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[The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to a special interview edition of The Firing Line, folks. True MMOFPS titles are few and far between these days, though 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year for the genre thanks to games like PlanetSide 2, DUST 514, and possibly even Firefall. There's another massive FPS on its way, too, and even though it hasn't had quite as much press coverage as the aforementioned titles, 3000AD's Line of Defense project is worth a look.

Join me after the break for a conversation with lead designer Derek Smart as he talks about what makes the game massive as well as what sets it apart from its competitors.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3000-ad3000adalganoncertificatesderek-smartderek-smart-interviewexclusivef2pfeaturedfiring-linefpsfree-to-playgame-designgame-mechanisinterviewline-of-defensemassively-exclusivemmo-shootermmofpspvpquestquest-onlineshooterthe-firing-linethe-firing-line-interviewsFri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online achievements via Avatars United]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/eve-online-achievements-via-avatars-united/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/eve-online-achievements-via-avatars-united/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/eve-online-achievements-via-avatars-united/#commentsFiled under: ,

CCP Games may not feel that an Achievements system (beyond the bragging rights with Certificates) really fits the setting of EVE Online, but it's something players can get via Avatars United, a social network for MMO gamers. More specifically, Avatars United is a social network for your avatars across a wide range of MMOs.

We mentioned Avatars United and its growing EVE Online community a while back. The guys at Enemy Unknown -- the people behind Avatars United -- have built some EVE-specific apps for their users which might be of some interest our readers. These apps make use of a player's (full) API allowing the apps to access and display all sorts of character information within the Avatars United social network.

Continue reading EVE Online achievements via Avatars United

MassivelyEVE Online achievements via Avatars United originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsapiavatars-unitedccp-gamescertificatesenemy-unknowneveeve-achievementseve-kill-trackereve-onlinesocial-networksocial-networkingTue, 29 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games announces Quantum Rise expansion for EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/ccp-games-announces-quantum-rise-expansion-for-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The next major expansion to EVE Online, known internally at CCP Games as 'Midas', now has a name: Quantum Rise. The winter expansion will bring with it a number of new features and enhancements for the industrial and economic side of EVE, which we've just gotten word about from CCP, as well as confirmation of the rumored "Orca" capital industrial ship:

"Players have great things to look forward to in EVE Online: Quantum Rise. Corporations will be able to set their products apart from the rest by building trust in their goods through customizable storefronts. The backbone of EVE's vibrant economy, industrial ships are being rebalanced and optimized to better suit the needs of haulers and industrialists-including the latest addition to the fleet, a massive capital industrial ship dubbed the Orca. A new certificate system will give a quick and verifiable means to discern a pilot's skill level in trading, gunnery or countless other professions, providing plenty of bragging rights. Meanwhile, the introduction of a medal system allows corporations to distinguish their most valued pilots and honor them for their achievements."

Quantum Rise is being released in stages, some of which we've already seen and experienced, such as Stackless IO and EVE64. But other aspects of the expansion will include weapon linking, continuations of the Trinity graphics update, and other as-yet unannounced features. Keep an eye on our EVE coverage at Massively; we'll be watching closely to see what the Quantum Rise expansion will bring to EVE's players.

MassivelyCCP Games announces Quantum Rise expansion for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcapital-industrial-shipscapital-shipsccpccp-gamescertificatescraftingeconomyeveeve-onlineeve64expansionsgame-mechanicsindustrialindustrymedalsmidasorcapvequantum-risesci-fistacklessiotrinityWed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE live dev blog on medals and certificates, Thursday Oct. 16]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/eve-live-dev-blog-on-medals-and-certificates-thursday-oct-16/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/eve-live-dev-blog-on-medals-and-certificates-thursday-oct-16/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/eve-live-dev-blog-on-medals-and-certificates-thursday-oct-16/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Medals and certificates are two of the new features coming to EVE Online, as recently announced by developer CCP Greyscale. These features may prove useful for newer players in dispelling some of the complexity of skill training, while providing some bragging rights and easier recruitment (less need to request another player's API) for veteran players, but there's still some confusion about how they'll be implemented in the game. With this in mind, CCP has decided to hold a live dev blog on this feature, slated for tomorrow, October 16th. CCP Wrangler announced:

"It is time for another Live Dev Blog and this time it's Chronotis and Greyscale who will answer all of your questions about Medals and Certificates. As usual Mindstar will be there to ask them your questions. This event will take place on Thursday, 16th October, in the in-game channel 'Live Dev Blog.' It starts at 20:00 GMT and lasts for about one hour." EVE players are already getting their questions in on the forum thread linked to this announcement. Given that the live dev blog will take place tomorrow, if there's anything you really want to know that wasn't addressed in CCP Greyscale's dev blog on certificates and medals, now is the time to ask in the thread.

MassivelyEVE live dev blog on medals and certificates, Thursday Oct. 16 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apibreakingccpccp-chronotisccp-gamesccp-greyscaleccp-wranglercertificatesdev-blogdevelopersdevseveeve-onlineforumslive-dev-blogmedalsnew-featuresskill-trainingskillsWed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Changes to combat and contracts in EVE confirmed by devs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/changes-to-combat-and-contracts-in-eve-confirmed-by-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/changes-to-combat-and-contracts-in-eve-confirmed-by-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/changes-to-combat-and-contracts-in-eve-confirmed-by-devs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


New changes to EVE Online seem to be on the way as reported by players on the test server, and confirmed by CCP Games developers on the forums: weapon grouping and contract refinements, in addition to the previously-reported certificates.

Having several high slots of weapon turrets and needing to change ammo types mid-combat has likely frustrated most EVE players at some point. Now, it seems that it'll be possible to link up weapons systems (turrets and launchers only, at first), simplifying reloads and ammo swaps. EVE dev CCP Ytterbium says, "This feature allows players to group weapons together into one slot. From there you can swap all ammo at once without doing the usual ritual of right-click gun 1, load ammo, right-click gun 2, load ammo again etc..." He does caution that the feature is nowhere near ready to go live on Tranquility, and should be considered a work in progress. More information on this feature (which is a welcome change for many EVE players) will be detailed in a future dev blog, he said.

Continue reading Changes to combat and contracts in EVE confirmed by devs

MassivelyChanges to combat and contracts in EVE confirmed by devs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-lingormccp-ytterbiumcertificatescraftingdevdeveloperseconomyeveeve-onlineforumsgame-mechanicsofferspvepvpsci-fitest-servertranquilityweapon-groupingTue, 14 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Certificates and medals coming to EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/certificates-and-medals-coming-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/certificates-and-medals-coming-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/certificates-and-medals-coming-to-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Most players who've been drawn to EVE Online enjoy the game for its complexity. For such gamers, complexity in a title can be a strength, not a drawback. However, you know what they say about having too much a good thing... Newer players especially find aspects of the game daunting to learn, particularly in terms of skills and skill training plans. This complexity surrounding skills, while not a big deal to veteran players, can be hard to grasp for newer players. Enter "certificates" -- EVE's simplified and (visually) ranked groups of skills that should help rookie players better understand what they should focus on to achieve particular goals.

If the feature does what the developers hope, certificates will remedy a problem newer players face -- "an inability to clearly see where a particular skill fits into the greater scheme of things, what it enables, how to get there and where to go next," CCP Greyscale writes in his latest dev blog "Certificates: Planning the Future."

Continue reading Certificates and medals coming to EVE Online

MassivelyCertificates and medals coming to EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsccpccp-chronotisccp-gamesccp-greyscalecertificatecertificatescertification-plannerdevdev-blogdeveloperdevseveeve-onlineforumsmedalmedalsnew-featurespatchesprofessionsrookiessci-fiskill-trainingskillstitlesMon, 13 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online video interview maps coming evolution of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/eve-online-video-interview-maps-coming-evolution-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/eve-online-video-interview-maps-coming-evolution-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/eve-online-video-interview-maps-coming-evolution-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


New information has come to light about what CCP Games is planning for EVE Online players as the Empyrean Age progresses. EVE Associate Producer Arend Stührmann spoke with MMORPG.com's Jon Wood in a Leipzig video interview about the releases slated for the rest of this year, and how CCP views their accomplishments thus far.

The goal of the Empyrean Age expansion was to create a lower-risk PvP environment that would encourage more players to experience this aspect of the game. Stührmann says that there is a solid core of players who've made factional warfare their livelihood, with over 40,000 players that enlisted in the first few weeks. Stührmann also spoke about the effect of factional warfare on non-participants. War can invigorate an economy and this idea holds true in New Eden as well. Factional Warfare in the Empyrean Age has had an impact on the market, particularly with tech I ship and module production.

Continue reading EVE Online video interview maps coming evolution of the game

MassivelyEVE Online video interview maps coming evolution of the game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsapiapi-keysarend-stuhrmannccpccp-gamescertificateseconomyempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineexpansionsfactionfactional-warfarefactionsgame-mechanicsindustryinterviewsmidaspatchespvepvpracessci-fiterritorial-controlvideoWed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lineage II to offer main/subclass switch-ups this summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/lineage-ii-to-offer-main-subclass-switch-ups-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/lineage-ii-to-offer-main-subclass-switch-ups-this-summer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/lineage-ii-to-offer-main-subclass-switch-ups-this-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In the coming Hellbound expansion for Lineage II, the level cap will be increased to 85 for main classes, and 80 for subclasses. Because a lot of players have grown more attached to their subclass than their main, having it lagging 5 levels behind would not be a desirable situation. To address this, an event dubbed "Choose your Destiny" will take place this summer, allowing players the opportunity to switch one of their subclasses with their main class.

Understandably, such a major change to a character is subject to a lengthy list of eligibility requirements, limitations, and consequences. There are a handful of main classes that cannot take part in the event, and certain sub and main class combinations won't work either. Subclass certified skills are reset, and certificates are removed. Above all, this process can only occur once, so you'll need to be sure of your decision. Check out the full details at the "Choose your Destiny" page -- we're expecting more date and time details to be given some time soon.

MassivelyLineage II to offer main/subclass switch-ups this summer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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