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[Through Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/through-turbines-palantir-developers-outline-lotros-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/through-turbines-palantir-developers-outline-lotros-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/through-turbines-palantir-developers-outline-lotros-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, characters would use magical orbs known as palantírs to see and communicate with far away places. While Massively's own palantír is at the shop, we had access to the next best thing -- a one-on-two chat about Lord of the Rings Online's future with Turbine's Aaron Campbell and Adam Mersky.

A lot's been happening since LotRO's free-to-play version went online last fall -- the closest thing to a relaunch that this game is likely to ever see -- and both Campbell and Mersky have one important message for fans: We're just getting started. Even as the Turbine team gears up for LotRO's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, the devs want you to know that they're also dedicated to bringing a good amount of content between now and then.

Everything was on the table during this discussion, from this weekend's anniversary celebration to next month's update to the new expansion. Join us after the jump for a look through the palantír to see what information we can pry from the future!

Continue reading Through Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future

MassivelyThrough Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24-man-raidaaron-campbelladam-merskyanniversaryattack-at-dawnbarrow-downsbeer-brawlbeer-fightcharacter-modelsdunlande3e3-2011echoes-of-the-deadentsered-luinevendimf2pfeaturedfourth-anniversaryfree-to-playgap-of-rohangiant-dragongolfgoonieshall-of-nighthalls-of-nighthousingicy-crevasseinn-of-the-forsakenisengardlevel-caplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromay-updatemirkwoodmounted-combatraidrevamprise-of-isengardRohirrimsarumanskirmishesthe-hobbitthe-riftthe-two-towerstreasure-huntturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-2update-3yule-festivalzone-revampThu, 21 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Alganon dev blog talks character models, more PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/alganon-dev-blog-talks-character-models-more-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/alganon-dev-blog-talks-character-models-more-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/alganon-dev-blog-talks-character-models-more-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you've been following the long and indie road of Quest Online's Alganon, you'd know that development has picked up over the last several months. PvP was released in a recent patch, despite warnings that it might not fit into a game that was meant solely for PvE. Well, PvP fans can rejoice as a "PvP phase III" will be rolling out soon. This means that players will be able to interact with towers while murdering each other. "Capturing all three Towers in a particular area provides a benefit to your entire faction while adventuring and defending that zone," stated a recent blog post.

Concerns for adding PvP were always high. At one point, Derek Smart even told the team that, "I think this would be asking for trouble because we would have the PvP players in a world primarily designed for PvE. It could be a can of worms that I'm not sure we want to deal with." However, according to the official blog, PvP has gone off pretty well.

New character models are coming, as well. The much-anticipated addition will be rolled out in the "early part of this year" according to the latest entry. While the before and after shots could be more dramatic -- something Smart admits in the blog -- he goes on to honestly explain the thinking behind the development process.

You can check the official blog out here, and find out more information about Alganon on their main site.

MassivelyAlganon dev blog talks character models, more PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmancharacter-modelsderek-smartpatchpvpquest-onlineupdateWed, 19 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard Game Update 6 goes live, adds free trial/newbie area]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/vanguard-game-update-6-goes-live-adds-free-trial-newbie-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/vanguard-game-update-6-goes-live-adds-free-trial-newbie-area/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/vanguard-game-update-6-goes-live-adds-free-trial-newbie-area/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One thousand. That's how many bug fixes are in Vanguard's sixth game update, which has now gone live. In addition to the fixes, there's a new newbie area for levels one through ten called the Isle of Dawn. Word is that it will eventually serve as a free trial setting. For now, though, it's just an easy place to get a new character started.

SOE also redid character models, offering new customization options and making some changes that lower the models' system performance hit. You can keep your old look if you want, though.

The most controversial changes are a whole slew of class damage adjustments. SOE looked at every single class in the game and adjusted its damage output to ensure "that each lands in their correct place in the spectrum of classes." The details of all those changes are buried in the patch notes. Did you get nerfed or buffed? Read up to find out.

MassivelyVanguard Game Update 6 goes live, adds free trial/newbie area originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancecharacter-modelsclassescustomizationdamagedpsgame-update-6graphicsisle-of-dawnnewbiepatchperformancesoetrialvanguardvanguard-game-update-6vanguard-saga-of-heoresSat, 13 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom apologizes for involuntary breast reductions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We'll have to be completely honest with you; ever since Jorgen Tharaldsen's famous proclamation,"You'll see titties," the topic of Age of Conan and its famously epic mammaries is one that comes up rather frequently around the Massively offices. What can we say, we're admirers of the female form... also, we like boob jokes. In any case, we were rather distressed to hear of some Age of Conan players complaining that their in-game counterparts were lacking a certain lactoid luster.

It might seem like a frivolous complaint, but from the images provided by a forum user named Gust, it's become evident that the change in chesticle size is actually significant. And Funcom is taking the complaint seriously, saying in part, "Funcom can confirm that some of the female models in the game have had the size of their breasts changed. This is due to an unintended change in data that was introduced in an earlier patch, data which controls the so-called morph values associated with character models and the size of their respective body parts. We are working on a fix for this and your breasts should be back to normal soon." It's sporting of them admit their mistake, and hopefully they'll have it fixed as quickly as many of the other bugs they've had since launch.

[Via Kotaku]

MassivelyFuncom apologizes for involuntary breast reductions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocboobsbreastsbugscharacter-modelsfemaleforumsfuncomgustkotakuTue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST