Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mittani gets hit with ban and resigns in wake of EVE Online controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/the-mittani-gets-hit-with-ban-and-resigns-in-wake-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/the-mittani-gets-hit-with-ban-and-resigns-in-wake-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/the-mittani-gets-hit-with-ban-and-resigns-in-wake-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Life lesson: do not attend panels while drunk.
Alexander "The Mittani" Gianturco has been a fairly notorious figure in EVE Online for years now, but his recent notoriety has been all about some rather untoward remarks from the EVE Online Fanfest. Following harsh remarks in which he advocated finding and harassing a player who had expressed suicidal thoughts, Gianturco issued an official apology for his actions. But that isn't the end of it -- Gianturco has also been hit with a 30-day ban from EVE Online due to actions that violate the game's terms of service. He's also resigned from his position as chairman of the current Council of Stellar Management and forfeited the right to serve on the next CSM.

CCP Games has been following the whole issue and has put together an official post detailing what happened at the panel, what went wrong, and what steps will be taken to ensure that this incident is not repeated. According the official response, the format for the panel was entirely wrong and went far beyond the boundaries of what is acceptable for an official event hosted by the company. Offhand remark or no, it looks like a few careless words have caused some major disruptions to the life of EVE Online players.

MassivelyThe Mittani gets hit with ban and resigns in wake of EVE Online controversy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbulliesbullybullyingccpccp-gamescommunitycontroversycultureeveeve-fanfest-2012eve-onlineeve-online-fanfestfanfest-2012internet-spaceshipspoliticssandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlinethe-mittaniWed, 28 Mar 2012 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Credible currency]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-soapbox-credible-currency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-soapbox-credible-currency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-soapbox-credible-currency/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sometimes the bird flies away, and sometimes you unchain it and smack it in the head and then complain that it left.
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.

With all of the other crises hitting the gaming world, it's easy to have missed the fact that Lord of the Rings Online has started selling statted gear in the cash shop. It's not endgame gear, of course, and it's mostly there for low-level players to get a minor boost. Really, as has been said by others, it's not something all that unusual, nor is it game-breaking in the slightest. It's just a convenience thing.

It's also something that Turbine promised would never be done.

I don't have an issue with the sale of low-level armor with stats on it, in Lord of the Rings Online or in other games. What I do have an issue with is the matter of credibility, the one currency that every company starts with and loses over time. Credibility is something you have to spend carefully, and every so often, a company spends it wrong. And the results, in the long term, are never pretty.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Credible currency

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Credible currency originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-ideasbears-bears-bearsbroken-promisescash-shopscontroversiescontroversycostscredibilitydesigndevelopersdevelopmentfeaturedlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpay-to-winplayer-faithpromisessoapboxstat-gearthe-soapboxturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Champions Online archetype available in regular and controversial editions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In this screenshot, everyone is still on fire, but it's purple. Color is special.
It might seem a little late for a demonic archetype, but Champions Online has still rolled one out into the store. The Scourge is a new ranged archetype focused on poisoning and debuffing the target, with less durability and melee power to balance its slow ranged ramp-up. Like all archetypes, it's free to subscribing players and available for free players in the cash store. But it's also tied to a new grab bag offered in the cash store, which is provoking a few player concerns.

The Cursed Grab Bag, among other things, contains a special token to unlock the Cursed archetype, which is essentially a color-shifted version of the Scourge archetype. Some players are a little concerned about the slippery slope being established here, as the Cursed archetype is not free to subscribers (although color-shifting powers is). As a result, concerns have been raised about what this cosmetic change might mean for future archetypes being released, although as others point out, you can always just change the color if you subscribe to begin with.

MassivelyNew Champions Online archetype available in regular and controversial editions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbusiness-modelsc-storecash-shopchampionschampions-onlinecocommunitycontroversycrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-storecryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playmicrotransactionsWed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online monument commemorates the summer riots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/eve-online-monument-commemorates-the-summer-riots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/eve-online-monument-commemorates-the-summer-riots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/eve-online-monument-commemorates-the-summer-riots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE monument image
Back in June, the EVE Online community reacted negatively to the release of a lackluster Incarna expansion and controversy over microtransaction prices. Complaints eventually erupted into in-game riots with the leak of a company newsletter on microtransactions and an internal memo from the CEO denouncing complaints as noise. Players got together in trade hubs across the game to protest EVE's development direction, attacking a pair of invulnerable monuments outside the systems' major stations.

As a nod to players' refusal to accept the status quo and force change, CCP recently altered the Jita monument that was the main focus of the summer riots. The statue now stands destroyed, and its plaque congratulating Heinky and Shin Ra of Burn Eden for solving a riddle contest several years ago has been changed to the text below:
"This was once a memorial to the winners of a riddle contest sponsored by late entrepreneur Ruevo Aram. After standing proud for half a decade, it was destroyed in late YC113 by capsuleers who were staging a mass uprising against an intolerable status quo of intergalactic affairs. Today, the ruins of this once-great work of art stand as a testament to the fact that change is the universe's only constant."
The change is currently only live on the test server, but will likely come to the main server on November 29th when the Crucible expansion launches. Thanks to Drew for the tip!

MassivelyEVE Online monument commemorates the summer riots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescontroversycrucibleeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinejitamonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatemonumentmonumentsnewspatchprotestriotssci-fistatueWed, 16 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

After what should have been the celebrated release of the long-awaited Incarna expansion last week, the EVE Online community erupted into flames. The controversy began when players realised that the vanity clothing items in the game's new cash shop were ridiculously overpriced. The $68 monocle became a centerpiece that the media latched onto, in the same way that World of Warcraft made the headlines when Blizzard had the audacity to sell a $25 mount.

The story should have ended there as a piece about a crazy Icelandic game company selling virtual clothing for more than real clothing. Unfortunately, some conveniently timed leaks from inside CCP caused this simple issue to escalate to the point of panic, causing in-game riots and a significant number of subscription cancellations. The company's silence on the simple question of whether non-vanity microtransactions would be introduced was seen as an admission that gameplay-affecting items would end up in the cash shop.

CCP flew the Council of Stellar Management, EVE's democratically-elected player representative body, out to Iceland for an emergency meeting last week. The result of the meeting was a joint statement between CCP and the CSM addressing all of the major concerns players had. Last night, CCP ran two press conferences over Skype to give EVE fansites and the gaming media a chance to ask additional questions that weren't covered in the official statement. Skip past the cut for our in-depth three-page transcript from the gaming media press conference, including answers to several pressing questions sent in by Massively readers and some great issues raised by other participating members of the press. Comments can be posted on page 3.

Continue reading EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside

MassivelyEVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcontroversycqeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlessfeaturedincarnainterviewleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsmeetingMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmmo-industrymonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangepresspress-conferencesci-fitranscriptWed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP responds to monoclegate, reaches consensus with players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/ccp-responds-to-monoclegate-reaches-consensus-with-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/ccp-responds-to-monoclegate-reaches-consensus-with-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/ccp-responds-to-monoclegate-reaches-consensus-with-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This has been a difficult week for EVE Online developer CCP Games, with massive controversy hitting the media surrounding what should have been a momentous expansion release. The first stage of the eagerly awaited Incarna expansion went live this month, bringing with it the new captain's quarters. Unfortunately, simple complaints over some very overpriced microtransactions soon escalated into outright panic and even in-game riots with the release of an internal company newsletter and subsequent internal email casting doubt on the game's vanity-only microtransaction policy and its development direction in general.

A devblog released in response to the issue only served to make things worse, so CCP opted to fly the game's democratically elected Council of Stellar Management to Iceland for a series of emergency meetings to get a handle on the situation. Those meetings were concluded yesterday, and both the CCP and CSM made statements today to clarify the decisions reached. During the meeting, the CSM negotiated on behalf of the playerbase to hammer out an agreement on EVE's microtransaction policy, overheating issues with the captain's quarters, and other recent hot topics.

Skip past the cut to watch the video accompanying the statement, and head over to the EVE devblog to read the official statements. If you have any further complaints or issues relating to the recent controversy, please mail them to brendan@massively.com or leave them in a comment and I'll do my best to ask the CSM delegates or pose your questions to CCP at Tuesday's upcoming press conference.

Continue reading CCP responds to monoclegate, reaches consensus with players

MassivelyCCP responds to monoclegate, reaches consensus with players originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zulucontroversycouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinemacrotransactionsmicrotransactionsmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsvideovideosSat, 02 Jul 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online controversy erupts in protests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/eve-online-controversy-erupts-in-protests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the past few days, our inboxes here at Massively have been positively overflowing with tips and comments from readers about the ongoing turmoil in EVE Online. It all began with the Incarna update, which added an item shop to the long-running sci-fi sandbox. Players began to voice their concerns over the bizarrely high prices of items in the shop, with one particular item reaching an insane $68 US. Before this hullabaloo had the chance to so much as come to a simmer, an internal newsletter from CCP was leaked to the internet. The document outlined the introduction of microtransactions into EVE and mentioned that at some point, ships, ammunition, and so forth may be available for purchase with real-world currency. This naturally sent players into even more of a frenzy.

The whole ordeal came to a head yesterday when CCP Zulu attempted to douse the flames by addressing the issues directly in a dev diary. The play backfired, however, as players took issue with the dev blog's tone and attitude toward the upset players. Not long after that, an internal CCP email was leaked explaining the reasoning behind the controversial blog post, which only added fuel to the flames.

The result of this blazing hellstorm of controversy? Riots, of course. Players have gathered en masse at Rens, Jita, and Amarr to show their displeasure. As of the time of this writing, the protests are still going strong and show few signs of stopping.

What will come of these protests, though? Hopefully we'll be finding that out soon enough. Be sure to stick with Massively in the coming days as our resident EVE expert will be covering the topic in his column this Sunday while we await response from CCP Zulu. Until then, be sure to go check out Brendan's appearance on EVE Radio for an in-depth discussion of the issues at hand.

MassivelyEVE Online controversy erupts in protests originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnar-gylfasonarnar-hrafn-gylfasoncash-shopccpccp-gamesccp-zulucontroversydev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineeve-rmtincarnaleaked-emailleaked-memoleaksmicrotransactionsmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegateprotestsriotsSat, 25 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP addresses EVE controversies in new dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/ccp-addresses-eve-controversies-in-new-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/ccp-addresses-eve-controversies-in-new-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/ccp-addresses-eve-controversies-in-new-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As controversy burns through New Eden like white-hot internet spaceship exhaust, CCP higher-ups have at last reached out to the EVE Online community via a new dev blog. The piece, authored by senior producer Arnar Hrafn Gylfason, tackles the week's two hot topics in brief fashion.

First up is an attempt to quell the brouhaha surrounding the internal company memo that leaked earlier this week and brought to light some of CCP's discussions regarding future microtransactions. Gylfason defends EVE staffers, who he says were simply following orders by discussing microtransactions in ways that were "exaggerated purposefully to draw contrasts and make points." He also points out that EVE's future RMT implementations are not contained in the memos, as much of the discussion was theoretical in nature.

Finally, Gylfason addresses the hugely controversial prices in EVE's new item shop, and despite the public outcry, he doesn't seem too apologetic. On the contrary, he intimates that the prices will stay and that CCP "will gradually introduce items at other price points, definitely lower and probably higher than what's in the store today." Stick with Massively for more from resident EVE expert Brendan Drain as he talks candidly with CCP about Incarna and the week that was.

MassivelyCCP addresses EVE controversies in new dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnar-gylfasonarnar-hrafn-gylfasoncash-shopcash-shop-pricesccpccp-gamescontroversydev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-memoeve-onlineeve-rmtleaked-memomicrotransactionsmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatermtsandboxFri, 24 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans [UPDATED]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rumour-leaked-document-shows-ccps-microtransaction-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rumour-leaked-document-shows-ccps-microtransaction-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rumour-leaked-document-shows-ccps-microtransaction-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the wake of controversy surrounding EVE Online's new microtransaction store and its not-so-micro prices, a document has surfaced that has raised more than a few eyebrows in the EVE community. The PDF is reported to be a copy of CCP's internal company newsletter Fearless. Ex-CCP employee and current CSM member Seleene was able to verify that the company does circulate an internal newsletter by that name and that the style is very similar to the leaked document. However, the absolute authenticity of the document can not at this time be proven.

The document dates back to May 2011 and discusses how microtransactions will be integrated into EVE Online, DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Most of the document is fairly harmless, but a few parts have stood out to players. According to the document, "Not all virtual purchases [in EVE Online] will focus on customization: some will simply be new items, ammunition, ships, etc. that can be purchased outright." Also mentioned is the possibility of buying faction standings. Both of these would be in complete contrast to earlier promises from CCP not to allow microtransactions that influence gameplay.

Authenticity of the document is still in question, but we can reveal that the leaked PDF has had several pages removed before being made public. A link to the full version was later leaked on twitter. Page 2 of the document, which was omitted in the originally leaked file, contains a disclaimer stating that the views presented are personal opinions and not company policies or decisions. This adds further confusion as players attempt to make sense of the file's contents. We reached out to CCP to ask about the document's authenticity and to request clarification on the discussions presented in it. We'll update this post with any response we get.

[UPDATE: The document's authenticity has been confirmed by CCP Pann from CCPs PR department. Massively has a hard-hitting interview in the works with CCP Zulu on the issue]

MassivelyRumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans [UPDATED] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescontroversydocumentdust-514eveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefearlessleakleakedLeaked-informationmicrotransactionnewsrumorrumorsrumourrumoursworld-of-darknessWed, 22 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Controversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/controversy-brewing-over-eve-online-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When we first heard that EVE Online was planning to add microtransaction options, players were most concerned with the effect of microtransaction items on gameplay. CCP was quick to reassure players that microtransactions would focus on vanity items for Incarna and no gameplay-affecting items would be released. Fast-forward to today, when the first phase of Incarna finally went live along with the new Noble Exchange cash shop. As promised, the store contained only vanity items for Incarna, starting with a series of alternative clothing options.

The one thing we didn't really think of while we worried about microtransactions affecting EVE's gameplay was price. The current prices on items in the Noble Exchange are far above typical microtransaction charges and an order of magnitude higher than expected. Items in the Noble Exchange are bought with a new currency called Aurum, 3500 of which can be created from one 30-day pilot's license (PLEX). With the price of PLEX set at around $19.95 US, players can expect to pay over $20 for a skirt, $25 for a blouse, and more than a whopping $68 for the much-desired ocular implant monocle.

In a bizarre twist, many of the clothing options for sale at the Noble Exchange actually cost more than real clothes of the same type. As PLEX can be bought from other players for ISK, however, most players will not be spending their own cash on these items. PLEX prices have already spiked to over 400 million each, putting the price of the monocle at over 1.3 billion ISK. CCP could not provide any more information on the issue, but we expect an issue this hot will prompt an announcement.

MassivelyControversy brewing over EVE Online microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurumccpccp-eveccp-gamesclothingcontroversyeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineincarnaiskmacrotransactionsmicrotransactionsmonoclenoble-exchangeplexshirtskirtTue, 21 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's Alliance Tournament IX ends in controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/eves-alliance-tournament-ix-ends-in-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/eves-alliance-tournament-ix-ends-in-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/eves-alliance-tournament-ix-ends-in-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Alliance Tournament is one of the highlights of the EVE Online calendar. Every year, tens of thousands of people tune in to watch teams from competing alliances battle it out in a massive knock-out style tournament. With rules in place to limit the number and value of ships a team can field, the Alliance Tournament is as close to a fair fight as you'll find in EVE. This year's tournament came to a close last night after two weekends of qualifying rounds, exciting knock-out matches and a controversial final.

Skip past the cut to find out how this year's tournament ended. Be warned that this post will spoil the outcome of the tournament. For those of you who missed the live stream, we'll be compiling an in-depth summary with links to videos of all the matches once CCP has uploaded the matches to YouTube.

Continue reading EVE's Alliance Tournament IX ends in controversy

MassivelyEVE's Alliance Tournament IX ends in controversy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliance-tournamentalliance-tournament-ixccpccp-eveccp-gamescontroversialcontroversyesportseveeve-alliance-tournamenteve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefinalpvppvp-tournamentspoilersMon, 20 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet dispels the controversy regarding the Guild Wars 2 Engineer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/arenanet-dispels-the-controversy-regarding-the-guild-wars-2-engi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/arenanet-dispels-the-controversy-regarding-the-guild-wars-2-engi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/arenanet-dispels-the-controversy-regarding-the-guild-wars-2-engi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

An abundance of controversy erupted over the Engineer class from Guild Wars 2 when it was announced last week. Some fans of the game even went so far as to question whether the class even belongs in a fantasy game. Thanks to ArenaNet's Community Manager Regina Buenaobra, we now have answers to some of the burning questions the fans have had about this explosive class.

Guild Wars 2 is set 250 years after the events in the original Guild Wars. "Technology has advanced a great deal, and we wanted the engineer to personify this progress. And frankly, we didn't want to feel constrained by typical conventions as to what is or is not acceptable in a fantasy story," Buenaobra explains in the Engineer FAQ on the official website.

Now we know that the class fits with the timeline, but this does not explain the other issue fans have with this class. Why would the nature-loving Sylvari be interested in this type of technology? Buenaobra notes, "Players in general are exceptional and unusual figures, heroes who stand out among their people. Just as there are asura warriors and norn necromancers, it's not unheard of for an inquisitive, mechanically-inclined sylvari to become an engineer."

Check out the full FAQ on the Guild Wars 2 official site for answers to other important Engineer questions.

MassivelyArenaNet dispels the controversy regarding the Guild Wars 2 Engineer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 May 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetclassclassescontroversyengineerengineer-classFAQguild-warsGuild-Wars-2gw2ncsoftRegina-BuenaobraThu, 26 May 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's Georgeson mentions free max-level toons, community foams at the mouth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/23/everquest-iis-georgeson-mentions-free-max-level-toons-communit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EverQuest II producer Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson recently touched off a firestorm of controversy by asking the fantasy game's community how it would feel about a win-back promotion featuring free max-level characters. Predictably, the howls of protest are still reverberating around the internet, and EQ2Wire has a bit of analysis regarding both the discussion and the high-level flying mount portion of the game's latest expansion that led to it.

Despite the fact that Georgeson was clearly engaging in a bit of speculative thinking with the community (i.e., there are no plans for EQII insta-90s), and despite the fact that Guild Wars has been offering max-level PvP toons since 2005, the EQII discussion quickly turned hostile and demonstrated the minefields that developers must occasionally navigate when engaging their playerbase.

MassivelyEverQuest II's Georgeson mentions free max-level toons, community foams at the mouth originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>90community-discussioncontroversydave-georgesoneq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyflying-mountsfree-max-level-characterfree-to-playgrindmax-levelnorrathsmokejumpersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentSat, 23 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest EVE Online patch pushed live with controversial anomaly changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/newest-eve-online-patch-pushed-live-with-controversial-anomaly-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/newest-eve-online-patch-pushed-live-with-controversial-anomaly-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/newest-eve-online-patch-pushed-live-with-controversial-anomaly-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The latest update to EVE Online has gone live, with Incursion 1.4 hitting the server today. Like any patch, this one has issues to be ironed out, ones that have already prompted an announced maintenance tomorrow to deploy a fix. But bugs are understandable with the wealth of updates in the new patch, which makes far-reaching changes to several parts of the game including a plethora of quality-of-life improvements. Parts can now be stripped from unpiloted ships, extra outpost information has been added, and you can see the portraits of other pilots in more places as well as zoom in for a hi-resolution look whenever you want.

But the patch isn't all cosmetics and convenience; some functional changes have been rolled out as well. Chief among these are changes to the workings of anomalies, which were announced some time ago and caused something of a stir within the community. Whether or not players will be slightly more happy with the changes in actual play remains to be seen; for the time being, EVE Online players will need to start logging in and experimenting with the patch to determine how good (or bad) the net effect has been.

MassivelyNewest EVE Online patch pushed live with controversial anomaly changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunity-controversycontroversyeveeve-ccpeve-incursioneve-incursion-1.4eve-mmorpgeve-onlineincursionincursion-1.4major-patchesmajor-updatespatchpatchesupdateupdatesWed, 06 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oh no! It's the end of a calendar year! It's that arbitrary point in space and time at which bloggers, journalists, and basically anyone who makes a living via the written word foists off a bunch of top 10 (or five, or other random number) lists on his loyal readers. Sadly folks, I'm no different, and though I'll gladly poke fun at the tradition, I'll also engage in it this week here at The Anvil of Crom.

Looking back, it's been quite an eventful year, both for Age of Conan and for Massively's coverage of the game. From the Rise of the Godslayer expansion to the various nerfs, buffs, rants, and interviews, 2010 has been one for the Hyborian history books.

Turn the page for eight reasons why.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocchristmas-2010controversyend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010f2pfeaturedfree-to-playholiday-2010opinionretrospectiverise-of-the-godslayerrounduproundupsthe-anvil-of-cromtop-8Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Most controversial MMO stories of 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/the-perfect-ten-most-controversial-mmo-stories-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/the-perfect-ten-most-controversial-mmo-stories-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/the-perfect-ten-most-controversial-mmo-stories-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Well, this is it, folks. The end of the year. A time of reflection, of massive weight gain and of lists. Man, we like our lists, do we not? Fortunately, at Perfect Ten Industries, we've been excelling in lists for months now. Frankly, we're just getting warmed up!

While 2010 may not have been much to write home about in terms of newly launched MMOs, there was more than enough controversy to keep the discussion brewing for months. MMOs are big business, and when every move you make is closely scrutinized by millions of gamers, there's no room to slip up unless you like forum hyenas pouncing all over you, snapping and snarling at your faulty flesh.

So let's take a jaunt down our top 10 list of the most controversial stories of 2010 on Massively, keeping in mind that it was devilishly hard just to keep this list to 10 at all. What's a week without being riled up about pixels and polygons, after all?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Most controversial MMO stories of 2010

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Most controversial MMO stories of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advisory-councilalganonallodsallods-onlineapocryphaAtaribethesdaBethesda-Softworksc-storeccpCCP-GamescodemasterscontroversyCraig-Zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studiosdavid-allenddoddo-offer-walldelayderek-smartdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaea-lousElectronic-Artsend-of-the-year-2010europeeuropean-games-awardseveeve-onlinefeaturedfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgpotatointerplaylaglawsuitlegallord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromythicMythic-Entertainmentoffer-wallragequitsquare-enixstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstostockstockholderswtorthe-old-republictorturbinewarWarhammer-OnlineThu, 16 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/the-mog-log-eleventh-hour-changing-of-the-guard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/the-mog-log-eleventh-hour-changing-of-the-guard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/the-mog-log-eleventh-hour-changing-of-the-guard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

When I woke up on Friday, I was greeted by a message from Square-Enix, and that alone was enough to make me start wondering what in the world was going on now. As a direct result of that message, the gist of which can be gotten here if you've somehow missed it, I'm going to have to postpone the column I had previously written on Final Fantasy XI and Abyssea. I apologize, but I'm hoping the column will work out like a fine wine and just be better with age. Then again, considering that Final Fantasy XI is sharing the same management bug as Final Fantasy XIV, perhaps not.

And yes, wow, that was a big one. Tanaka dethroned, a new development team installed, and a whole lot of uncertainty about what this means for the future of Final Fantasy XIV. It could be a step forward, it could be a step backward, and unfortunately the official statements can be read in a multitude of different ways. Oh, right, and the free trial is being further extended until the development team can confidently outline a plan regarding the game's new direction... but what direction is that actually going to be?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversydirectorfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-directorhiromichi-tanakaleadershipmanagementmanagement-changenaoki-yoshidaopinionsquaresquare-enixteamthe-mog-logthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingSat, 11 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard comments on video games addiction documentary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/blizzard-comments-on-video-games-addiction-documentary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/blizzard-comments-on-video-games-addiction-documentary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/blizzard-comments-on-video-games-addiction-documentary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Video game addiction is hardly a new subject around these here parts, but it still remains a much-discussed and controversial topic even so. Today, BBC investigative journalism program Panorama will add to the conversation with an in-depth look into the causes of gaming addiction and the consequences of players who become a little too hooked. The episode, titled "Addicted to gaming?", is expected to come down harshly against the practices of video game studios.

According to CVG, it's no surprise that the documentary is airing the very night that World of Warcraft: Cataclysm launches, as Panorama uses WoW as one of its key examples. One of the stories follows the tale of Chris Dandos, a teenager who stopped going to school to play WoW for up to 20 hours a day.

In response to the episode's focus, Blizzard released the following comment: "Our games are designed to be fun... but like all forms of entertainment... day-to-day life should always take precedence. World of Warcraft contains practical tools that assist players and parents in monitoring playing time."

MassivelyBlizzard comments on video games addiction documentary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionbbcblizzardcontroversyculturedocumentarygame-addictionpanoramavideo-game-addictionWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-upset-with-how-mmos-handle-women/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While this year's BlizzCon didn't feature any shocking revelations about World of Warcraft, it still contained some shocking revelations for a few people during one of the question-and-answer panels. A question about the game's treatment of female characters wasn't just brushed off, it was mocked by the development team. This has been picked up in a couple of places, with the uniform opinion not just being that it was a bad way to respond to the question, it was a bad sign that developers can essentially brush off the question altogether.

It's not an unfamiliar debate, one that runs through every media in one form or another. Whether you're a man or a woman, you might be of the mind that there's a serious problem with how the genre treats a substantial portion of its audience... or you might be of the mind that people get way too bent out of shape over a bit of extra skin on female characters. So where do you stand? Are you unhappy with the way that women are represented in MMOs, or do you think that it's much ado about nothing?
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: Are you upset with how MMOs handle women? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzconblizzcon-2010controversyfeminismgendergender-relationsmaturityopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwomenwomen-in-gamingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV fansite mines out guildleves and hidden models]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/final-fantasy-xiv-fansite-mines-out-guildleves-and-hidden-models/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/final-fantasy-xiv-fansite-mines-out-guildleves-and-hidden-models/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/final-fantasy-xiv-fansite-mines-out-guildleves-and-hidden-models/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XIV is a game that's provoked no shortage of strong opinions, ranging from adoration to venomous loathing. If you're knee-deep in playing it, however, you could certainly use a full rundown of the guildleves available in the game. FFXIVCore, which has been quite active over the course of the beta, has provided a full rundown of the leves in the game, sortable by various criteria and listing all relevant data about each given levequest.

Should that not be quite enough to tickle your fancy, some astute glancing through the data files for the game has revealed the ship models and several other currently unused files within the game. Although the models are untextured, there are some that should provide no end of fan speculation, such as the model very clearly resembling the ubiquitous Ifrit. Final Fantasy XIV hopefuls whose expectations have sunk will probably not care, but current players should be happy for the new resource.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV fansite mines out guildleves and hidden models originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betascontroversydata-filesdatabasedataminingffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsguildleveslevequestsmodelsopen-betaopen-betasquest-mechanicsquestssquaresquare-enixMon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV did not ruin your birthday party]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-did-not-ruin-your-birthday-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-did-not-ruin-your-birthday-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-did-not-ruin-your-birthday-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you were one of the many, many people trying desperately to get Square-Enix's account management page to work on Wednesday evening, you're probably not one of the people this week's article is aimed at. It's pretty clear that even amidst all of the recent controversy surrounding Final Fantasy XIV, there is no shortage of players who couldn't wait to get into the game at the first opportunity. So if you were also up until way too darn late hitting "Refresh" and getting sick of hearing that the connection was reset, you don't need to worry.

But there are a lot of things that have prompted players to call the premature death of Final Fantasy XIV. The fatigue system in particular did a wonderful job of making roughly nobody happy, spawning rage-filled comments that are still showing up in my inbox. Guildleve cooldowns are another big complaint, the one that originally prompted me to start planning this article. (Yes, well before Komoto tried to calm people down and accidentally did precisely the opposite.) But the sky isn't actually falling, and these systems do have their positive points... and there are very good reasons that we shouldn't be worried.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV did not ruin your birthday party

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV did not ruin your birthday party originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversial-systemscontroversyfatiguefatigue-systemfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivguildleveguildleve-cooldownguildlevesnudgesplay-styleplayer-biassquaresquare-enixthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingSat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Devil in the details for Final Fantasy XIV's fatigue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/devil-in-the-details-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fatigue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/devil-in-the-details-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fatigue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/devil-in-the-details-for-final-fantasy-xivs-fatigue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When the news broke yesterday regarding the fatigue system in Final Fantasy XIV, it made virtually no one happy. Even the system's defenders generally had an attitude of "it's not all that bad," and most players were up in arms over the very idea. But a day can make a lot of difference, and as it turns out, we didn't quite have the clear picture of the fatigue system that we thought we did. The official translation from Square-Enix covers most of the same ground, but adds several important facts.

The two most salient points are the fact that the limiting factors are not time-based but value-based, and the fact that the "cooldown" on fatigue sets in as soon as a player starts doing something that won't grant skill or experience points. There's no word on whether or not this will be the case during time spent logged off, but it means that the much-loathed figures about how much time would be productive are not altogether correct. Take a look at the official translation, which should provide a much-needed balm for several angry Final Fantasy XIV fans.

[Thanks to John for the tip!]

MassivelyDevil in the details for Final Fantasy XIV's fatigue originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversialcontroversial-systemscontroversyexperienceexperience-gainexperience-systemsfatiguefatigue-systemffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicslevelingsquaresquare-enixthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingtranslationThu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life's Emerald client facing obsolescence]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/second-lifes-emerald-client-facing-obsolescence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/second-lifes-emerald-client-facing-obsolescence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/second-lifes-emerald-client-facing-obsolescence/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Recent months have not been wholly kind to Second Life, and those circumstances don't seem finished just yet. The Emerald client, one of the most popular third-party viewers -- estimated to be used by as many as half of all players -- has fallen out of favor with Linden Labs and is no longer an officially endorsed option. Scott Jennings has posted a full rundown of the client's history, charting its progress from the earliest inception of the project to its current status of having fallen from grace.

The short version (or as short a version as you can get for drama four years in the making) is that Emerald's coders included some rather... hack-tacular backdoors in the client's coding. This is a downside for reasons that should not need to be specified, but does add up to some major problems for the large playerbase still using Emerald. Second Life has had a hard time getting its users to switch to the 2.0 viewer, and about the only upside may be that the removal of Emerald will change that... but the overall drama isn't going to be kind for either the Emerald project or Linden Labs itself.

MassivelySecond Life's Emerald client facing obsolescence originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-hat-hackingcontroversydramaemeraldemerald-viewerhackingliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labspopular-viewersprojectssecond-lifesecond-life-2.0second-life-dramasecond-life-linden-labssecond-life-viewerslsl-liden-labsthird-party-viewersvirtual-worldvirtual-worldsTue, 24 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Dissent in the EVE community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/eve-evolved-dissent-in-the-eve-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/eve-evolved-dissent-in-the-eve-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/eve-evolved-dissent-in-the-eve-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Space MMO EVE Online and its developer CCP Games are usually spoken about in a positive manner. We often hear about the awesome things that go on in the sandbox, or how CCP has gotten players involved in game development through their CSM programme. In the past few months, however, negative sentiments toward the company have been growing at an alarming rate. Players have been complaining about lag and the quality of game design ever since the Dominion expansion was released. As far as players can see, EVE Online was in a fantastic state after the Apocrypha expansion's release, and it has gone sharply downhill since then.

Over the past two years, players have made an increasingly vocal case to CCP in favour of fixing bugs and gameplay issues before adding new features. They point to previous features, such as faction warfare, that were abandoned shortly after their release in favour of developing yet another new game feature. Over the years, EVE has been littered with incomplete features in dire need of balance tweaks and gameplay revisions. The past few months, in particular, have seen a worsening of public opinion. The release of the CSM minutes and recent devblogs have caused a significant vocal backlash from the community.

In this controversial opinion piece, I dig into the controversy surrounding CCP's recent communication with EVE Online's playerbase and the reactions forum-going players have had.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Dissent in the EVE community

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Dissent in the EVE community originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angryccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunitycontroversycouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdissenteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedmmo-developmentopinionoutrageSun, 01 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Could politics make for an interesting MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-daily-grind-could-politics-make-for-an-interesting-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-daily-grind-could-politics-make-for-an-interesting-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-daily-grind-could-politics-make-for-an-interesting-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Politics: it divides us, fascinates us and involves us on multiple levels. Along with religion, free-to-play and GearScore, it's perhaps one of the most controversial topics among gamers. Everyone has an opinion, everyone chooses a side, and everyone cares about something political -- or at least, it seems.

Seeing our love for the political sphere, do you think politics could make for an interesting MMO? It's not as if it's a foreign notion, after all. EVE Online incorporates politics into its web of intrigue; TERA devs have hinted at a political system; and A Tale in the Desert allows players to vote to shape the game. Even guilds, to some degree, incorporate a political structure and tactics.

So could a purely political MMO work -- and would you play it? What if the entire game were nothing but players and NPCs jockeying for power, ruling countries, enacting laws, and making decisions that could either hinder or help your political career? Would the game need to be set in an alternate universe free of real-world politics to avoid clouding the game with personal affiliations? Is there enough "game" in politics to build an MMO around it?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Could politics make for an interesting MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertcontroversyeveeve-onlinef2pfree-to-playftpgearscoreguildsi-voted-for-kodosopinionpoliticalpoliticstdgterathe-daily-grindvoteMon, 26 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online adds more C-Store options and controversy [Update]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/star-trek-online-adds-more-c-store-options-and-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/star-trek-online-adds-more-c-store-options-and-controversy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/star-trek-online-adds-more-c-store-options-and-controversy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's a pattern that seems to repeat itself every time Cryptic adds new items to Star Trek Online's C-Store -- or at least, a sequence of events wherein players are at first excited, then angry or annoyed when the prices are revealed. A bunch of new items have been added to the store: two additional costume slots (not on the website at the moment), two additional ship slots, and two additional bridge officer spots. The trouble arises with the handling of the upgrades, particularly with the new costume slots, as they're counted on a per-character basis.

A similar upgrade is available in the store for Champions Online, for the exact same price -- but it increases the number of costumes available on every character rather than just the character it's purchased on. The per-character upgrades, coupled with a reduced importance for costumes in Star Trek Online, all help make many players feel a bit shorted by the price tag. Others are arguing that the add-on is only $2.50, an argument that's gone on at length on the official forums. Controversy is nothing new to the game, but this much debate over a fairly minor item leads one to be a bit curious about what reception future items might find.

[Update: Cryptic has contacted us with news on upcoming changes to this system, "We're going to change the way the costume slot purchases work so they become account-wide rather than per-character. And, of course, our customer service department will be able to assist anyone who purchased the upgrade multiple times to cover multiple characters."]

[Thanks to Cap for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Trek Online adds more C-Store options and controversy [Update] originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataric-storechampions-onlinecocontroversycostscostumescrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosforumsin-game-storemicrotransactionspriceprice-concernspricesst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineSun, 18 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aika's lead nation system kicks in without warning]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/aikas-lead-nation-system-kicks-in-without-warning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/aikas-lead-nation-system-kicks-in-without-warning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/aikas-lead-nation-system-kicks-in-without-warning/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With all of the major updates in Aika's first free expansion, Ashes of Betrayal, it might have been easy to miss the inclusion of an underdog system designed to help the lowest-ranked nation in the game's overarching PvP system. What the development team didn't discuss at the time was the other half of the system -- a mechanic to ensure that the lead nation wouldn't have nearly as much dominance over its opponents. That system was rather forcibly demonstrated to players over the weekend, with a post going live explaining exactly what the system is and how it works.

The short version is that when a nation is determined (via automatic processes) to be in the lead, it is no longer capable of forming alliances and is kicked out of any existing alliances. This has met with some resistance from Aika's players both in the news post and in threads on the official forums, as it essentially broke an alliance without warning or any explanation at the time. Some players are viewing the penalties to an arbitrarily determined "lead nation" as crippling a nation while splitting friendly nations apart forcibly. Even if the system itself provides an interesting balance mechanic, it's still leaving a bad taste in the mouths of the game's players, especially in light of earlier incidents when information wasn't immediately available.

MassivelyAika's lead nation system kicks in without warning originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikaaika-onlinebalancecontroversygpotatohanbitsofthidden-systemnation-vs.-nationnation-warplayer-controversypvppvp-balanceunknown-systemMon, 12 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ankhesentapemkah removed from EVE's Council of Stellar Management]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/ankhesentapemkah-removed-from-eves-council-of-stellar-managemen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/ankhesentapemkah-removed-from-eves-council-of-stellar-managemen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/ankhesentapemkah-removed-from-eves-council-of-stellar-managemen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EVE Online's democratically elected Council of Stellar Management has been the cause of a great deal of controversy since the programme's inception. The idea that players can bring their concerns on game design issues to a player-elected representative has been popular with forum-posters. Council members work tirelessly to compile lists of issues that are important to the player-base, then present them to CCP in the CSM Summit every six months. While the council has managed to push through some very important issues and work on key features, it's been the focus of several scandals and a great deal of EVE drama.

Controversial council member Eva "Ankhesentapemkah" Jobse was removed from the council today. The official reason given for her dismissal was "a breach of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA)." The exact nature of the breach has not been publicised as the sensitive nature of the data involved renders the issue a private matter between Eva and CCP Games. As usually happens when information isn't available, the forums have exploded with speculation over what exactly Eva did that breached the NDA. Although Eva has yet to comment publicly on the issue, fellow council member Sokratesz was quick to allay suspicions that it was due to information posted in her personal CSM blog.

When reached for comment, Eva had the following to say: "All I can say at the moment is that out of respect for the CSM, the players of EVE, as well as the good people at CCP, I cannot give any details besides my personal conviction that CCP's statement is not in relation to any of my recent publications, and that I do not share CCP's conclusion that there has in fact been an NDA breach. I am currently engaged in following up this situation with CCP." Eva plans to keep her followers updated on her situation via her CSM blog as the situation develops.

MassivelyAnkhesentapemkah removed from EVE's Council of Stellar Management originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankhesentapemkahbreakingccpccp-eveccp-gamescontroversycouncilcouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdramaevaeva-jobseeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinescandalWed, 07 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All Points Bulletin interview on the approaching release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/all-points-bulletin-interview-on-the-approaching-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/all-points-bulletin-interview-on-the-approaching-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/all-points-bulletin-interview-on-the-approaching-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The time leading up to launch for All Points Bulletin has been a bit rocky here and there, with hot spots of controversy regarding the game's pricing model and the review embargo set for a surprisingly late date. But still, with about a week left before the game goes live, there's plenty to be excited about. (We'd link you to our own first impressions, but you'll have to travel into the future to be allowed to read it.) Our sister site Joystiq had a chance to talk with producer Jesse Knapp about the game's state just prior to launch.

There are several interesting tidbits in the interview, such as discussion about how the game allows for criminals to fight amongst themselves on the premise that the designers expected an imbalance in that faction. There's also talk about the decision to avoid a microtransaction model in favor of the currently variable spread of subscription options for players. While the developers are still a bit up in the air about the game's status as an MMO, we're sure we have more than a few readers who are anticipating All Points Bulletin and who will find some interesting tidbits in the interview.

MassivelyAll Points Bulletin interview on the approaching release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapbapb-eaapb-gamebusinessbusiness-modelcontroversycustomizationea-all-points-bulletinea-apbea-gameselectronic-artselectronic-arts-all-points-bulletinembargointerviewsjess-knapppricingTue, 22 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online pushes pre-order bonus items to the C-Store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/star-trek-online-pushes-pre-order-bonus-items-to-the-c-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/star-trek-online-pushes-pre-order-bonus-items-to-the-c-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/star-trek-online-pushes-pre-order-bonus-items-to-the-c-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are you a Star Trek Online player who wants a Borg bridge officer or access to the original USS Enterprise, but missed out on the limited-time offers for them? The good news is that you no longer have to be bereft of the pre-order perks just because you came into the game late. Cryptic is offering a variety of the pre-order items and bonuses on the C-Store as part of a large update to their stock. Among the new items are uniforms for Deep Space Nine and The Wrath of Khan, playable Joined Trill, and of course the original Constitution-class Enterprise.

Understandably, there's a fair bit of furor about the new additions to the store. Lifetime subscribers are especially upset about the changes, as some of the additions were specifically aimed at them -- and unlike pre-ordering customers, they didn't pay the same price as everyone else. While the developers are understanding, they've stated repeatedly that they see this as best for the game and the players. It certainly is a net benefit for non-lifetime Star Trek Online players, but it certainly isn't going to tone down the controversy of the game's microtransaction system.

MassivelyStar Trek Online pushes pre-order bonus items to the C-Store originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c-storecontroversycrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioslifetime-subscriptionmicrotransactionspre-orderpre-order-bonusesst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosubscriptiontrek-onlineWed, 16 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aika's service restriction problems have happy ending for existing players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/aikas-service-restriction-problems-have-happy-ending-for-existi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/aikas-service-restriction-problems-have-happy-ending-for-existi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/aikas-service-restriction-problems-have-happy-ending-for-existi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When Aika's service restriction first hit, it was less an example of malice and more of poor timing working in all the worst ways. The game had always been meant for just North American players under gPotato's administration, but the European players who had spent money in the cash shop and subsequently gotten locked out of the game were... well, to say they were unhappy would be a thunderous understatement. But the team behind the game kept working on the issue, and they managed to come up with a compromise solution.

An official announcement has just gone live restating that players outside North America will not be able to register to play Aika. However, players who had registered on or before April 7th will be able to continue playing, regardless of their location. That means that anyone affected by the sudden change in service restriction will be able to resume where they had left off, with all their cash shop purchases intact. It's an elegant and equitable solution, and our hats go off to the team for ensuring that players weren't completely shafted by an ex post facto ruling.

MassivelyAika's service restriction problems have happy ending for existing players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikacash-shopcontroversyf2pfree-to-playgpotatomicrotransactionsnorth-americarestrictionservice-restrictionFri, 30 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alganon reveals much of the overhauled launch experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/alganon-reveals-much-of-the-overhauled-launch-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/alganon-reveals-much-of-the-overhauled-launch-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/alganon-reveals-much-of-the-overhauled-launch-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's easy to get wrapped up in the war of words between the inimitable Derek Smart and the equally inimitable David Allen, but the whole reason behind that back-and-forth is a game. Much of the news coming out about Alganon has been both sides sniping at each other, but it looks like the development team has been hard at work revamping the game for an April 28th launch. As the website has slowly been updated, they've begun posting more and more information about what's due out when the game goes live... which promises to be pretty extensive.

There's more about the various cash shop items that can be purchased with the new "subscription-free" model, which follows a vaguely Dungeons & Dragons Online pattern -- increased experience gain, bonuses to study speeds, limited-duration enchanted equipment. The starter areas are also being revamped, with the Asharr Humans starting in the Temple of Argon (which may or may not contain an eye) and the Temple of Xukiss becoming the start point for Talrok Kujix characters. And as expected, the feature list prominently states that Alganon's graphics have been overhauled, especially for the UI. With a little over a week to go, it should be interesting to see how the new iteration of the game plays out.

MassivelyAlganon reveals much of the overhauled launch experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganoncash-shopcontroversydavid-allenderek-smartlaunchqolquest-onlinerevampssecond-launchstarting-areassubscription-freeFri, 16 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online Advisory Board gets its own FAQ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/star-trek-online-advisory-board-gets-its-own-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/star-trek-online-advisory-board-gets-its-own-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/08/star-trek-online-advisory-board-gets-its-own-faq/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When Star Trek Online announced the formation of their Advisory Council for fan input, the response was fairly unhappy, in the same way that the sun's surface is fairly warm. No one, especially the vocal forumgoers, liked the idea of certain fans getting extra input in the game's direction. Cryptic is aware of the negative reaction, and they're doing their best to ameliorate concerns by clarifying the intended purpose of the board. A list of frequently asked questions has just recently gone live on the official site, no doubt hoping to clear the air and mollify those who felt silenced.

As the FAQ takes pains to reinforce, the intent was not to replace other forms of player feedback, but to use a different angle to get in touch with fans not active on the forums. The council itself will have methods for removing members seen as advancing a personal agenda over the wishes of others, and there will be methods to add new members based on a variety of factors. Star Trek Online's team does seem to have their heart in the right place, but unpopular decisions can be hard to bounce back from. It remains to be seen how the coommunity will react to Cryptic's explanatory olive branch.

MassivelyStar Trek Online Advisory Board gets its own FAQ originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advisory-councilbacklashcontroversycrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosfaqforumsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineThu, 08 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aika service restricted with some unintended consequences]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/aika-service-restricted-with-some-unintended-consequences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/aika-service-restricted-with-some-unintended-consequences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/aika-service-restricted-with-some-unintended-consequences/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When Aika opened its item shop, a comparison or two to Allods Online was inevitable. After all, with gPotato managing both games, there were a few people that wondered if the same pricing issues might show up. Turns out that the cash shop has still caused problems... but it's not the prices, it's the fact that the game is only supposed to be operating in North America at the moment.

A statement was posted earlier today that the game would be blocking IPs from outside of North America, as gPotato only had the rights to operate the game for that region. The problem is the number of international players who had been playing the game and had purchased items from the cash shop. As a result of the block, these players are obviously left out in the cold with no way to access Aika... and no real recourse for the items that they had already purchased from the item shop.

Continue reading Aika service restricted with some unintended consequences

MassivelyAika service restricted with some unintended consequences originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikaaika-cash-shopaika-onlineallods-onlinebreakingcash-shopcontroversygala-netgpotatointernational-playersnorth-americarefundsregion-lockWed, 07 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott and the choppy waters of social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/richard-garriot-and-the-choppy-waters-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/richard-garriot-and-the-choppy-waters-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/richard-garriot-and-the-choppy-waters-of-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The term "social games" or its frequently-used cousin "Facebook games" is one that gets talked about a lot by MMO gamers these days. Specifically, it gets talked about in a similar tone to the UbiSoft DRM nightmare or the entire Infinity Ward fiasco. So it's going to turn some heads -- and raise some hackles -- when Richard Garriott moves into the social gaming scene. Creator of the genre-setting Ultima Online and the much-discussed Tabula Rasa, Garriott has explained in an interview with Gamasutra why he made the shift and what he thinks of the social gaming scene as it stands now.

In short, he sees in social and mobile games the same things that marked other major shifts in the overall philosophy of making games, making them the next big wave. It's not an uncommon sentiment, but he goes on to point out that many of the virtues these games have, such as no installation and no up-front cost, are desirable traits in any game. He goes on to discuss stories in games and how he thinks that even social games can have them, even as he advocates less emphasis on freeform player-generated narratives. Take a look at the full interview to get a clearer picture on what we can expect from Garriott next -- and considering his place in the field of MMOs, it should be notable.

MassivelyRichard Garriott and the choppy waters of social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyfacebookfacebook-gamesgarriottinterviewsrichard-garriottsocial-gamessocial-gamingtabula-rasatrultimaultima-onlineuoTue, 06 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Alganon's Derek Smart]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/massively-interviews-alganons-derek-smart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/massively-interviews-alganons-derek-smart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/massively-interviews-alganons-derek-smart/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Amidst the recent flurry of GDC announcements, it's possible for people to miss what's been coming out of some of the smaller studios. That being said, almost everyone with some game industry knowledge took notice when it was formally announced that Derek Smart would be taking charge of Alganon. It helped that Mr. Smart, well-known for his vocal nature and not shying from controversy, almost immediately took the opportunity to set the record straight regarding the management change. (And then set it even straighter.)

Naturally, Massively asked for an interview. Mr. Smart was kind enough to answer a number of questions from us, ranging from future plans for the game to his place within the overall structure of development. Love or hate Alganon, his responses should be of interest to almost anyone with some knowledge of the game or the man himself. Check on past the cut for everything he had to say regarding the game, its present, and its future.

Continue reading Massively interviews Alganon's Derek Smart

MassivelyMassively interviews Alganon's Derek Smart originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganoncontroversydavid-allenderek-smartdevelopmentf2pfeaturedfree-to-playintarwebsinterviewinterviewslaunchesqolquest-onlinewow-cloneMon, 22 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Community Spotlight: Helicity Boson]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/eve-community-spotlight-helicity-boson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/eve-community-spotlight-helicity-boson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/eve-community-spotlight-helicity-boson/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The setting of EVE Online is a vast galactic sandbox called New Eden, with thousands of charted solar systems and thousands more hidden in uncharted space. The title's developer CCP Games provides the expansive setting and PvE content, but beyond this it's up to the players to define what the game can really be. Although there are plenty of opportunities to take risks in the game with commensurate rewards, a large percentage of the game's playerbase are content to remain in high security space where there are less dangers. Many of these players spend their time mining in asteroid belts and ice fields, which most would admit can be a semi-AFK playstyle. After all, the process of mining is rote: lock asteroids, fire up your mining lasers, and some cycles later you've harvested ore that can be sold outright or used in manufacturing.

That zen-like calm punctuated by the gentle hum of mining lasers was shaken up for many high sec dwellers earlier this month though, when the player-run event Hulkageddon II tore through the mining ship hulls of over 1000 players. The core idea of Hulkageddon II, as with the original event, was to destroy as many mining vessels as possible over the course of a week... a goal that many players pursued with reckless abandon. Indeed, there were numerous prizes awarded and 'achievements' that players racked up over the course of Hulkageddon II. Ultimately, the event injected some much-needed risk into the game -- whether some players wanted it or not -- in places where miners once felt they were untouchable by EVE's criminal population. Of course, a player-run event that pitted players eager to rack up kills against those who would prefer to avoid conflict has proven controversial.

The man behind Hulkageddon II is Helicity Boson, a pirate who flies with The Python Cartel, though he was helped in large part by fellow player Garmon (aka El'Tar) and generous donations from other players. Massively caught up with Helicity to discuss his motivations behind running Hulkageddon II, his views on the game in general, and why some EVE players might be wound up just a bit too tightly.

Continue reading EVE Community Spotlight: Helicity Boson

MassivelyEVE Community Spotlight: Helicity Boson originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescontroversyeveeve-community-spotlighteve-onlinegame-mechanicshelicity-bosonhulkageddonhulkageddon-2hulkageddon-iiplayer-run-eventspvpsci-fiTue, 26 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An overview of the EVE Online capital ship changes arriving today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/an-overview-of-the-eve-online-capital-ship-changes-arriving-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/an-overview-of-the-eve-online-capital-ship-changes-arriving-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/an-overview-of-the-eve-online-capital-ship-changes-arriving-toda/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The cries of "Free CCP Abathur" have been heard. He's one of the growing number of EVE Online developers recruited from among the ranks of the playerbase, and in Abathur's case -- he's someone very well-versed in the dynamics of nullsec warfare. His dev blog "The All Caps Ship Blog" deals with changes CCP Games is making to EVE that have long been a hot button with the playerbase.

It's not surprising that capital ship balancing is a controversial topic among players of the sci-fi MMO. Capital ship pilots in New Eden have invested significant amounts of training time and in-game wealth into piloting these massive ships, be it carriers and supercarriers, dreadnaughts, or titans. Some of CCP Abathur's ideas on balancing capital ships seemed to be fairly well-received by the playerbase, but later proposed changes from more senior devs at CCP appeared to be taking the game mechanics in a different direction. (Hence the "Free CCP Abathur" meme.) Ultimately, some of the major capital ship changes didn't deploy with the Dominion expansion launch, but are arriving in EVE today.

Continue reading An overview of the EVE Online capital ship changes arriving today

MassivelyAn overview of the EVE Online capital ship changes arriving today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capital-shipscarriersccpccp-abathurccp-gamescontroversydominiondoomsdaydreadnaughtseveeve-onlinefighter-bombersgame-mechanicsnullsecsci-fisupercarrierstitansThu, 21 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Major EVE Online alliance CVA disbanded: espionage or hack? ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/major-eve-online-alliance-cva-disbanded-espionage-or-hack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/major-eve-online-alliance-cva-disbanded-espionage-or-hack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/major-eve-online-alliance-cva-disbanded-espionage-or-hack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Major EVE Online roleplaying alliance Curatores Veritatis Alliance (CVA) disbanded today, possibly the result of a traitor within their ranks, leaving a power vacuum in the Providence region they once held. It's possible for high-level directors of an alliance to disband the organization, and this is exactly what happened today to Curatores Veritatis Alliance. CVA was an alliance loyal to the game's NPC faction the Amarr Empire and had a long history of enforcing rule in lawless space and resisting rival player organizations of Minmatar freedom fighters -- notably Ushra'Khan -- who they branded as terrorists. In short, CVA has played a significant role in the player-driven setting of EVE Online.

At this point, speculation as to how CVA was disbanded is rampant. The concept of a mole using high-level access to destroy an alliance from within is not unprecedented in the game, although some players are asserting an account hack took place. EVE pilot "BULLETPROOF 50CENT" of the corporation Traceless Representatives of Anonymous Players (TRAP) has claimed credit for the disintegration of CVA. He stated: "I am known as bullet, just a small, relatively unknown member of a covert organization, created by and dedicated to the taking down of what we saw as the single largest evil in EVE -- CVA."

Continue reading Major EVE Online alliance CVA disbanded: espionage or hack?

MassivelyMajor EVE Online alliance CVA disbanded: espionage or hack? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliancesamarrbreakingccpccp-gamescontroversycuratores-veritatis-alliancecvaespionageeveeve-onlineguildshackhardinnew-edenprovidencerevengesabotagespiesspytrapWed, 28 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jade Dynasty goes into open beta, supplies new trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/jade-dynasty-goes-into-open-beta-supplies-new-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/jade-dynasty-goes-into-open-beta-supplies-new-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/jade-dynasty-goes-into-open-beta-supplies-new-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Perfect World Entertainment's new flagship game, Jade Dynasty, has pulled itself out of closed beta right on time and has jumped into open beta, swords and magic at the ready.

If you're looking to check out this new free-to-play MMO, or at least judge some of the controversial game options for yourself, you can head right on over to the Jade Dynasty website, sign up for Perfect World Entertainment's portal, and jump into the game with no beta key required.

With the release of the open beta client comes a new trailer, and we here at Massively have cleverly embedded the video after the break. If you want to see some high flying combat, just hit continue reading and enjoy the video!

Continue reading Jade Dynasty goes into open beta, supplies new trailer

MassivelyJade Dynasty goes into open beta, supplies new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afkbottingcontroversydreaminggliderinvigoratejade-dynastyjdmeditationperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentWed, 17 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST