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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, Culture, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

If it hasn't become clear over the past two and a half years, I really enjoy speculation. I like crazy theories, I like exploring possibilities, I like thought exercises, and so forth. There's some speculation that I find particularly ill-informed or lacking in some fundamental point of logic, but that doesn't mean I don't learn about them first.

Why am I making a point out of this? Because I've developed a theory about the state of City of Heroes, and I want to make it clear before I launch into this somewhat grim theory that I'm basing this entirely on outside observations. I want it to be clear that I could, in fact, be totally wrong, and when I say that City of Heroes nearly committed unintentional suicide a couple of years ago, I don't want that to be seen as some grand behind-the-scenes revelation.

And if it weren't obvious from that line, yes, that's where I'm going. I think Going Rogue nearly gutted City of Heroes and burned the whole game to the ground. And I think everything the game has done since can be directly traced back to that expansion.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: How City of Heroes almost died originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?

Jef Reahard — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Secret World, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Crafting

I'm more excited than I thought I would be for The Secret World. After playing it at last week's Game Developer's Conference and getting a preview of the game's crafting system, I think it's safe to say my anticipation went up a few notches.

The real-world setting and horror-fantasy elements have always been appealing, but a general lack of info throughout 2011 -- coupled with Funcom's decision to add a cash shop to a subscription game -- conspired to knock The Secret World down a few pegs. Now I'm almost willing to forgive the business model faux pas because it seems like the game will feature significant sandbox elements.

Is it a sandbox, though?

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?

Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom stock price could 'double or triple' depending on success of The Secret World

Jef Reahard — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Opinion, The Secret World

Funcom has a lot riding on The Secret World, and a new piece at MCV outlines stock prospects for the company as the horror-conspiracy MMORPG's June 19th launch date draws nearer.

Funcom stock has risen dramatically on the Norwegian Stock Exchange since last summer, and analysts expect further growth leading up to The Secret World's release. After that, though, the predictions aren't as clear given the significant fluctuations in Funcom's stock price since its 2005 introduction.

MCV notes that shares peaked with 2008's Age of Conan release, but prices dropped significantly soon after as the game "didn't make the expected sales impact." Nonetheless, analysts are enthusiastic about prospects for post-Secret World performance. "Funcom is one of the stocks that could double or triple in value. If Funcom's next game is a success, they will definitely end up as the stock of the year," Carnegie's Espen Torgersen says.

Funcom stock price could 'double or triple' depending on success of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom launches official German and French websites for The Secret World

Jef Reahard — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Word of mouth is everything in today's crowded MMO market, and when it comes to AAA titles like The Secret World, localized fan support systems and information dissemination channels are high on the list of priorities for an international release.

As such, Funcom has just announced the creation of two new websites for its French- and German-speaking fan communities. Both portals will be managed by dedicated community teams, and the new sites can be accessed at the direct links above or via the language selector on the main Secret World website.

Funcom's horror-conspiracy MMO is scheduled to launch on June 19th.

[Source: Funcom press release]

Funcom launches official German and French websites for The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World launching June 19th

Jef Reahard — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom has decided to push back The Secret World's launch by a couple of months. The Norwegian development firm originally intended its horror-conspiracy MMO to ship in April, but a new press release has targeted June 19th instead.

Creative director Ragnar Tørnquist says the new launch window will allow Funcom to make the title that much more compelling. "Allowing for even more time to polish the game really shows just how much faith Funcom as a company has in The Secret World, and how committed we are to making it the best it can be," he explains.

Tørnquist also hints at further beta opportunities for both fans and curiosity seekers. "The additional time will also allow us to carry out even more quality beta testing, and soon we will also be announcing several public beta events where hundreds of thousands of gamers will get to test the game prior to launch," he says.

The Secret World is a skill-based MMO set in the modern age. It mixes traditional MMO progression with a unique skill deck system and story-driven questing.

[Source: Funcom press release]

The Secret World launching June 19th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's Blue Mountain revealed [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom has taken the wraps off another locale for The Secret World, and this time the focus is on an area called Blue Mountain (no, not those Blue Mountains, Tolkien fans). The location is just west of Kingsmouth, and it boasts a deep, dark history that includes some sort of "desperate battle fought [...] long ago."

Presently, the mountain is home to the Wabanaki native American tribe, which has fallen on hard times due to the greed and machinations of the modern age. Funcom says that an ancient evil is sleeping beneath the rock, and draugs, wendigo, and golems are overrunning the surrounding areas as a result.

There's also a substantial government/military presence in the area, and players will be tasked with helping various agencies as well as reliving the mountain's dark past through the powerful magic of the Wabanaki tribe.

[Update]: Funcom released an accompanying video late yesterday evening, and you can view it after the cut.

Continue reading The Secret World's Blue Mountain revealed [Updated]

The Secret World's Blue Mountain revealed [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's Illuminati week reveals backstory, ranking mission

Jef Reahard — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Don't tell the Illuminati, but someone's been whispering its secrets in a very public place. Funcom has revealed a bit of backstory on the secretive faction, which is only natural since it's Illuminati week at The Secret World website.

Funcom says that prospective Illuminati players will need to find the group's secret headquarters in New York City, as well as undergo "rigorous psychological tests." The group then molds its raw recruits into "focused and efficient Illuminati machinery," and the end goals are victory in the eternal war for influence, knowledge, and power.

The article also hints at an Illuminati ranking mission that involves a young United States senator not yet under the group's thumb. Read all about that and more at MMORPG.com.

The Secret World's Illuminati week reveals backstory, ranking mission originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom details Secret World Templar mission [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World, Dev Diaries

Templar Week continues at Funcom, and this time the firm is teasing fans of The Secret World with bits and pieces of the game's factional missions and mythology. Today we get a look at a rogue agent mission within what is ostensibly the world's oldest (and definitely its most well-known) secret society.

Funcom's dev diary paints the Templars as an uncompromising bunch, and players interested in joining the ranks of these ancient smiters of evil will travel to London, where they'll "feel the weight of thousands of years of history in the great arches of Temple Hall." They'll also be chasing a defector across the globe and even into some sort of alternate hell dimension, and you can read all about that and more at MMORPG.com.

[Update: PC Gamer's got a preview of bunch of spooky TSW monsters too!]

Funcom details Secret World Templar mission [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's Dragon Week reveals faction backstory, mission details

Jef Reahard — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World, Dev Diaries

Dragon Week continues for Funcom and fans of The Secret World. The latest series entry takes the form of a dev journal that hints at the faction's backstory and teases a Dragon ranking mission from the game itself.

The Dragon is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is so secretive that even its own members don't appreciate the full extent of its power. The organization operates under the belief that "seemingly insignificant events can trigger cataclysmic change," and players will find the Dragon recruitment process a bit different than that of the game's other two factions. Potential recruits are paid a visit by silent Dragon monks, then unceremoniously deposited in a Seoul neighborhood with no apparent exits. If the recruits manage to find the Dragon headquarters, they're rewarded with more info about the faction and their own destiny.

There's more, including details on that mission we mentioned earlier, but you'll need to head to MMORPG.com to read it.

[Thanks to Acidbaron for the tip!]

The Secret World's Dragon Week reveals faction backstory, mission details originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's beta signup postponed

Jef Reahard — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Those of you all hot and bothered for the start of The Secret World's beta registration event will need to avail yourselves of a cold shower (or at least a couple of tall, cold adult beverages). Funcom has announced that its ARG-infused signup event is not quite ready for prime time, and there's no time table on the rescheduling, either.

A blurb on the game's website delivers the official "we're deeply sorry for the inconvenience" yada yada and also goes on to say that the registration for The Secret War event is delayed "until further notice."

We'll keep our eyes peeled, and our heads on a swivel, as it's no doubt the fault of those dastardly Illuminati.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

The Secret World's beta signup postponed originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's Tornquist talks truth, pain, and non-combat gaming

Jef Reahard — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Rock, Paper Shotgun is back with part two of its interview with The Secret World's Ragnar Tornquist. Part one debuted yesterday and detailed a bit of the history behind the game's development as well as blurbs about factions, puzzles, and ARG thingamajigs.

Today's installment talks about everything from Tornquist's recurring real world/hidden world motifs, to the endings of Lost and Dreamfall, to unfulfilled fan expectations. As you might expect, the interview errs heavily on the side of the philosophical rather than delving into gameplay specifics.

Everything from the nature of truth, to Funcom's Secret World agenda, to the reticence of the gaming industry to evolve beyond kill-everything-that-moves is up for discussion. On this last point, Tornquist hints at the challenges inherent in designing non-combat gaming experiences. "It's difficult. You can't sacrifice fun. But then of course the idea of fun is ambiguous. Does it always have to be fun? Can't it be painful too?"

The Secret World's Tornquist talks truth, pain, and non-combat gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom reveals new Secret World cinematic

Jef Reahard — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Trailers, Video, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom's had a busy fortnight, what with Age of Conan's content extravaganza and a few location reveals for The Secret World. Tonight the Norwegian development firm has taken the wraps off another spiffy teaser, this time in the form of a new cinematic for its upcoming conspiracy-horror MMORPG.

The two-minute trailer starts off innocently enough, as a forlorn-looking barfly fond of cigarettes and strange tricks with pocket change makes his way from a bar stool to the nearest bathroom. It only gets weirder from there, and before the clip's running time is up, we've seen a sackcloth man-creature having trouble with a urinal, lots of icky tentacles, and some sort of multi-eyed horror from the depths of hell.

None of this phases our ice-cold protagonist of course, and he even takes the time to zip his fly while disposing of the baddie in fine supernatural style. See for yourself after the cut, or head to GameTrailers.

Continue reading Funcom reveals new Secret World cinematic

Funcom reveals new Secret World cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World unveils the Kingsmouth Lighthouse

Jef Reahard — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

There's something spooky about your average lighthouse, particularly when viewed through the gloomy gauze of a dark and storm-drenched night. It's no surprise, then, that The Secret World will feature a lighthouse or two, and Funcom's latest location reveal centers around the beacon located by the port town of Kingsmouth.

This particular lighthouse was built by the Illuminati in the 1700s. The purpose was two-fold. First was obviously the desire to see ships safely into the harbor. Beneath that benign exterior, though, lurked "a clear and powerful statement: This was Illuminati territory, their eye was all-seeing, their light shone brighter and stronger than any other."

Today, the Kingsmouth Lighthouse still holds its share of secrets. The facility was automated at some point in the past and has since fallen into a state of neglect. A hidden staircase is rumored to exist somewhere in the rock at the lighthouse's base, and bronze panels inscribed with warding symbols have been reported as well. Eccentric author Sam Krieg has also taken up residence, and while we could tell you more about this eclectic location, there'd be no reason for you to visit the official Secret World website.

The Secret World unveils the Kingsmouth Lighthouse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-fi, Previews, The Secret World, Post-Apocalyptic, Dev Diaries

If you were given the chance to build your very own world from scratch, how would you do it? What would you include? Would it be a world of beauty or dark dreamscapes? And would the inhabitants enjoy their stay or flee in terror?

To the team at Funcom tasked with fashioning The Secret World's... world, this isn't a hypothetical question, but a practical one. In a new developer blog post, Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos returns to share a behind-the-scenes view of how a game world is made.

Bylos says that there are four aspects to world-building: identifying purpose, research, building flow, and prototyping and production. Because The Secret World takes place on our planet in the here-and-now, the team has a reference point to begin, but layers a "secret history" on top of it. Bylos explains by saying, "This is the history of an area as only a member of The Secret World can experience it; the footprints of the secret societies and their past conflicts; the truth behind the local myths and legends; the echoes of ancient magic and forgotten rituals."

Of course, it's one thing to design something what you think is interesting and fun -- it's another to see if it works out in practice. All of this planning on paper is just the first stage of getting it in the game, which Bylos promises will come in an upcoming post.

Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World reveals new Accursed Woods location

Jef Reahard — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

The Secret World's third location reveal of the week is here, and we're once again back in New England for a look at the Accursed Woods. The new blurb on the game's official website kicks things off with a rather unsettling quote from H.P. Lovecraft, an author whose works have inspired both the story and the visuals of Funcom's forthcoming opus.

The Accursed Woods play host to some sort of gnarly, nameless terror, but Funcom's prose makes it clear that players will know the true nature of the evil that lurks beneath the forest floor soon enough. "Soon, very soon, these horrors beyond horrors will leave the woods, and quaint Kingsmouth will fall to their chittering chorus," the site says. Bring your bug spray and head to the official Secret World web destination for more.

The Secret World reveals new Accursed Woods location originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World's Innsmouth Academy profiled

Jef Reahard — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Earlier this week Funcom treated us to a blurb about The Secret World's creepily atmospheric Atlantic Island Park. Today the official site has been updated with a new reveal centered on Innsmouth Academy.

By all outward appearances, the academy is a private high school for rich kids. As per usual in The Secret World, things aren't always what they seem on the surface. Innsmouth Academy serves as something of a prep school for children of the Illuminati, "and a degree from Innsmouth Academy opens many doors for a budding magus and occultist."

The school has a lengthy history, and originally opened its doors in 1798 before being rebuilt three times as a result of three different disasters (including the opening of a dimensional portal in the elementalism lab). Head to the official Secret World website to read more about the school and its faculty.

The Secret World's Innsmouth Academy profiled originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World unveils Atlantic Island Park

Jef Reahard — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Funcom may not be previewing The Secret World at this week's E3 convention in Los Angeles, but you can bet on a couple of reveals designed to keep the horror-conspiracy MMORPG fresh on everyone's mind.

First up is a new location blurb update on the game's official website. Atlantic Island Park is a creepy-crawly outdoor area oozing with dread atmosphere. Originally built in the 1970s by industrial tycoon Nathaniel Winter, the place was beset by freak accidents and ghostly sightings from the beginning.

Kingsmouth locals opposed the construction due to the dark history of the Henderson farm, on which the park was built, but development continued. Apparently, so did a blood curse, night terrors, and various and sundry scream-inducing phenomena. Check out the details on the official website.

The Secret World unveils Atlantic Island Park originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Video, The Secret World, Dev Diaries

"No designer could ask for more to draw upon," The Secret World's Joel Bylos says. "This world, our world, is the greatest resource of them all."

And so begins a fascinating trip down the dark alleys of storytelling in Funcom's upcoming MMO. In a dev diary posted at MMORPG.com, The Secret World team suggests it's more interesting to set the game in our world instead of in rehashed fantasy lands. By embracing the concept of "everything is true," the writers open the door to every conspiracy theory, every urban legend, and every branch of pseudoscience known to man.

"The story is exploration. The story is discovery," Bylos promises. He says that the ultimate goal of the storytelling team is to get players to stop mindlessly clicking and to start engaging the story on a conscious level. This includes investigating events, hunting for clues and solving puzzles. No, this isn't Scooby-Doo Online (although that would be awesome).

It's also interesting to note that every character in the game has full voice-over and motion capture as a way to pull you into the story instead of jolt you out of it. Bylos also outlines the different types of missions, which include stealth and infiltration, action, investigation, and story.

[Thanks Even!]

Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Secret World impressions video shows glimpses of new footage

Jef Reahard — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Game Reactor has just released a new preview video for Funcom's horror-conspiracy opus known as The Secret World. Petter Martensson and Bengt Lemne have a lot to say about the title in an impressions piece that runs just north of 10 minutes in length.

Lemne talks about his experiences viewing the game at GDC, and we get to see a few glimpses of new footage from Kingsmouth and other locations throughout the world. The duo also talks about Funcom's much-publicized focus on story, with Lemne ultimately concluding that whether TSW is story-centered or not will be up to the players. "You can go and do all this [the story elements], and I think you can have a lot of fun if you do it in a group... but I think that the day the game is released, you're going to find guys that know how to do all these things, how to find these things, how to do it the fastest," he explains.

Lemne also posits that earning skill credits will be the primary motivating factor for players (as opposed to Funcom's stated aim to have the narrative drive gameplay). Endgame is also a concern, as eventually the story content will dry up, and the plan seems to be to funnel players toward TSW's PvP elements. There's more, including discussion of PvP modes and the game's "overwhelming" skill options (as well as the resulting balance issues). Check out the full video at Game Reactor.

Secret World impressions video shows glimpses of new footage originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released

Jef Reahard — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Trailers, Video, Lore, New titles, News items, The Secret World, Miscellaneous

Someone -- or something -- opened the news floodgates at The Secret World offices today, and apparently the stream was diverted directly to Eurogamer (with a tributary reaching IGN as well). There are several noteworthy pieces of info to pass along regarding Funcom's conspiracy-horror epic, starting with the fact that the Norwegian developer has already laid out seven years' worth of post-launch content updates. "We have actually begun not only design work but art work on content that's due after launch that has been planned from the get-go," game director Ragnar Tornquist tells Eurogamer.

Despite assuring GDC audiences that The Secret World "is not a console game, it's not a game that tries to be anything like that," Tornquist acknowledged that Funcom is considering options beyond the PC. While the PC version is still the current focus, he leaves open the possibility of a console port if TSW turns out to be a big success. "You really need to make a different game [for consoles]. How different that will be, it's hard to say," Tornquist explains.

Finally, IGN has gotten its hands on the newest trailer for The Secret World, and though the clip (titled Everything is True) manages to avoid showing much gameplay footage during its three-minute running time, it nonetheless delivers a considerable amount of atmosphere due a combination of effective editing, music, and titles. See for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released

The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: A talk with Rade Stojsavljevic

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Launches, The Game Archaeologist

I have to admit, it's bizarrely fascinating to cover a deceased MMO. The effort produces a bag of mixed emotions: fond memories, bitter resentment, wistful longing, and casual disinterest by those who weren't there. These games truly matter to some players, even though they're already in danger of being covered by the sands of history.

In these events, our monthly expeditions into these games becomes a rescue operation of sorts as we try to preserve the past by digging it up. I found it a welcome challenge to hunt down former Earth & Beyond developers who were willing to talk about their time with the game (and who hadn't forgotten it entirely -- 2004 is, like, sooo long ago!). Fortunately, I got a few nibbles for my efforts, and this week I reeled in Jet Set Games President Rade Stojsavljevic, who took time out of his schedule to hand us a long-lost piece of the Earth & Beyond treasure map.

Hit the jump to hear Stojsavljevic reminisce about the best -- and, yes, the worst -- that Earth & Beyond had to offer!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: A talk with Rade Stojsavljevic

The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: A talk with Rade Stojsavljevic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom calls The Secret World release date a "misunderstanding"

Jef Reahard — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World

Did you know that Funcom's The Secret World was due to release "in the next few months?" We didn't either, nor apparently did Funcom despite a published report to the contrary in The Montreal Gazette. The article touches on Funcom's relationship with Electronic Arts and its disappointment with Age of Conan's performance relative to World of Warcraft's. It also intimates that The Secret World (developed at the company's Montreal studio) is nearing completion.

"This must have been a misquote or a misunderstanding of some sorts. We have never communicated a release date for The Secret World," said a Funcom spokesperson in a statement to Eurogamer earlier today.

Development on The Secret World is ongoing, and the game features a co-mingling of contemporary horror, conspiracy, and fantasy elements with Lovecraftian themes and skill-based progression.

Funcom calls The Secret World release date a "misunderstanding" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All hail the Kingsmouth Horror: The Secret World pays homage to Lovecraft

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Culture, News items, The Secret World

For a while now, the community over at The Secret World has noticed things in the game that are distinctly influenced by the writings of horror master H.P. Lovecraft. From the original poster that revealed a beast that reminded many of Cthulhu to the whole idea of secret societies and monsters that exist beyond time and space. So when The Secret World community members stumbled upon a website for the fictional town of Kingsmouth, many weren't surprised.

Kingsmouth, a mash-up of Lovecraft's Kingsport and Innsmouth (and, to an unnamed extent, Arkham), is the typical New England town that Lovecraft so loved to talk about. It's sleepy, it's quiet, it's community is entrenched, and there are probably more monsters than people. Lovecraftian references are abound from the aptly named Miskatonic River (see Miskatonic University) to the town's presence as a port on the coastline.

Of course, with the addition of a brand new website, new puzzles are bound to pop up. The Secret World community is already pouring over the website, so jump into the discussion if you think you found something. Of course, for those of you who aren't into the whole conspiracy angle, we got the screenshots of Kingsmouth for you below. Beware though, the originals are small, as apparently the Kingsmouth locals don't know how to upload quality pictures.

Gallery: The Secret World

All hail the Kingsmouth Horror: The Secret World pays homage to Lovecraft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fall into the conspiracy of The Secret World, again

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Events, real-world, Launches, Lore, MMO industry, News items, The Secret World, Consoles

Last time The Secret World was announced, a conspiracy swept through the alternate reality gaming community. One telling of secrets and sanctuaries, of dark days and demons. The conspiracy was quelled after a period, and the puzzles fell into depths of time.

But now, with the latest unveiling, the conspiracy returns. "A Friend" is back to stalking The Secret World forums, removing answers and doing his best to "protect" the community while odd videos and websites are beginning to come up.

While the MMORPG may not be done, the viral marketing "conspiracy" is beginning to start up again for all of the new people intrigued by the story behind TSW. What lies as a reward for those who crack the puzzles and get to the depths of the sanctuary? Well, we're not at liberty to say. Too many eyes are on us already, and we already risk our lives getting you this information. We've embedded the video after the break, but that's all we can do! They're watching us!

Continue reading Fall into the conspiracy of The Secret World, again

Fall into the conspiracy of The Secret World, again originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The bigger picture behind SOE's Living Legacy strategy

Matt Warner — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, in-game

The Ancient Gaming Noob is stirring up the crack pots in this excellent post questioning whether or not a New World Order is taking shape over at Sony Online Entertainment. Why would he think that? Well all the ballyhoo surrounding the Living Legacy promotion of course. In an unprecedented move SOE reactivated and marked over a million EQ/EQ2 accounts for free play until July 25th. Oh yea, that's freakin' insane, not to mention the deal only gets sweeter because it comes with a ton of perks and incentives for those that resub to either EverQuest or EverQuestII.

While some disgruntled players who were already active EQ/EQ2 subscribers at the time of the announcement lament, as felt in various drama bombs around the blogosphere; the case he presents and the reasons listed are very intriguing. We would go into greater detail into the theory, but we don't want to spoil it. Go read it and come back here and tell us what you think about Living Legacy and the speculative truth behind it. Is he onto something?

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