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[Get your PAX strategy guides here]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/get-your-pax-strategy-guides-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/get-your-pax-strategy-guides-here/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/get-your-pax-strategy-guides-here/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

PAX East strategy guide
Heading to PAX East this weekend? If so, you're in good company, as the Massively and Joystiq crews are going too! ThriftyNerd has put together a brief PAX strategy guide, and it's well worth a look if you don't have your itinerary planned out to the minute (or heck, even if you do, because you might have forgotten something).

The guide has a rundown on essential mobile apps as well as plenty of tips for both the seasoned con-goer and the wet-behind-the-ears rookie. Be sure to follow Massively all weekend as we'll be bringing you all the best MMO news direct from Boston.

MassivelyGet your PAX strategy guides here originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconventionseventsmassively-metamobile-appspaxpax-eastpax-east-2012real-world-eventsThu, 05 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE renames Fan Faire, sets official dates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/soe-renames-fan-faire-sets-official-dates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/soe-renames-fan-faire-sets-official-dates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/soe-renames-fan-faire-sets-official-dates/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As corporate re-brandings go, this one isn't as wince-inducingly awful as something like, say, the Syfy Channel. Still, Sony Online Entertainment's Fan Faire had a nice ring to it, but now we're obliged to refer to the company's annual fan convention as SOE Live.

Senior marketing VP Laura Naviaux says the change is due to SOE's MMO diversification. While the company is still known for its EverQuest and EverQuest II flagships, it's also put considerable time and effort into DC Universe Online and PlanetSide 2, neither of which conjures images of ye olde renaissance faire.

This year's SOE Live will happen at Bally's in Las Vegas from October 18th through the 21st. Naviaux says that SOE die-hards can relax, since the event will be the same Fan Faire they've been enjoying for years despite the name change. "Previous event attendees can rest assured that we are not removing any of our established activities in order to accommodate the new players; rather, they can expect even more to make this the ultimate SOE fan experience," she said.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelySOE renames Fan Faire, sets official dates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconvetionseventsfan-conventionsfan-fairefan-faire-2012laura-naviauxMiscellaneousreal-world-eventssoesoe-fan-fairesoe-livesoe-live-las-vegasSony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 26 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever traveled specifically for a gaming event?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-traveled-specifically-for-a-gamin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-traveled-specifically-for-a-gamin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-traveled-specifically-for-a-gamin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online - Fanfest entrance
There are a lot of real-world gaming events going on this month. Whether we're talking about the Star Wars: The Old Republic guild summit in Austin, GDC in San Francisco, or the EVE Online fanfest in Reykjavik, opportunities to rack up frequent flyer miles abound.

While lots of gamers spend lots of money on subs, cash shop items, and upgrades to their gaming rigs, the aforementioned shindigs tend to attract only the hardest of the hardcore fans. What say you, Massively readers? Have you ever traveled specifically to attend a game-related event?

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: Have you ever traveled specifically for a gaming event? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconventionsdaily-grindeventsfanfestfeaturedgaming-eventsopinionreal-world-eventstdgthe-daily-grindThu, 08 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA wins G-Star 2011's highest honor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/tera-wins-g-star-2011s-highest-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/tera-wins-g-star-2011s-highest-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/tera-wins-g-star-2011s-highest-honor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TERA - Castanic wallpaper
Things have been looking fairly bleak for TERA fans over the last few months. There have been reports of server merges and general discontent among the Korean playerbase, executive switcheroos at Bluehole Studio, and an American launch date delay to the spring of 2012.

This year's G-Star convention finally provided a ray of sunlight in the form of the prestigious Presidential Award. Yes, TERA won it, and the honor is a pretty big deal in the South Korean gaming community. The country's Ministry of Culture (a government board responsible for gaming industry regulations) chooses the nominees while a pool of journalists, industry veterans, and gamers vote on the winner.

TERA also took home G-Star awards for best sound effects, graphics, and character design.

MassivelyTERA wins G-Star 2011's highest honor originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioconsconventionsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyg-starg-star-2011g-star-awardspresidential-awardreal-world-eventsteraWed, 09 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was your favorite PAX reveal?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-pax-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-pax-reveal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-pax-reveal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

PAX Prime 2011 logo - black
PAX Prime 2011 has come and gone, and it's now time to turn our eyes to DragonCon and what is sure to be an eventful final few months of the year. Before we move on, though, it's worth looking back at the events of this past weekend and thinking on a few favorites.

While this year's PAX didn't boast any zomg-that's-awesome reveals, there was a steady stream of new and interesting information flowing out of Seattle over the weekend. Whether your taste runs to PvP and Star Wars The Old Republic, endgame content and Korean imports like TERA, or interesting newcomers like WildStar and its decision to insert the Bartle model firmly into the midst of its game design, there was a bit of something for everyone.

Today's Daily Grind is an easy one: What was your favorite PAX Prime reveal?

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 was your favorite PAX reveal? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconventionsgame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionpaxpax-primepax-prime-2011star-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgterathe-daily-grindwildstarMon, 29 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Antec to sell NCsoft-themed PC enclosures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/antec-to-sell-ncsoft-themed-pc-enclosures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/antec-to-sell-ncsoft-themed-pc-enclosures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/antec-to-sell-ncsoft-themed-pc-enclosures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Antec - NCsoft cases
So it's official, Antec and NCsoft are going out. OK, maybe it's not quite that creepy, but a new press release does note that the two companies have an "official relationship," which will be publicly consummated at next week's PAX Prime event.

Antec, known primarily for its PC hardware and upgrade components, will be opening an online boutique featuring custom PC cases emblazoned with artwork from NCsoft franchises including Aion, City of Heroes, and Guild Wars. Antec's PAX Prime booth will also be hosting an exclusive City of Heroes Freedom demo for convention attendees, and you can read all the details via the full press release at MarketWire.

[Thanks to Jessie for the tip!]

MassivelyAntec to sell NCsoft-themed PC enclosures originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionantecartworkcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomconsconventionseventsfantasyguild-wars-2ncsoftpaxpax-primepax-prime-2011pc-partspc-upgradespress-releasereal-world-eventssuperheroTue, 23 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2011: Paradox releases new Salem teaser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/gamescom-2011-paradox-releases-new-salem-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/gamescom-2011-paradox-releases-new-salem-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/gamescom-2011-paradox-releases-new-salem-teaser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Salem - permadeath MMO
A couple of months ago, we were treated to a sneak peek of Salem, the new browser-based MMO from Paradox Interactive. Aside from its colonial America setting and Salem witch trial underpinnings, the defining feature of this odd MMORPG is permadeath.

Today, Paradox has a released a new trailer for the title at Gamescom, and though there's no gameplay footage to be had, the atmosphere conjured by the clip is nothing short of bizarre. The video runs a tad over a minute and a half, and perhaps the most interesting thing about it is a subtitle that shows up after the ending title and proclaims that Salem is "the crafting MMO."

It's the crafting MMO with permadeath and a PvP focus, if previous Paradox releases still hold true, and if that doesn't tweak your curiosity, well, head past the cut and watch the video anyway.

Continue reading Gamescom 2011: Paradox releases new Salem teaser

MassivelyGamescom 2011: Paradox releases new Salem teaser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedconsconsequencesconventionscraftingfantasygamescomgamescom-2011horrorpermadeathpvpsalemsalem-witch-trialstrailervideoFri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you met your online friends offline?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-met-your-online-friends-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-met-your-online-friends-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-met-your-online-friends-offline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EQII cosplayers
MMORPGs make for some mighty strange bedfellows. We all approach these games for different reasons and from many different backgrounds. For some players, MMORPGs are firmly in the fantasy-not-reality section of their daily planners, while others form lasting "real-world" friendships with their MMO compatriots -- and some folks even make the effort to hang out with their online buddies offline.

Whether you've traveled to a guild get-together, attended a gaming convention, or happen to live in the same town as your groupmates, today's Daily Grind is all about real-world meetups. Have you ever hooked up with your MMO pals in person (and if not, would you want to)?

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: Have you met your online friends offline? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityconsconventionconventionsdaily-grindgame-discussiongamer-discussionmeetupsmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsreal-world-eventstdgthe-daily-grindFri, 12 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/trion-details-rift-end-of-nations-and-defiance-plans-for-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

RIFT
Trion is one of many MMO companies gearing up for a big showing at this month's Gamescom, and a new interview with Adam Gershowitz, David Luehmann, and Rob Hill lets fans in on what they can expect regarding the world of Telara.

For starters, there will be a lot of lip service given to RIFT's "Endgame for All" initiative, specifically the new Chronicle instances coming with the 1.5 patch. Gershowitz also mentions the Hammerknell weekend warfront and says its a way for Trion to "spice up the normal warfront grind" via new gameplay and additional rewards. Said new gameplay takes the form of a new mode called escalation, which is essentially the Telaran equivalent of capture-the-flag.

The interview also touches on Trion's End of Nations and Defiance titles, both of which will also be featured at Gamescom (though it's worth noting that Defiance will be restricted to industry previewers as Trion says the title "isn't quite ready for its player debut").

MassivelyTrion details RIFT, End of Nations, and Defiance plans for Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.5-patchadam-gershowitzcapture-the-flagconsconventionsctfdavid-luemanndefianceend-of-nationsescalationfantasygamescomgamescom-2011gamescom-not-gamescongrindinterviewsreal-world-eventsriftrob-hillsci-fitelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsweekend-warfrontsWed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively Extra: Hi-Rez talks Gamescom plans and shows off first SMITE screens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-hi-rez-talks-gamescom-plans-and-shows-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-hi-rez-talks-gamescom-plans-and-shows-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-hi-rez-talks-gamescom-plans-and-shows-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Gamescom is just around the corner, and Hi-Rez Studios is gearing up to show off two new titles at the Cologne trade show on August 17th. The makers of Global Agenda are bringing a demo version of Tribes: Ascend to the event and will also be unveiling SMITE, a MOBA announced last April that features battles between gods from various mythologies.

Hi-Rez COO Todd Harris will also be talking up the future of Global Agenda, and senior designer Travis Brown will be answering SMITE-related questions as players get their hands on the initial demo version of the title. SMITE is built on the Unreal Engine 3, and Hi-Rez has released the first two screenshots of the game which we've got for you after the break.

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: Hi-Rez talks Gamescom plans and shows off first SMITE screens

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: Hi-Rez talks Gamescom plans and shows off first SMITE screens originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconventionseventsfantasygamescomgamescom-2011global-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmmo-shootermobanot-so-massivelypress-releasereal-life-eventssci-fiShooterstodd-harristravis-browntribestribes-ascendWed, 03 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/world-of-warplanes-debuting-at-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/world-of-warplanes-debuting-at-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/world-of-warplanes-debuting-at-gamescom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

If you're curious about Wargaming.net's upcoming World of Warplanes MMO, Gamescom 2011 is the place to be. The World War II-based flight simulator's gameplay will be shown for the first time at the convention in Cologne, Germany from August 17th to August 21st.

World of Warplanes was initially announced during this year's E3, but no media, gameplay footage, or web presence has been forthcoming as of yet.

Wargaming.net will also be holding an open World of Tanks tournament at Gamescom, and the company has plans to announce its newest development project, according to a press release issued this morning.

MassivelyWorld of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aviationconsconventionsf2pflightflight-simulatorfree-to-playgamescomgamescom-2011historicalreal-lifereal-world-eventswarwargaming.networld-of-warplanesworld-war-2world-war-iiww2wwiiThu, 28 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex announces RuneFest 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/jagex-announces-runefest-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/jagex-announces-runefest-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/jagex-announces-runefest-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you'll be in the UK on the weekend of October 29th -- and you're a fan of RuneScape -- you might want to drop by Old Billingsgate in central London for the annual RuneFest fan celebration.

Jagex is pulling out all the stops for the browser title's 10th anniversary bash, and attendees can look forward to event favorites like the Insider Sessions as well as the Golden Gnome Video Awards.

A Halloween after-party is also on the docket, as are plenty of opportunities to score swag and hob-knob with senior developers. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but you can keep up with RuneFest happenings and announcements via the official website and the dedicated forums.

MassivelyJagex announces RuneFest 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedconsconventionseventsf2pfan-eventsfantasyfree-to-playgolden-gnomegolden-gnome-video-awardshalloweenhalloween-partyinsider-sessionslondonreal-world-eventsrunefestrunescapeswagFri, 10 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Launch sponsoring DragonCon 2011 MMO track]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/guild-launch-sponsoring-dragoncon-2011-mmo-track/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/guild-launch-sponsoring-dragoncon-2011-mmo-track/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/guild-launch-sponsoring-dragoncon-2011-mmo-track/#commentsFiled under: , ,

DragonCon isn't far over the horizon, and both genre fans and companies are making plans to descend on Atlanta for the annual Labor Day weekend nerd-a-thon in September. One such outfit is Guild Launch, and the hosting company has just announced via press release that it will be sponsoring the MMO track at this year's convention.

Guild Launch, founded in 2006 and renowned for its ability to ease the HTML-ignorant into the creation and maintenance of their own guilld-related websites, will be participating in various MMORPG panels as well as exhibiting its services throughout the convention. "After attending DragonCon for the last few years we decided we wanted to promote the DragonCon MMO track more directly. We've found DragonCon to be an awesome place to meet the members of our service and we look forward to meeting more of them in 2011," says company founder Stephen Johnston.

MassivelyGuild Launch sponsoring DragonCon 2011 MMO track originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consconventionsdragon-condragoncondragoncon-2011exhibitorsguild-launchguild-websitesmmo-industrynerd-a-thonpress-releasepress-releasesstephen-johnstonTue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/the-daily-grind-did-you-go-to-a-game-convention-last-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It is, in many ways, the ultimate gamer's pilgrimage -- to make the long trek to attend a gaming convention. Whether it be PAX, Dragon*Con, Fan Faire, BlizzCon, Leipzig or GamesCom, it's surprising the amount of money, time, effort and willingness to stand in line with sweaty people that we put up with just to see the latest games and talk to our favorite developers.

It's hard to explain the allure of these conventions to outsiders, but there's something thrilling in seeing crowds of people who share your same hobby and get excited over all the same stuff you do. Plus, there's the swag. OH, the swag!

Did you make your pilgrimage in 2010? Did you manage to get away to a fabulous retreat (from reality) and attend a game convention? And was it everything you'd hoped, or did it let you down?

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: Did you go to a game convention last year? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconconsconventionconventionsdragon-condragonconfan-fairegamescomLeipzigopinionpaxpenny-arcade-expopilgrimagesoe-fan-fairespandex-is-a-privilege-not-a-rightswagtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Week in Review: Convention overload]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/week-in-review-convention-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/week-in-review-convention-overload/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/week-in-review-convention-overload/#commentsFiled under: ,


At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on the site and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big story last week? Curious about what's going on next door at our sister site, WoW Insider? Don't worry -- we've got you covered.

This week, Massively suffered a severe affliction... con-fever! Four brave adventurers took on the New York Comic Con in the Northeast and the Game Developer's Conference in Austin, Texas, filling our pages with stories of their wild exploits. We got scoops on DC Universe Online (twice!), Final Fantasy XIV, City of Heroes, World of Tanks, All Points Bulletin, Ultima Online, Gods and Heroes, Iris Online and Allods, UTV's new games including Faxion Online, and CCP's blockbuster trio of EVE, Dust, and World of Darkness. Then we dipped into the meta, offering interviews with personalities like Richard Bartle and Cinco Barnes; overviews of topics like MMO longevity, voice integration, browser games, and freemium games; and summations of the more interesting developer panels. Even our podcasters and commenters got in on the action!

While we recover, take a peek past the break for a roundup of this week's other top stories!

Continue reading Week in Review: Convention overload

MassivelyWeek in Review: Convention overload originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consgdcogdco-2010massively-metametanyccnycc-2010rounduptop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapwow-insiderSun, 17 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Got cons?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/10/the-daily-grind-got-cons/#commentsFiled under: , ,

So the New York Comic Con is in full swing, and the fact that it's here already reminds us of just how many game-related cons there are scattered throughout the calendar year. Whether it's NYCC, Dragon Con, E3, GDC, or the various flavors of PAX, there always seems to be something just around the corner that calls for hotel reservations and airline tickets. More often than not, the next convention on the circuit sneaks right up on us before we manage to shake the jet lag from the last one.

While we'd like nothing better than to shirk responsibilities and tour the world of gaming and pop culture conventions for a year, work must occasionally intrude, and most of us have to pick and choose our events. What about you Massively readers? Did you attend NYCC this weekend, and are you a regular on the gaming convention circuit?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Got cons? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airfareconsconvention-circuitconventionsdragon-cone3e3-2010gdc-2010hotelsnew-york-comic-connyccnycc-2010opinionPAXpax-2010pax-east-2010pax-prime-2010tdgthe-daily-grindtravelSun, 10 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons Online pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-to-play-dungeons-and-dragons-online-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-to-play-dungeons-and-dragons-online-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/the-pros-and-cons-of-free-to-play-dungeons-and-dragons-online-pt/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The cons of the whole switchover

Item malls that offer players the ability to purchase items or item upgrades degrade the gaming experience. We've been over this before -- letting Mr. Moneybags deck out his character at level 1 so he's 10x more awesome than everybody else is a major downer to people who don't have the money.

While I've pored over the text that Turbine is released, it doesn't appear that they will be offering items like weaponry or armor. They will be offering "items of convenience" to the players. My best guess is things like potions, perhaps portals, resurrection scrolls, things such as these. Even though these are low powered items, they can still annoy you when Moneybags can teleport all over the place and you're left walking and taking the slow route.

This con is, however, offset by the fact that points can be earned by actually playing the game. It sounds like they are attempting to make the cash shop available for everyone, not just the Moneybags of the world. This will be interesting to watch, as no other developer as truly tried this in the American market.

"I could easily see some players offering up items in the auction house above the amount that a free player's wallet could hold."
The big con to this is the limited play that free players get. Limited auctions and limited mail are two nasty inconveniences in their own right, but limited gold storage and limited chat seem to be the features that take the cake. How would you like it if you couldn't chat in all of the chat channels, or were restricted to how much you can say in game? Even worse, limited gold storage may mean that you might not be able to purchase the best items from the auction house simply because your wallet just doesn't hold enough.

I could easily see some players offering up items in the auction house above the amount that a free player's wallet could hold. This is going to inconvenience the player further because it's going to restrict how the player can interact with the auction house and interact with the vendors in the world.

Another two bites out of the pro pile are the fact that free players rank lower than DDO VIP subscription players in the login queue and free players don't get access to customer support. This means that a constant influx of DDO VIP players could easily keep bumping free players back in the login queue, should the server become overpopulated. While I don't exactly see this happening, it could become problem should the lines really get backed up. I know I wouldn't like to see that my place in line as number 27 get jacked backward to 30 or 35 just because a few subscribers chose to log in.

Lastly is the fact that free players are stuck with the online knowledge base and the forums as their source of aid should they encounter problems. I can foresee some free players attempting to play the game, getting stuck on some odd technical problem, and then becoming unable to solve it simply because the knowledge base doesn't have their problem on file. You're going to inevitably lose some people over this, just because they don't want to deal with the frustration of attempting to make a free game work. It's a free game, so if it doesn't work, just move onto the next game.

The bottom line?

The final thoughts for all of this is you should weigh it for yourself. If you want to save some cash and you like Dungeons and Dragons, then this might just be the experience for you. If you're looking for a second quality MMO to have as a side-game, then this might also be what you want to pick up.

If you're someone who's easily frustrated by limitations, however, then you might not enjoy this experience. Some of the stuff, like decreased auctions, gold storage, and chatting capabilities might hamper gameplay just enough to turn off some people.

But, don't take my word for it. Judge the game for yourself when it hits free to play status later this summer.
Turbine has just announced that Dungeons and Dragons Online will be moving to a free-to-play business model, and we have the inside scoop. Be sure to read our complete coverage of the changeover, and look for more info as DDO Unlimited approaches launch.

MassivelyThe pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons Online pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeons and Dragons Online going free to play is undoubtedly an awesome announcement. But exactly how awesome of an announcement is it?

Yesterday we were all over the announcement, covering the basics of what can be expected with this changeover from subscription based to free to play. But now, I'd like to break that down even further, and really look at the changes in an in-depth manner.

Certainly not everything about the new version of DDO has been defined by Turbine, but we're going to take a look at the basics of what this new version offers and compare the ups and downs of what's being offered. By the time we're done looking over the new system, you'll be able to answer that one burning question that's plaguing your mind.

Is free to play DDO worth it for you?

Continue reading The pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyThe pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consddoddo-storedebatedecisiondnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-online-eberron-unlimitedeberron-unlimitedfree-to-playitem-mallitem-shoplevel-20module-9prosstormreachturbineWed, 10 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST