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[RIFT adds streaming client]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rift-adds-streaming-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rift-adds-streaming-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/rift-adds-streaming-client/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
The barrier between interest and hands-on play was knocked down today as Trion Worlds introduced a streaming client for RIFT. The new client will allow players to jump into the game without fully downloading it first.

Players with a faster connection are invited to start the streaming client and then log into the game soon thereafter. The new client will continue to download the remainder of the game even while the player is logged in. However, Trion said that slower connection speed computers should wait for the full client to finish downloading first.

RIFT's launcher will automatically convert to the new system. Players experiencing background downloading while in-game will see a symbol on the screen to indicate the fact.

MassivelyRIFT adds streaming client originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>background-downloadclientfantasypatcherriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarastreaming-clienttriontrion-worldsupdateWed, 09 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-game-archaeologist-are-graphical-updates-worth-the-hassle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-game-archaeologist-are-graphical-updates-worth-the-hassle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-game-archaeologist-are-graphical-updates-worth-the-hassle/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ultima Online
"I'd play this game again if the graphics were updated."

"If they re-released this game with modern graphics, it would be way more popular."

"The Game Archaeologist is my hero, and I will name my progeny in his honor."

How many times have we heard the above statements? From my perspective as someone who tries to keep tabs on classic MMOs, I see these claims quite a lot. Such sentiments pop up in nearly every other post Massively does about older games: "This title is rock-solid except for its aging visuals. Update those, and it would recapture its former glory and then some."

This has gotten me thinking whether such logic would pan out or not. With Anarchy Online's much-hyped graphics overhaul on the way, this discussion seems to crop up more often. Is the power of a graphics conversion or overhaul strong enough to pull back in previous players and fresh blood? Or is it merely slathering on new paint over a rusting hulk?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle?

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanarchy-onlineaoblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicsclienteaelectronic-artsenhanced-clientfantasyfeaturedfuncomgame-archaelogistkingdom-rebornlord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaopinionsci-fithe-game-archaeologistultimaultima onlineuowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 24 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/lock-and-re-load-bioware-preps-us-for-the-old-republics-launc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
With 15 days to go before Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch, it doesn't seem like there's much time to get everything stocked and ready before the year's biggest release happens. Fortunately, BioWare's helping us to run down the preparation list with a series of informative forum posts.

First on the list is to make sure that SWTOR players have the latest version of the client installed on their computers. BioWare says that if you played the game prior to November 25th, you'll probably need to install a completely new client; if you played since, you should be good. There are instructions on the forums as to how you can check which version you have.

Pre-orders are wondering about early access, which BioWare says is the same between the three editions of the game -- it only matters when you added your pre-order code, not which edition you purchased. More information about the early access program is coming later this week.

Finally, BioWare is preparing to make major changes to SWTOR's forums following a December 10th outage, during which all posts and PMs will be erased (as will infractions!). New forums, including those covering crew skills, story, lore and PvP, will be added, and guild forums will be expanded significantly. Those just starting to learn about the game will appreciate the new player help forum and community blog that's coming with the update.

MassivelyLock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclienteaea-biowareearly-accessforumforum-wipeforumshead-startinstallpre-orderreinstallstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorMon, 05 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fiesta Online whips up a creamy browser version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/fiesta-online-whips-up-a-creamy-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/fiesta-online-whips-up-a-creamy-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/fiesta-online-whips-up-a-creamy-browser-version/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fiesta Online
With a current playerbase of over five million users, you'd think that Outspark would be plenty happy with Fiesta Online as it is. However, the publisher has decided that there are more steps it could be taking to widen the accessibility for this free-to-play title, and as such, the devs are preparing a new version of Fiesta Online that you can play in your browser.

Coming this winter, the Fiesta Online browser edition will access the full game that current players experience. Players will be able to log onto either the browser or standard client and interact in the same game.

Outspark says that this is only the first part of greater changes coming to the game. Outspark CEO Philip Yun says this is all about giving its customers more choice: "With such a large fan following we hear plenty of opinions on what players want. In preparation for more content coming in the future, we wanted to provide old and new players more ways to enjoy and play their favorite MMO."

[Source: Outspark press release]

MassivelyFiesta Online whips up a creamy browser version originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beating-up-drunk-turtles-for-xpbrowserbrowser-editionbrowser-versionchoiceclientexpansionf2pfiesta-onlinefree-to-playoutsparkPhilip-YunWed, 30 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Accessibility and customer service]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-soapbox-accessibility-and-customer-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-soapbox-accessibility-and-customer-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-soapbox-accessibility-and-customer-service/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I was originally pulled into World of Warcraft by two real-life friends of mine. They liked the game, played for a year or so, and then quit playing. They never got sucked into the world of MMOs like I did. I don't think they ever will either. It's not that they aren't gamers or that they don't fit into the culture. Maybe for their own reasons, they'd never play an MMO again... life and all that. But one interesting thing they told me makes me think they really will never play an MMO again: imperfect games.

Now, besides the fact that no game -- online or off -- is perfect, there appears to me to be a great disparity in the functionality between MMOs and single-player games. It's easy to see how someone similar to me can work his way past a few speed bumps to get an MMO up and running, but what about a computer-illiterate person? Before there's even talk of bugs in the game or of the game being fun or not, there's an issue of accessibility and customer service. I want to talk about accessibility and customer service in this round of the Soapbox.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Accessibility and customer service

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Accessibility and customer service originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilitybugsclientcomputer-illiteratecomputer-savvyculturecustomer-servicedownload-errorease-of-useerrorfeaturedfirst-mmofirst-time-playergame-instructionsglitchglitchesinstructionsjeremy-strattonlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroomgwtfbbqproblemsoapboxthe-soapboxtrouble-shootingtroubleshootingworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryzom gets ported to Linux as a native application]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/ryzom-gets-ported-to-linux-as-a-native-application/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/ryzom-gets-ported-to-linux-as-a-native-application/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/ryzom-gets-ported-to-linux-as-a-native-application/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're looking for MMOs that run on a Mac, you face an uphill battle. If you're looking for MMOs that run on Linux, the battle is so steeply uphill that it more closely resembles a vertical cliff. But Ryzom has joined those small ranks, with the release of an official Linux client for the game. This goes hand-in-hand with the game's move to open source earlier in the year, which allows players unhappy with the official client the freedom to make a number of alterations.

To celebrate the official Linux release, Winch Gate is holding an in-game contest running through January 11th, 2011. Players are tasked with finding seven Linux Steles scattered around the world and answering their riddles, with a ZaReason Linux Terra-HD netbook (or cash equivalent) as a grand prize for entrants. Whether or not you intend to start playing Ryzom on Linux, it's a nice prize and an excellent incentive for players to celebrate the new release.

MassivelyRyzom gets ported to Linux as a native application originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clientcontestcontestsin-game-contestlaptoplinuxlinux-mmommos-on-linuxnetbookopen-sourceportable-computerryzomsaga-of-ryzomwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedThu, 02 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Open beta brings changes for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Players who have longed for a chance to play Final Fantasy XIV and haven't been selected for the game's beta yet can take heart. The open beta will begin on August 31st, and players are already able to begin downloading the client. (With the latest patch at 1.24 gigabytes, we do mean "begin downloading." It'll be a while.) That means that you can see for yourself whether the outraged reaction to the fatigue system is entirely deserved, along with any other questions you might have about gameplay.

As has been the pattern for the game's testing, the newest build includes several updates to UI functionality and the implementation of further core features, although it's still unclear if this version is the same as the release version due out in a bit less than a month. Chat modes and friend list features have been implemented, as well as a further listing of emotes for various situations. FFXIVCore has put together a decent list of the beta changes, something that should be of interest to the many Final Fantasy XIV hopefuls due to start trying the game soon.

MassivelyOpen beta brings changes for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-changeschat-modesclientclient-downloademotesffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfriend-listfunctionalityfunctionsmenu-commandsopen-betasquaresquare-enixthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallinguiMon, 30 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion open beta client now available for download]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/aion-open-beta-client-now-available-for-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/aion-open-beta-client-now-available-for-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/aion-open-beta-client-now-available-for-download/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aion's open beta is officially on the way so everybody will be able to sample the delights of Atreia between September 6th and 13th. Ahead of this, NCsoft has announced the availability of the Aion beta client. The client can now be downloaded from various corners of the internet, including FilePlanet and GamersHell, but the company has also announced they are making it available via BitTorrent.

Despite its shady reputation as the medium of choice for file-sharers and illegal downloads, BitTorrent itself is quite legal. Indeed it's a popular method of downloading files which has been embraced by numerous companies over the years. However, if you still want to use traditional methods, NCsoft has also announced that FilePlanet will be giving away a selection of open beta keys beginning Tuesday, September 1st. But anyone who has pre-ordered the game or won a full beta key from a competition just have to bid their time until the open beta begins.

MassivelyAion open beta client now available for download originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-launchaion-open-betaaion-patch-1.5aion-the-shadow-of-the-balaurbetabittorrentclientclosed-betafileplanetgamershellncsoftopen-betatesttorrentFri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beware third party downloads for Darkfall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Brannoc, the community manager for Darkfall, has released an announcement today regarding downloading the Darkfall client from any group other than Aventurine. In a nutshell, he says don't do it. Aventurine cannot guarantee the quality of those downloads or what may be hidden inside of them. If you wish to download the Darkfall client, do so from Aventurine's official torrent.

Brannoc's official announcement states, "Many people have begun to host the client we made available by torrent on other websites for direct download.

Aventurine cannot guarantee the efficacy of these clients and make no guarantees as to their security or freedom of malware. For that reason we recommend only utilizing official download sources for the Darkfall client.

Aventurine also does not support any 3rd party applications or programs for use with the Darkfall client.

Anytime you utilize non-official resources you run a security risk for your system and for that reason we recommend you keep an up to date antivirus program and firewall software up and running. "

MassivelyBeware third party downloads for Darkfall originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinebrannocclientdarkfalldarkfall-onlinedownloadpatcherthird-partytorrentTue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New SDXC cards to allow for greater MMO portability]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/new-sdxc-cards-to-allow-for-greater-mmo-portability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/new-sdxc-cards-to-allow-for-greater-mmo-portability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/new-sdxc-cards-to-allow-for-greater-mmo-portability/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively multiplayer online games tend to take up less space on your hard drive than your standard PC game, as the bulk of the data is stored on farms of servers that power your MMO of choice. However, despite the fact that most of the underlying magic is happening far away from your own screen, MMO clients still take up a number of gigs of space, as laptop users who regularly play different titles know all too well. But since an MMO client is really just an access point then, there's no reason why it has to be tied to any one machine or location, particularly if you're on the go for much of the time.

While the typical solution for some MMO gamers with a preference for portability is to keep their game clients on a portable drive (myself included), even these small drives are beginning to look downright clunky compared to some of the other options available, or soon-to-be available.

Continue reading New SDXC cards to allow for greater MMO portability

MassivelyNew SDXC cards to allow for greater MMO portability originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-holiskycapacitycesclientclientsconsumer-electronics-showengadgetfantasyon-the-goopinionportabilityportablesdsdxctechnologyworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderSat, 10 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games points to EVE client as source of performance woes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/ccp-games-points-to-eve-client-as-source-of-performance-woes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/ccp-games-points-to-eve-client-as-source-of-performance-woes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/ccp-games-points-to-eve-client-as-source-of-performance-woes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Quantum Rise expansion for EVE Online brought with it numerous server side and database improvements, and brings us a bit closer to the ideal of having smooth fleet battles with thousands of ships. So after the expansion rolled out, with the promise of improving the game experience, why was performance subpar at first? The latest CCP Games dev blog points out the culprit -- it's the client.

CCP Atlas (aka Jon Bjarnason), EVE's Technical Director, has written a dev blog on the performance issue. He states, "In hindsight, we should have caught this, but we didn't. Needless to say the week after Quantum Rise wasn't exactly our proudest moment. Although we had improved server and database performance in Quantum Rise, due to the client issues the perception was that overall performance had degraded. And perception is reality, doubly so in virtual worlds."

Continue reading CCP Games points to EVE client as source of performance woes

MassivelyCCP Games points to EVE client as source of performance woes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-atlasccp-gamesclientdev-blogeveeve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsjon-bjarnasonperformancequantum-risesci-fitechnical-directorMon, 08 Dec 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/city-of-heroes-to-get-mac-special-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/city-of-heroes-to-get-mac-special-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/city-of-heroes-to-get-mac-special-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


NCsoft just announced that City of Heroes will soon have a Mac client, joining the likes of World of Warcraft and EVE Online as MMOs that can played on OS X. It'll be made possible through partnership with Transgaming, the creators of the Cider portability engine, which acts as a 'wrapper' for the standard PC client, allowing it to run within OS X on an Intel Mac.

While Blizzard's Mac client for World of Warcraft was written from the ground up, NCsoft's newest City of Heroes 'Good vs. Evil edition' client will be playable through Transgaming's Cider, and thus will be the same client gamers are accustomed to on the PC. This method of bringing the PC client to Mac without porting or rewriting is the same avenue CCP Games took with their EVE Online client for OS X. The City of Heroes Mac Special Edition includes two exclusive items:

Continue reading City of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition

MassivelyCity of Heroes to get Mac Special Edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreakingcidercity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclientcohcovexpansionsmacmac-clientmacintoshncsoftos-xosxtransgamingvirtualizationThu, 30 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mac and Linux client improvements roll out today in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/mac-and-linux-client-improvements-roll-out-today-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/mac-and-linux-client-improvements-roll-out-today-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/mac-and-linux-client-improvements-roll-out-today-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


EVE Online has a much smaller playerbase than some of the other top-tier MMOs on the market. Despite this fact, CCP Games was willing to provide an even smaller subset of players -- Linux and Mac users -- with an EVE client, via Transgaming's Cedega (Linux) and Cider (Mac). While the 'premium' Trinity graphics are only supported on the Windows client, this writer can attest that the Mac client has improved a great deal since its release.

That said, there have certainly been some issues with providing a stable client for multiple operating systems. The Empyrean Age 1.1.2 patch for Mac and Linux, which was scheduled to deploy during downtime today, should bring with it numerous small fixes to these clients. On the Mac side, Empyrean Age 1.1.2 changes how autopatching works, improves issues with international keyboard layouts, and especially resolves the issue with how station interiors display. If the changes go through smoothly, this funky anomaly will be no more. This gallery may be a last look at the black, translucent interiors of stations that some Mac users have been reporting:

Gallery: Mac client station anomalies

Continue reading Mac and Linux client improvements roll out today in EVE Online

MassivelyMac and Linux client improvements roll out today in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autopatcherautopatchingbugsccpccp-falloutccp-gamescedegaciderclientempyrean-ageeveeve-onlinegallerieslinuxmacpatchpatch-notespatchessci-fitransgamingtrinityWed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Warhammer Online fans, the promised day is almost here. Mythic has announced early access details for pre-order and Collector's Edition customers. Pre-orders get a headstart and will be invited to play as of September 15th; those who sprung for the Collector's Edition get to trump everyone else, gaining access to WAR on September 14th in addition to some of those other sweet extras that come with the CE.

Still, not all Collector's Edition customers are happy about how CE customers are being treated. One Collector's Edition buyer named 'Micah' had a nightmare of a problem with his order from Electronic Arts (EA). A simple request to not have his CE shipped to an address he no longer lives at was met with a bizarre choice to be made -- either cancel the order and lose out on the sold-out CE, or let the order stand and have it shipped to the complete strangers living at Micah's former residence. Check out the entire correspondence between EA and Micah at The Consumerist. We hope this is an isolated incident, particularly given the cost and apparent rarity of the Collector's Edition.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Warhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition

MassivelyWarhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingceclientcollectors-editiondownloadea-mythicearly-accessfantasymicahmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-betapre-orderpre-ordersthe-consumeristwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online NDA lifts tomorrow (August 19th)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Warhammer Online NDA is expected to lift tomorrow, according to Mark Jacobs, GM of Mythic Entertainment. The announcement has popped up in a few places, but the message is clear: the NDA is lifting. Jacobs' announcement also touched upon why they're running the Open Beta as they are and early client downloads, but it's the NDA lift that seems to be catching most everyone's attention.

Jacobs said, "We expect to lift it tomorrow morning. I was hoping it was going to be today but I wanted to wait till I got the beta reports from the weekend and we just didn't have enough time to get everything coordinated with our partners in order for the press release to go out today." Jacobs also stated that he'll explain the reasons for the delayed NDA release tomorrow. WAR bloggers everywhere are already freaking out (in a good way) over the news, so expect a literal flood of Warhammer Online info for tomorrow.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online NDA lifts tomorrow (August 19th) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementbetabloggersbreakingclientclosed-betadownloadea-mythicgmmark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentndanda-liftopen-betawarMon, 18 Aug 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Improvements to Tabula Rasa's performance on the way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The most recent iteration of Tabula Rasa's Feedback Friday brought the announcement of a change to how the client will work in future deployments of the game. "The Bubble," as they call it, is an optimization that the developers hope to roll out in a future build of Tabula Rasa's Deployment 9. Until now, all static map objects such as rocks and trees loaded up front, but at the cost of decreased system performance. The Bubble will limit the client to loading only those static objects within a certain distance from the camera. The end result promises to be a client that uses less memory and delivers increased performance. They would, however, like help from the players with testing the bubble feature once it's viable.

As always, Feedback Friday also addressed player questions and concerns, namely that logout countdowns in PvP will stop being exploitable in Deployment 10. As it stands, players can evade combat during clan-wars by simply logging off. Another issue in the game that's being resolved is the common complaint about how difficult it is to keep track of friends. Presently each time a player creates a new character, they must reinvite all of their friends, ad nauseam. So beginning with Deployment 9, both the friends and ignore list are now user-based instead of character-based. This change alone will eliminate a number of headaches for TR players, but check out the Feedback Friday page for more details on how the game is evolving.

MassivelyImprovements to Tabula Rasa's performance on the way originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microtransaction-based Entropia Universe is set to expand into new markets, as developer/publisher MindArk has announced the completion of translations of the Entropia client into three new languages -- German, French, and Spanish. Previously, the virtual world was only accessible to English-speakers.

The translations were performed by a company called Lionbridge. MindArk rep Frank Campbell said his company made the move to increase market penetration, address users' needs, and increase the company's credibility.

Entropia is a Sci-Fi-themed virtual world. It's an unusual combination of MMO-style combat and crafting, and Second Life-esque e-commerce. MindArk suggests to potential users that they can make money -- or even a living -- within the virtual world. Unsurprisingly, though, a substantial investment of real funds and time is required to become competitive.

MassivelyEntropia Universe learns three new languages originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frustrated with the Age of Conan open beta's serious performance problems? Worried that the game won't be ready for retail in just a couple of weeks? Don't worry too much; not it is all as it seems. Word on the virtual street is that the open beta client is an old build with issues long since resolved in the closed beta version.

When the IGN beta event finally began on Thursday, thousands of excited gamers ended up more frustrated than entertained. The experience has been marred by low framerates, stuttering, and frequent hard crashes. Admittedly, it's a beta; some of that is to be expected. But it's bad, and since the game's retail release is less than three weeks away, there's an air of concern that Age of Conan will hit retail in an unplayable state. The reality is more complex than that.

Continue reading AoC beta: a tale of two clients

MassivelyAoC beta: a tale of two clients originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbetabildobloggersbugsclientclosed-betacrashesforumsframeratefuncomignign-beta-eventkeenopen-betaperformancestutteringSat, 03 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SAGA now available for free, minus some features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/saga-now-available-for-free-minus-some-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/saga-now-available-for-free-minus-some-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/saga-now-available-for-free-minus-some-features/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


More than ever, it appears as though MMO developers are struggling to keep afloat using the traditional models for monetization. SAGA is a game that's had an interesting subscription model from the getgo, shirking the typical subscription fee model for a CCG-esque booster system. Once you've bought the client, the game is free to play. The only caveat is that you can only get additional troops for your army by purchasing "boosters" for an additional fee. It's really a pretty brilliant system, combining two types of games (CCGs and MMOs) that are independently addictive, and fusing them together into what one would have assumed was a license to print money.

We haven't really heard how the game has been doing since it's since it finally emerged from beta last week, but already Wahoo Studios is shaking things up in an effort to draw in players. Like a drug dealer looking to give clients a first taste to get them hooked, they're now offering a free version of the client to give would-be players a better idea of what's on offer. The free client is missing a few features, but a free something is always better than nothing. Unlike a trial though, there is no time limit on how long you can use the free client. Seems they're confident in their product. It's probably worth a shot if an MMORTS/CCG sounds up your alley!

[Via Warcry]

MassivelySAGA now available for free, minus some features originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CCGclientfreeMMORTSRTSSAGAtrialwahoo-studiosWed, 12 Mar 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tranquility is flipping out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/tranquility-is-flipping-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/tranquility-is-flipping-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/tranquility-is-flipping-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It must be all those new crazy Mac and Linux people-- the EVE Online server, Tranquility, is going mad this afternoon. EVEMon is telling me it's up, it's down, and then it's back up again. Probably doesn't hurt that this is primetime in Europe right now, and of course the new Revelations 2.3 patch dropped today.

But if you were planning on doing some mining or ratting anytime this afternoon, better make other plans. Tranquility is taking a beating right now, and it probably won't be super stable again until the Europeans head to bed. If it's like this today, we can't help but cringe at what might happen next month.

MassivelyTranquility is flipping out originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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