-fisingularitysisiterritorial-controlterritorytesttest-servertranquilityMon, 02 Jun 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TR PvP to incorporate clan-captured CPs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/tr-pvp-to-incorporate-clan-captured-cps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/tr-pvp-to-incorporate-clan-captured-cps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/tr-pvp-to-incorporate-clan-captured-cps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Richard Garriott, founder of the legendary Ultima series and Executive Producer for Tabula Rasa, gave a lecture this evening to the Washington D.C. chapter for the Association of Computer Machinery. Of course, being your personal guide into the complex world of MMOs, we were on-hand to cover the event. While you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the full write-up, we couldn't resist posting this juicy bit of information that fell from the lips of one Lord British.

Addressing the issue of the near-constant feedback cycle that MMOs enjoy by virtue of being in a persistent state of development and refinement, Garriott cited Tabula Rasa's PvP as an element of the game that was being moved up the ladder of development priorities. PvP in the game's current state essentially amounts to guilds camping teleporters and hospitals, waiting for members of warring clans to appear, where they can be taken by surprise and slaughtered.

Garriott's vision for the future of the PvP system is set to feature TR's popular Capture Point gameplay mechanic. Clans will be to capture CPs for themselves, generating money based on the activities of the NPCs within the CP. This will have the dual effect of giving warring clans something to do besides spawn-camping as well as give a context for PvP that makes slightly more sense within the lore. It's always been a bit of a rough sell having fellow members of the Allied Free Sentients slaughtering each other, but the idea of clans trying to control commerce is somehow more palatable.

Again, we'll have a full write-up tomorrow.

MassivelyTR PvP to incorporate clan-captured CPs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACMbreakingcapture-pointsclanscpslecturelord-britishmmospvprichard-garriottMon, 10 Dec 2007 23:15:00 EST