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[Dark Age of Camelot updates Relic mechanics and classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/dark-age-of-camelot-updates-relic-mechanics-and-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/dark-age-of-camelot-updates-relic-mechanics-and-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/dark-age-of-camelot-updates-relic-mechanics-and-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Relics also cannot be used any longer as snack food for pet monsters.
Some people no doubt see the venerable Dark Age of Camelot as a relic. But you know what's even more of a relic? The game's Relics. These powerful items have received an overhaul in the latest patch; the items have been moved to central locations in each Realm that cannot be captured or claimed. Players carrying Relics have also become more visible and slightly less mobile, and special Envoys have been added to help defend Relics from capture.

The patch also updates several class abilities. Bonedancers get a new spell to target a region on the ground, while Friars and Valewalkers both gain a rear snare. On the flip side, toxic direct damage poisons have all seen a slight downgrade in effectiveness for balance reasons. Dark Age of Camelot players can see the full list of changes in the patch notes, and while it's not a major content patch, the changes should spice up the game's ongoing realm warfare.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot updates Relic mechanics and classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotclassclass-balanceclassesclassic-mmodaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsfantasygame-mechanicsmechanical-changesmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologypatchpatchespvprelicsrvrupdateTue, 22 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

CastleVille screenshot
I am a huge fan of social media. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus -- it all makes sense to me and has shown to be a very useful tool in not only communicating with friends but finding new games, developers, and websites. My Twitter feed provides enough news and information that I can skip any standard media. I haven't watched a local newscast for a long, long time. On top of that, I can communicate with readers in real time, sharing photos and tidbits of cool.

Has social media affected MMO gaming? It definitely has. Watch any smart developer's Twitter feed and you will see the community team interacting directly with players, answering questions, hosting contests, and helping players feel as though the developers are actual people. Social media has also changed how we connect to our games, MMO or not.

All of this means that everything is social now. Going to the dentist? Share it with your friends. Defeated a boss monster on your Xbox? Tweet it. Just picked up that epic sword in Dark Age of Camelot? Post it to your Facebook. Heck, many MMOs now have a Twitter or Facebook option built right into the client. All of this instant connectivity is nice, but it's possible that the "massively" part of MMO will soon apply to any game. What will this do to the genre?

Continue reading Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it

MassivelyFree for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancityvilledark-age-of-camelotf2pfacebookfarmvillefeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgoogle-plushero-academylord-of-the-rings-onlineopinionsocialsocial-gamingsocial-networkingtwittervelvet-ropeZyngaWed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-perfect-ten-free-to-play-holdouts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acactivisionAndy-Cataldoasherons-callbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcamelotccpccp-gamesclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialeveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfpsfree-to-playhumorinternet-spaceshipsKai-Schoberlord-britishlucasartsmmofpsmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenplanetsidepsps1pvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrsandboxsci-fiscott-hartsmansoesony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtortriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineuowarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Dark Age of Camelot video shows off relic raid test-run]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/new-dark-age-of-camelot-video-shows-off-relic-raid-test-run/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/new-dark-age-of-camelot-video-shows-off-relic-raid-test-run/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/16/new-dark-age-of-camelot-video-shows-off-relic-raid-test-run/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Dark Age of Camelot
Realm-vs.-realm combat pioneer Dark Age of Camelot is seeing a number of changes to the relic raid system in the upcoming patch 1.112, and last Wednesday the devs gathered a bunch of guillible cannon fod-- err, brave adventurers to help them test out the new updates with an all-out relic raiding brawl.

Mythic figured that an event of such magnitude shouldn't go unnoticed, so the studio recorded the ordeal and put together a lovely little video full of an incredible amount of death, destruction, and general RvR chaos. Which faction will reign supreme in this rumble for the relic? Well, there's only one way to find out: Go see for yourself!

Continue reading New Dark Age of Camelot video shows off relic raid test-run

MassivelyNew Dark Age of Camelot video shows off relic raid test-run originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotclassic-mmodaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentmythologypatch-1.112pvpraidraidsrealm-vs-realmrelicrelic-raidrelic-raidsrvrtrailertrailersvideovideosMon, 16 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week five]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-five/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-five/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-five/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
As I headed into my final week of playing Dark Age of Camelot, I found myself thinking about Warhammer Online more often than not. That shouldn't be surprising, really, as both games were made by Mythic and share a focus on RvR. I suppose it's because I finally hit a point in the game when DAoC started to emulate experiences I had in WAR, and thus a comparison between the two began to unfold.

While I'm sure plenty of folks who played DAoC went on to WAR, I'm curious whether there are many like me who went through the games in the reverse order. I may not be a veteran DAoC player after a few weeks in the game, but I certainly have a mountain of experience in WAR, and it intrigues me to be able to identify the connections between the two.

So as I plundered the battlefields of DAoC this week, I started to examine the game through the lens of a WAR vet to see whether I could spot the traits each game had in common and which traits each game handled better than the other.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week five

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week five originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasyfeaturedhands-onmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choicervrvotevotingwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 11 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot retunes Relic system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DAoC
Dark Age of Camelot's Relic system is under the dev team's magnifying glass this month, and it looks as though dedicated RvRers are going to have to adjust to a few significant changes to how Relic raids work in the near future.

"We have learned over the years that being complex and being complicated are two very different things," Producer Stuart Zissu writes. "If players can't immediately grasp the situation and understand what is needed of them, then there is room for improvement."

In a new producer's letter, Zissu spells out the changes to the Relic system. Relics Temples and Mile Gates will be eliminated, and Relics themselves will be moved to the inner keeps. These new Relic Keeps will be granted additional guards the more keeps a realm holds in their home territory. However, the more relics a faction claims, the weaker the guards will be. Relic runs will be made more challenging, as the game will notify everyone in the region where the Relic holder is and faster avenues of transportation will be cut off.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot retunes Relic system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotclassic-mmodaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-blogdev-diaryeaelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyproducers-letterpvprelicrelic-keeprelic-keepsrelic-runsrelic-systemrvrStuart-ZissuTue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
When a beloved friend, family member, hero, or role model dies, we feel the pain of that loss and grieve in many different ways. Part of that grieving and healing process is often entails those left behind constructing some sort of tribute to the dearly departed. Sometimes this comes in the form of a shrine of flowers, sometimes it's the establishment of a charity, and sometimes it's creating an in-game memorial that thousands if not millions of people will see over the course of years.

So while death and illness are depressing topics to dwell upon, I find the many MMO tributes that studios and even gamers have erected to be inspiring and a celebration of individual players' lives. With the help of my fellow Massively staffers, I researched 10 wonderful in-game tributes that serve to honor the lives of fellow gamers.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DAoC
By participating in Choose My Adventure, I'm starting to realize that this column is perhaps one of the most meta projects that we do here on Massively. It's not just a popularity contest between games (although it begins that way) nor a mere hands-on play-through of a title. Instead, it's a bizarre combination of one person led by hundreds of puppet masters with the added layer of forging a path as a complete newbie so that others who follow in my wake may learn from my mistakes.

But with all of you as my puppet masters, I have the added pressure of not wanting to let any of you down. I know that last week some of you were disappointed with my progress (or lack thereof) and could identify dozens of things I was just doing flat-out wrong. That's another layer to this experience, I think: It gives experienced vets the chance to see the game through virgin eyes and to pass down sage advice that they themselves wish they had gotten right out of the gate.

So this past week was all about taking in your advice and attempting to execute it to the best of my ability. Some of it worked, and some did not, but the end result was a series of Dark Age of Camelot play sessions that were far less frustrating -- and even, dare I say, intriguing?

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week four

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week four originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebiowarecamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedhands-onlevelingmacrosmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choicervrskaldvotevotingWed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week three]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-three/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DAoC
Frustrating and boring: These are two words that don't bode well for any MMO, and yet that's exactly what my Dark Age of Camelot experience this past week was.

Now, granted there's always an adjustment period with new MMOs, and I like to think of myself as a fairly patient person. I know that sometimes it might be a matter of minutes or understanding to flip "frustration" into "joy" and "boring" into "addictive," which is why it's good to stick games out until you're sure that the issue isn't with you playing the game wrong or being ignorant of what makes it work.

That said, if I wasn't covering DAoC for this column but was just trying it out for myself, I certainly would not have subscribed after finishing the 14-day trial. New player journey or no, I found more aggravation than fun this past week and kept wondering to myself, "When does it start to get good? Where's all that great stuff players are telling me about? And as a Troll, how much lotion do I need to get my skin feeling silky soft?"

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week three

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week three originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasyfeaturedhands-onmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choicervrvotevotingwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 28 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DAoC
Some of you probably know that I first got into the blogging scene with my Warhammer Online blog Waaagh! Back then in early 2008, I was a veritable Mythic and PvP newbie, and I spent a good portion of the lead-up to the game's release reading up on Dark Age of Camelot. I figured that, after all, WAR would be built on the foundation of DAoC. In a way, it both was and wasn't.

The one thing I never did was actually play DAoC. Older MMOs can be quite intimidating; they have deep-rooted communities and tomes of updates and history, and they were more rough around the edges. Rough in their cores, too, if we're being honest. So the intimidation factor kept me away until this past week, when Massively readers sent me on a quest to Camelot for the first time in my life.

Last week readers voted on the character I was to roll. An impressive 82% of you said to check out the realm vs. realm ruleset and roll a a Midgard (43.2%) beastly (40.8%) hybrid (43.3%) character. After reading some of the recommendations in the comments, I ended up making a female Troll Skald on a traditional server. She may be lumpy and bulky, but I took a shine to her right away.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week two originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsendless-trialeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onmidgardmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choiceron-swansonrvrskaldsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttrollvotevotingwarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/choose-my-adventure-dark-age-of-camelot-week-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DAoC
Hol. Ee. Crap.

Seriously, folks, I don't know how it usually goes down in CMAtown, but I've never experienced a week of my life when I was literally watching strangers decide my destiny -- and go neck-and-neck in the process. After thousands and thousands of votes, it all came down to a difference of... three. Really.

Three MMO communities caught wind of last week's poll regarding the game I'd be playing and writing up over the next several weeks. Dark Age of Camelot players fought valiantly against Anarchy Online fans for the privilege of this column's focus, often times trading spots for first and second place. The City of Heroes community got into the game late and racked up several hundred votes in an attempt to secure the win, but ultimately it came down to a last-minute brawl in which DAoC garnered three measly votes more than AO, which means I'll be heading off to Camelot starting next week.

With the insane voting over a game at an end, today begins the real fun: You get to roll my character for me. Join me as I lay out just how this is going to work with DAoC's crazy setup.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week one

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dark Age of Camelot, week one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotchoose-my-adventureclassic-mmocmadaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedhands-onmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpollpollspvpreaders-choicervrvotevotingWed, 14 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Air Warrior
Most studios would be overjoyed to have pioneered one significant advancement in video game history, but then again, most studios aren't Kesmai. While it's not a household name today, it's reasonable to say that without the heavy lifting and backbreaking coding that this company shouldered in the '80s and '90s, the MMO genre would've turned out very different indeed.

Last week we met two enterprising designers, Kelton Flinn and John Taylor, who recognized that multiplayer was the name of the future and put their careers on the line to see an idea through to completion. That idea was Island of Kesmai, an ancestor of the modern MMO that used crude ASCII graphics and CompuServe's network to provide an interactive, cooperative online roleplaying experience. It wasn't the first MMO, but it was the first one published commercially, and sometimes that makes all the difference.

Flinn and Taylor's Kesmai didn't stop with being the first to bring MMOs to the big time, however. Flush with cash and success, Kesmai turned its attention to the next big multiplayer challenge: 3-D graphics and real-time combat. Unlike the fantasy land of Island of Kesmai, this title would take to the skies in aerial dogfighting and prove even more popular than the team's previous project.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-warriorair-warrior-for-windowsair-warrior-iiair-warrior-iiialiens-onlineaolbattlefield-1942cd-romChris-Holdenclassicclassic-mmosclassicscompuservedark-age-of-camelotdungeons-of-kesmaieaelectronic-artseverquestfeaturedgame-archaelogistgame-developers-conference-choice-awardsgamespotgamestormgdcgdc-choice-awardsgenieharpoon-onlineisland-of-kesmaijohn-taylorkelton-flinnkesmaikesmai-corporationkesmai-studioslegends-of-kesmaimark-jacobsmatchmakingmeridian-59Multiplayer-Battletechmythicnews-corpnostalgiaonline-game-legend-awardopinionrealm-vs-realmrvrthe-game-archaeologistultima-onlinewarwarhammer-onlineythic-entertainmentTue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot producer's letter looks toward the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/dark-age-of-camelot-producers-letter-looks-toward-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/dark-age-of-camelot-producers-letter-looks-toward-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/dark-age-of-camelot-producers-letter-looks-toward-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Screenshot -- Dark Age of Camelot
Dark Age of Camelot's Valentine's Day event is still in full swing, but the devs over at Mythic Entertainment have plenty more in store for players. Stuart Zissu, DAoC's producer, stopped by the official site to give players a heads-up as to what they can expect in upcoming updates. For starters, the next phase of the ongoing live event will be coming sometime "in the next few months," and players are warned that the Pict encampments they've already encountered are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

On top of that, the devs will be adding a number of new titles throughout the year that center on the long-running title's 10th anniversary. Zissu adds that "there will also be new titles for the next phase of the live event" as well as a special trophy commemorating Dark Age of Camelot's 10 years of RvRvR action. For more information, including details on DAoC's first video contest, just click on through the link below and give the post a look.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot producer's letter looks toward the future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camelotdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsletter-from-the-producerlive-eventlive-eventsmythicmythic-entertainmentproducers-letterrealm-vs-realmrvrrvrvrstuart-zissutitletitlestrophiestrophyWed, 15 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you like to see on MMO websites?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-like-to-see-on-mmo-websites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-like-to-see-on-mmo-websites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-like-to-see-on-mmo-websites/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DAoC
During my time with Massively and as a gamer, I've visited scads of official MMO websites. And I can say, incontrovertibly, that no two of them had the same features and focus. Some were extremely easy to navigate while others were almost indecipherable without the Staff of Ra to guide me. Some were more about flash while others were loaded with content. And some, to my never-ending dismay, still lack an RSS feed which I cannot fathom in this day and age.

But enough about my journeys -- I want to hear about your own thoughts on MMO websites. What do you like to see when you visit one? Are the aesthetics important to you, or are you more concerned with specific features? Are these websites more for first-time visitors curious about the game or should they cater to players looking for news and updates about their favorite titles?

For bonus points, provide a link below to (in your opinion) the best-designed MMO website!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you like to see on MMO websites? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aestheticsdaocdark-age-of-camelotfeaturedmmo-websitemmo-websitesnewsopinionrssrss-feedstaff-of-ratdgthe-daily-grindwebsitewebsitesWed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot storms the castle with Patch 1.111]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/dark-age-of-camelot-storms-the-castle-with-patch-1-111/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DAoC
People of Midgard, Albion, and Hibernia -- fight for glory! The call to battle is strong and never-ending, and Mythic is looking to your continued diligence and thirst for blood to keep Dark Age of Camelot's PvP raging. For its part, Mythic has delivered the latest tantalizing update to the game today, Patch 1.111.

To keep the battlefield skirmishes hot, the studio has added new RvR missions to the Frontiers. This should hopefully cause a greater amount of conflict as players strive to accomplish their tasks.

Patch 1.111 also includes a host of class tweaks (including a huge buff to Thanes), additional controllable pets for Animists, and new Atlantis quests. These quests start at level 30 and will help players garner more Atlantean Glass for their artifacts, which should help ease the pain of grinding out Master Levels.

The patch is currently live on all servers.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot storms the castle with Patch 1.111 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.111animistsartifactsatlantean-questsatlantisdaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythicfrontiersmaster-levelsmythicpatch-1.111patch-notespvprvrrvr-queststhaneswalking-mushroomsWed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you buy an advanced character?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-an-advanced-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

UO advanced character
For many years, Ultima Online has offered an advanced character microtransaction. Well, the term "microtransaction" may be stretching it -- originally priced at $30 a pop, it's more like a macrotransaction. The advanced character token allows you to boost the skills and stats of a single character according to a preset template. It won't give you a capped Bard, Treasure Hunter, or Animal Tamer overnight, but it will get you a big chunk of the way there. And for skills that are notoriously hard to train .1 by .1 all the way to 100 or 120, advanced character tokens can be a huge boon to players who've been there and done that and just want to skip the early grind.

UO's not alone in this; other games, such as Dark Age of Camelot, allow players to jump past some of the early game on their alts once they've capped a toon and proven they know the ropes of the game. Of course, those games aren't charging for the pleasure. So what do you think: Would you buy an advanced character from a game company? Or do you think you're cheating yourself and those around you by not grinding up the old-fashioned way?

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: Would you buy an advanced character? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-characterage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcamelotclassic-mmoconandaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgrindhyborialord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyopinionpvprvrsandboxskill-systemtdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineUltimaOnlineuoMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the longest an MMO's been out before you've tried it?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ultima Online
Part of the joy of working at Massively is that this environment constantly challenges and encourages us to check out not just new MMOs but current and older ones we may have overlooked the first time around. After all, unless your name is Beau Hindman, it is virtually impossible to play every game out there.

So I can't be the only one who checked out Ultima Online for the first time 11 years after its initial release or Dark Age of Camelot around its eight-year anniversary. Sometimes I'm a little hesitant to try older MMOs because I fear that they're a little too long in the tooth or that their future shelf life is almost at the "expired" date, but once I get past that, more often than not I end up saying, "I can't believe I waited this long to try it!"

What about you? What's the longest an MMO has been out before you tried it for the first time? And for a bonus question, what got you to finally give it a go?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the longest an MMO's been out before you've tried it? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmosdaocdark-age-of-camelotfeaturedold-mmosolder-mmosopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoWed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist seals up 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
You know what I love about the end of each year? The lists. Man, but I'm a sucker for lists, especially when they come in "best of" varieties. In the lull between Christmas and New Year's, there typically isn't a lot happening in the world of entertainment, so it's a good time to look back before we head forward.

And so it is for The Game Archaeologist. 2011 marks the second year I've been doing this column, and it's been one of my personal favorite series to write. Every week I'm learning more and more about the history of the MMO genre, and I'm encouraged to see just how much passion and interest there are for the titles that started it all and got us to where we are today.

So before we head into 2012, let's take one last glimpse back at the road we've traveled. If you've missed out on any of these columns or want to revisit your favorite classic MMO, I've compiled a huge list of everything I talked about this year, from histories to interviews to player stories. There's also a special request for you (yes, you) at the end of this column, so do me a favor and hit that jump!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist seals up 2011

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist seals up 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011a-tale-in-the-desertac2Andrew-Tepperasherons-callasherons-call-2Ben-Chamberlainbrian-greenclimaxdark-age-of-cameloteaearth-and-beyondeqEric-Heimburgeverquestfeaturedimperator-onlineJosef-HalllineagelistlistsMeridian-59Middle-earth-Onlinemudmulti-user-dungeonmxomythicaplanetsidepsychochildRade-StojsavljevicrarebitRichard-Bartleround-uproundupshadow-of-yserbiusshadowbaneStuart-Zissuteppytgathe-game-archaeologistthe-matrix-onlinethe-shadow-of-yserbiusThom-TerrazasTodd-ColemanTrue-Fantasy-Live-OnlineUltima-Worlds-Online-OriginUltima-X-OdysseyWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftyear-in-reviewTue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-perfect-ten-most-significant-mmo-stories-of-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
2011 was an odd duck of a year for MMO news. A huge chunk of the year felt devoid of significant releases, but that was mitigated somewhat by the major launches of RIFT and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Titles got shoved back to 2012 or beyond, MMOs that we thought never would go free-to-play did, and the industry continually surprised us with revelations, ideas, and controversy.

So in my last Perfect Ten of 2011, I put together the 10 most significant MMO stories of the year. Ten seems like an awfully small number for such a great big field, so I had the rest of the staff members chime in with their nominations just to make sure I wasn't too off-base with any of these.

It was a whopper of a year, and Massively was there for all of it -- the ups, the downs, the queues, and the QQs. It's time to wrap it up with a pretty bow and dedicate it to the history museum!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Most significant MMO stories of 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20112012aionataribiowareccpccp-gameschampions-onlinecity-of-heroescrypticcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdc-universe-onlinedcuoeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-iif2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-to-playglobal-agendajagexkung-fu-pandaleague-of-legendslistlistslucasartsmists-of-pandariamonoclegatemythicpandaperfect-tenperfect-worldriftrunescapesoesonysony-hacksony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-agencythe-perfect-tentriontrion-worldswarhammer-onlineworld-of-darknessworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-heroesThu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massivelys-2011-winter-holiday-event-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online
The winter holiday season is well underway, both in and out of game. Many schools, businesses, and communities are preparing to take a little time off to enjoy the holidays, and here at Massively, we want to make sure you don't miss a single in-game party.

We've been rounding up all the details on celebrations happening in our favorite MMOs, combining them into a handy guide. Follow along after the jump for your map to all of the can't-miss MMO winter holiday events for 2011!

Continue reading Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

MassivelyMassively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardage-of-conanaikaaionanarchy-onlineanetaocarenanetblizzardcastle-empirechampions-onlinechristmascity-of-heroesclone-wars-adventurescohcovcoxdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkedendarkeden-onlinedc-universe-onlinedcuodigimon-masters-onlinedragon-nestelswordeqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playfrogsterfuncomgpotatoguild-warsgwhellgatehellgate-globalholiday-2011holiday-roundupholidays-2011jagged-alliancekingsisleleague-of-legendslolncsoftnexonperfect-world-entertainmentpweriftriot-gamesromrosh-onlinerunes-of-magicshsosoesony-online-entertainmentsquaresquare-enixstar-trek-onlinestosuper-hero-squad-onlinet3funtrionw101warhammer-onlinewindslayer-2wizard101world-of-warcraftwowWed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot celebrates 10th birthday with limited edition lithograph]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/dark-age-of-camelot-celebrates-10th-birthday-with-limited-editio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Badger badger badger badger
Mythic Entertainment's popular RvRvR-based MMORPG, Dark Age of Camelot, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. In order to commemorate this momentous occasion, Mythic is selling a limited edition Dark Age of Camelot 10th anniversary lithograph. There will only be 300 prints available, each signed and numbered by artist Eric Polak, so if you want to get your grubby paws on one of these beauties, you'd better preorder now.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot celebrates 10th birthday with limited edition lithograph originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversary10th-birthdaybioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artslimited-editionlithographmythicmythic-entertainmentpvprvrstoretenth-anniversarytenth-birthdayTue, 29 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dark Age of Camelot
Last month was a historic occasion for MMOs, as Dark Age of Camelot joined the exclusive Decade Club, turning 10 years old and making most of us sit down heavily and wonder, "Has it really been that long?"

It has indeed. You may wish to invest in a calendar. While it might be a tad tardy, I got the chance to interview the ever-busy Mythic about this milestone... and here it is!

The Game Archaeologist: Could you please introduce yourself, your role on the team, and the faction for which you live, breathe and sleep?

Stuart Zissu: I am Stuart Zissu, producer on Dark Age of Camelot. Asking which Realm I prefer is like asking which child is my favorite, I love them all! They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and each one brings something different to the table. With that said, my first level 50 was an Albion Enhancement Friar (before Enhancement Friars were "viable").

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.110-patch10th-anniversarybioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewmythicmythic-entertainmentpatch-1.110realm-vs-realmrvrStuart-Zissuten-yearsten-years-oldtenth-anniversaryultima-onlineuowarwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesTue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWG
Today we're going to start a new feature of this column in which we devote a week to catching up with previous Game Archaeologist spotlights and see what's going on in these classic MMOs. I figured that it was a shame to give these titles a big burst of publicity and then dump them like yesterday's news. After all, if these games' communities are still alive and kicking, and if the developers are churning out new content, then it's worth a monthly mention, don't you think?

I won't just be regurgitating news here; I'll also peek at the various official forums to see what the community is talking about and highlight discussions and debates that are of interest. Not every classic MMO will be featured every month in this space, as I'll try to rotate around to make sure they all get their fair share of mentions.

October was an interesting month for classic MMOs in that several of them produced extremely newsworthy stories that got front-page mention on Massively. On a special note, I won't be covering Asheron's Call today as we're prepping a special anniversary tribute for later this month!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daocdark-age-of-cameloteqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-iifeaturedhalloweenmoviepumpkin-moon-risingscott-jenningssoestar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtgathe-game-archaeologistveil-of-alarisTue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/mv-guide-october-31-november-6-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/mv-guide-october-31-november-6-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/mv-guide-october-31-november-6-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Warrior Saga
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecrypticdaocdark-age-of-camelotdc-universe-onlinedcuofallen-earthfeaturedfrogstergamersfirstlittle-space-heroeslivestreamlivestreamingmagic-the-gathering-onlinemtgomv-guidemv-tvmythicperfect-world-entertainmentromrunes-of-magicsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstreamwarrior-sagaMon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Dark Age of Camelot patch introduces New User Experience, RvR changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/new-dark-age-of-camelot-patch-introduces-new-user-experience-rv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Dark Age of Camelot
It's a big day for Dark Age of Camelot players, as patch 1.110 is going live today. The update includes the revamped New User Journey, which redesigns the tutorial and many mainland areas in each of the three realms in order to "make character progression more efficient and enjoyable than ever before." And of course, DAoC is all about the RvR, so many updates have been made to the game's Battlegrounds in an attempt to make them a "one-stop source for character progression and RvR action through level 49."

A number of UI updates have been made as well, which should hopefully make the game more user-friendly and customizable. Balance passes have been made on all classes, with some classes being given free respecs to account for the changes. All-in-all, it seems to be a rather comprehensive update to the game, so if you're a denizen of DAoC, head on over and check out the changes.

MassivelyNew Dark Age of Camelot patch introduces New User Experience, RvR changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsbioware-mythiccontent-updatedaocdark-age-of-cameloteaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-journeypatchpatch-1.110updateWed, 26 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-former-dev/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist -- AC2
I've been a long-time follower of Eric Heimburg on his blog, Elder Game, where he and a friend have spent years delivering insightful commentary about MMOs and supermodels (well, mostly MMOs). Because I'm not that observant a fellow and I assume that most fellow bloggers are mere players like I am, I didn't realize until a little while ago that he and his co-writer were former Turbine developers who had worked on Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2.

You can see where this is going.

Once I learned that, I knew I had to get him to contribute to this series. I began a multi-year wooing campaign that involved skywriting, cupcakes, celebrity kiss-o-grams, envelopes stuffed with unmarked bills, and all the tea in China. Of course, this was well after he'd already said "yes" to it, but I like to keep up appearances.

So hit the jump as I talk to a guy who was on the flipside of Asheron's Call 2 as a producer and generally swell fella!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-2-legionsdaocdark-age-of-camelotdrudgeEric-HeimburgfeaturedinterviewJohn-Lindemuthkingdom-vs-kingdomlegionslive-eventslive-teammicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmo-sequelspvpRick-Schmitzsequelsequelstea-in-chinathe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you prefer historical settings?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

R.I.P., Imperator
This week, Massively's Karen Bryan attended a GDC talk by Charles Cecil, the creator of Broken Sword, on the topic of writing games that employ history and historical themes. Cecil wisely noted that historical themes tap in to the audience's shared mythology to generate a compelling game and to serve as the foundation for accessible puzzles relevant to the storyline. And yet strict historical themes in MMOs, even when not diluted with more fantastic elements, can also betray immersion -- would it really make sense for a game about the American Revolution to allow female characters to become military generals?

Dark Age of Camelot certainly saw its share of success pairing real-world European legend and modern 20th-century fantasy, while its cousin Imperator, set in a futuristic Roman Empire, was canceled in favor of another Mythic game. World of Tanks thrives off historical realism, whereas the upcoming The Secret World is making an art-form of layering myth over mundane. Still, history-flavored games are very much in the minority, perhaps because they allow studios much less freedom of lore design. What do you think -- do historical (or pseudo-historical) MMOs work for you? Do you prefer pure escapism, or would you rather play in a "home-turf" setting whose real-world backstory is your own?

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: Do you prefer historical settings? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgbroken-swordcharles-cecildaocdark-age-of-camelotgdcgdc-austin-2011historical-themeshistoryimperatorlegendmythmythicmythologyopinionreal-worldsettingtdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-tankswotThu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/dark-age-of-camelot-unveils-its-10th-anniversary-masterpiece/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
It's not every day that an MMO turns 10, and Mythic is taking full advantage of the situation to hype up Dark Age of Camelot's impressive milestone by treating players to a few goodies. First up is a highly detailed mural depicting the conflicts, races, and classes of DAoC over the years. Mythic has been revealing the mural piecemeal over the last few weeks before finally unveiling it today to the playerbase.

In addition to this poster, Mythic's unleashed Producer Stuart Zissu to film a video laying out the plans for the game's celebration. Zissu talks about the new training hubs designed to get beginners on their feet, epic encounters in the world for groups to tackle, moral arcs that give players concrete choices to make, UI changes, and the 10th anniversary t-shirt. Players logging into the game in October will also find that they'll be enjoying several bonuses to XP, crafting, and more.

You can watch Zissu get the crowds pumped up for the party after the jump!

Continue reading Dark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot unveils its 10th anniversary masterpiece originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-celebrationartworkbioware-mythiccelebrationdaocdark-age-of-camelotea-mythici-played-this-game-and-all-i-got-was-this-awesome-t-shirtmuralmythicmythic-entertainmentposterStuart-Zissuvideoxp-bonusTue, 11 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs: 'I've never been against F2P']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/mark-jacobs-ive-never-been-against-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/mark-jacobs-ive-never-been-against-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/mark-jacobs-ive-never-been-against-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online screenshot
In a brief interview today with MMORPG.com, Mark Jacobs, now president and creative director of City State Entertainment, discussed his thoughts on the F2P model and real-money trading.

Jacobs is best known to gamers for his previous roles with Mythic Entertainment and Electronic Arts on such games as Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online, and his opinions on the subject of gold-farming are infamous, possibly even extreme. We can't be the only ones who remember the early days of WAR when a crusading, irony-immune Jacobs spammed players' screens with popups whenever gold-spammers were banned. But in this interview, Jacobs aimed to set the record straight: He's against gold-farming specifically and how gold-farming hurts legitimate players, not the free-to-play model.
I've never been against F2P. What I was and still remain strongly opposed to is gold farming in games, especially MMOs that weren't designed from the beginning to handle those kind of transactions, and also to the groups that seek to profit from such transactions. What I really dislike isn't so much the gold farming/selling itself, but certain behaviors that occur in games where this happens.
He goes on to suggest that the F2P model has surged to prominence due to the weak economy and "a lack of really interesting MMOs," noting that we're due for a shift in the market but that the success of Star Wars: The Old Republic (and its "license to print money" IP) will determine the viability of the subscription model in the future.

Jacobs has plenty more to say in the full interview over at MMORPG.com.

MassivelyMark Jacobs: 'I've never been against F2P' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecity-state-entertainmentdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaElectronic-Artsf2pfarmingfree-to-playgold-farminggold-spamminginterviewinterviewsmark-jacobsmythicMythic-Entertainmentreal-money-tradingrmtstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwarwarhammerWarhammer-OnlineTue, 11 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Devs reminisce on Dark Age of Camelot's 10th birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Birthday cake
Dark Age of Camelot turns 10 this week, and if that doesn't make you feel old, well, you're probably not very old (and while we're at it, kindly remove yourself from our lawn). At any rate, Scott Jennings waxes nostalgic about the fantasy RvR title on his personal blog by posting a remembrance from original Mythic producer Matt Firor.

The piece is heavy on the meta details, and a read-through will give you an idea of how drastically the MMO industry has changed over the past decade. Firor talks about Mythic's scramble to meet the crushing demand for more servers and the resulting mad dash for the nearest computer retailer to purchase a dozen desktops that were quickly loaded with Linux and whipped into an ad-hoc server cluster.

There are more interesting details, of course, and you can read them all at Broken Toys.

MassivelyDevs reminisce on Dark Age of Camelot's 10th birthday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversaryanniversarydaocdark-age-of-camelotfantasymatt-firormythicnostalgiarealm-versus-realmrvrscott-jenningsserver-clusterserversMon, 10 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot quest revamp in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dark-age-of-camelot-quest-revamp-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dark-age-of-camelot-quest-revamp-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/dark-age-of-camelot-quest-revamp-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dark Age of Camelot - quest NPCs finger-pointing
Big changes are in the offing for Dark Age of Camelot fans. The latest Mythic dev diary sets the stage for a "return home to the Albion, Midgard and Hibernia of old." While the diary is long on pseudo in-character prose, it's short on specific details. What we've gathered, though, is that extensive revamps are in the works for many of the game's quests and more than a few of its classic adventuring locales.

Mythic's Kai Schober says that new and returning players "may be hard-pressed to find their way at the outset of their journey," and as such the devs have set about revisiting many of the game's famous towns and villages with an eye towards modernizing the progression path.

New types of quests are also in store, and the diary describes them as full of "moral deliberation" that will make for "diverse gameplay experiences as well as provide unique item rewards." Read more at the official DAoC website.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot quest revamp in the works originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albionchoicedaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-blogdev-diaryfantasykai-schobermidgardmythicMythic-Entertainmentquest-revampquestsrevamptalal-saadThu, 06 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

City State group pic
If you've been around the MMO scene for a while, you'll remember Mark Jacobs as the co-founder of Mythic Entertainment and the force behind Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online.

He's been out of the gaming industry since his departure from EA, but according to an exclusive interview with Forbes.com, he's back with a new company. "Jacobs revealed that his new company is called City State Entertainment, and [...] the company aims to create games for the mobile, tablet and social networking space," says Forbes.com's Tracey John.

Mark tells Forbes that social game development allows for a faster development cycle and lower costs, which equals more freedom to simply have fun making games. "We don't have to worry if the hardcore gamers are going to get incredibly upset because we're doing something a certain way. We don't have to worry if our game is going to sell another 20 copies. We're just looking to make fun, enjoyable games."

Check out the full interview at Forbes.com

MassivelyMark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-state-entertainmentdaocdark-age-of-camelotforbesforbes.commark-jacobsmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamingtablet-gameswarWarhammer-OnlineFri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DAoC
As part of Mythic's continued efforts to introduce a "New User Journey" experience that's friendly to Dark Age of Camelot beginners, the studio has turned its attention to the ever-crucial subject of gear. In a new dev diary by DJ Frazier, the dev spells out the problem: "For a new player who wanders into battlegrounds, especially ones like Thidranki or Molvik, they will often find themselves losing almost every fight they encounter, simply because they are playing against people who have had a chance to outfit themselves out in the best equipment they can find for their level range."

Because the team fears that this armor disparity proves to be a dealbreaker for many newbies, the devs are retuning the gear that players get during their leveling up process to be more durable and competitive on the battlefield.

The two main paths of leveling -- PvE questing and RvR battlegrounds -- will both offer solid picks of gear when patch 1.110 hits. Players who risk the battlegrounds will find themselves in possession of top-notch weapons and armor, whereas those who choose to quest will find themselves "90% of the way there" with their gear. Hopefully, these changes will create an environment that's much more welcoming to newcomers to DAoC.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbattlegroundsbeginnersdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diaryDJ-Frazierea-mythicgearmythicnew-user-journeynewbiesnoobspvepvprvrweaponsThu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/new-bounty-rewards-coming-to-dark-age-of-camelot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Also, bear stampede.
Dark Age of Camelot is taking aim at bounties. Specifically, the development team is taking aim at the bounty points that players can now earn via quests in the game's battlegrounds. Longtime players have no doubt noticed this change, and in the latest developer diary for the game, Kai Schrober outlines the team's plans to continue improving player experience via a new set of equipment purchasable from special bounty vendors inside the battlegrounds.

The equipment available isn't meant to just be good -- it's pre-templated and should bring characters close to the apex of their abilities. The goal, obviously, is to help players feel rewarded for their participation in the game. But the diary also goes into detail about more enhancements to gameplay, including new epic events surrounding quest hubs and new teleporters to give players easy access to battlegrounds. It's a laundry list of improvements for DAoC, a clear sign that even though the past few months have been a bit quiet for the game, development hasn't abated.

MassivelyNew bounty rewards coming to Dark Age of Camelot originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsbioware-mythicbounty-pointsdaocdark-age-of-cameloteaea-mythicelectronic-artskai-schrobermythicmythic-entertainmentpatchesupcoming-patchesupdatesWed, 21 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot takes players to school]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/dark-age-of-camelot-takes-players-to-school/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DAoC
Dark Age of Camelot's new website is already paying off in spades for players, as the developers are able to pass along a host of new information, concept art and previews for the populace. DAOC will be 10 years old as of next month and isn't slowing down. Exhibit A: The team is already hard at work on the 1.110 patch.

John Thronhill penned a dev diary about the patch this week; he focuses on the new Lesson Quests that will go hand-in-hand with the beginner experience. Lesson Quests are designed to help newbies get their footing in this complex setting, especially since the game continues to see a "large amount of returning and brand-new players" each month.

As players progress through Lesson Quests, they'll not only get a better understanding of how DAOC works but be rewarded with buff tokens, potions, and other nice goodies. As part of the quest chain, NPCs will demonstrate crowd control techniques and other RvR survival skills in the hopes that new players will be able to make a better contribution to the war. These tutorial quests can also be skipped if players already know the ropes.

Lesson Quests aren't the only new additions coming with 1.110, although Thornhill says we'll have to wait until another day to hear about the rest.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot takes players to school originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversarybeginner-experiencebioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diarydeveloper-diaryea-mythicJohn-Thronhilllesson-questsmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-experiencenew-user-journeypatch-1.110pvprvrtrainertutorialFri, 16 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Non-vanilla server rulesets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-perfect-ten-non-vanilla-server-rulesets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-perfect-ten-non-vanilla-server-rulesets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-perfect-ten-non-vanilla-server-rulesets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
I've always thought that rulesets are a golden opportunity for MMO developers to get creative with their products and try something fresh and exciting. Unfortunately, most every MMO these days, new and old, adheres to the four "vanilla" rulesets that have been in place since Pong. You have your default PvE, your same-as-PvE-except-we-have-a-naming-policy PvE-RP, and the two player vs. player variants: PvP and PvP-RP.

Those are all well and good, but... y'know... couldn't rulesets be used to create fascinating variations on these games? It turns out that yes, yes they can.

While the vanilla rulesets are the vast majority, there does exist a group of fringe rulesets that dared to walk the different patch, er, path and made versions of MMOs that are a bold and refreshing flavor. Like blue! Sometimes these new rulesets were whipped up to inject new life into an aging title, giving players a valid reason to come back and see the game from a different perspective.

In this week's Perfect Ten, we're going to check out just how wild 'n' wacky server rulesets can get!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Non-vanilla server rulesets

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Non-vanilla server rulesets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5150acage-of-conanasherons-callblood-and-glorycity-of-heroescodemasterscohcooperativedaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalldofuseqeqiieqmaceveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-iiexchangefallen-earthfeaturedffafree-for-allheroiclandrovallord-of-the-rings-onlineloreplaylotroperfect-10perfect-tenpermadeathplanes-of-powerprogressionpvproleplay-encouragedrperule-setrulesetrulesetsserverserver-rulesserversshadowbaneshardshardssiege-perilousstation-exchangesubscriber-onlythe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbineultima-onlineuovanguardvip-onlyThu, 08 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
Mythic is taking an interesting approach in promoting its new MOBA, Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes -- it's throwing Warhammer Online under the bus. At the Wrath of Heroes reveal panel at PAX, the Mythic team talked up its new project as something that Heroes' parent game is not.

The team found that people liked WAR but couldn't justify investing in it, so Mythic wanted to create an experience for them. The team took what it saw as one the more popular aspects of WAR -- the scenarios -- and modified them to pit three teams (six on each) against each other for quick, 15-minute gameplay sessions. On death, you can choose any hero in your arsenal so you can adjust to whatever your team needs.

This game format allowed the team to strip away the parts of the game it saw as unnecessary. "We went, you know what? If you play the MMO, we give you all this cool equipment on your adventure, and it's a neat thing to do, but let's just get rid of the boring crap and give people cool [stuff] to wear," Paul Barnett said.

Citing the accumulation of multiple -- and sometimes quite situational -- skills over the course of "748,000 hours of grinding," Barnett said that his team got rid of this approach by focusing on only five skills per hero in Wrath of Heroes. He thinks that the small incremental progress of skills and skill effects in Warhammer Online is "dull" and instead extolls Wrath of Heroes for picking the best skills, effects and armor so that players don't have to worry about getting all of them.

You can watch the full reveal panel of Wrath of Heroes after the jump.

[Thanks to Joris for the tip!]

Continue reading Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR

MassivelyMythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6v6v6bioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdeveloper-panelea-mythicf2pfree-to-playgamespotgearmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-prime-2011reveal-panelthrow-under-the-buswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesTue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAoC inspiration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gamescom-2011-asta-video-talks-design-philosophy-and-daoc-inspi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gamescom-2011-asta-video-talks-design-philosophy-and-daoc-inspi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gamescom-2011-asta-video-talks-design-philosophy-and-daoc-inspi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

ASTA - caster
Last month we brought you a brief blurb about ASTA, the new fantasy MMORPG from NHN. The CryEngine3-powered title is making its official debut at this week's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and a six-minute video trailer has surfaced that shows off quite a bit of detail about the new title.

The clip features a lot of concept art, behind-the-scenes shots, and talking-head developer interviews as well as an English-dubbed voiceover that's heavy on lore and backstory bits. There's also a lot of commentary regarding ASTA's design philosophy as well as how the developers are striving to avoid Asian MMO cliches to create a title that is original yet familiar.

Finally, the video lets us in on the fact that ASTA is aimed at players "who are not very good at controlling the keyboard and the mouse simultaneously." Despite its apparent simplicity, ASTA will be featuring RvR and PvP mechanics designed specifically to facilitate large-scale conflict rather than small-party skirmishes or duels. Dark Age of Camelot fans may be interested to know that the ASTA video specifically references the older title as inspirational material, and you can find that and more after the cut.

Continue reading Gamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAoC inspiration

MassivelyGamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAoC inspiration originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astacryengine-3daocdark-age-of-cameloteastern-fantasyfantasygame-mechanicsgamescomgamescom-2011loremechanicsnhnpvpreal-world-eventsrealm-vs-realmrvrtrailervideoWed, 17 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Shadowbane
I've long since enjoyed doing this column because, to me, it feels like the next best thing to having been there back in the day, playing these games. No one MMO player can occupy all titles at once, so experiences are bound to pass us by. Fortunately, the gamers who were there have long memories and are often more than willing to share a story or two if given half the chance.

After last week's initial foray into our Shadowbane retrospective, I fished around for a hearty veteran of the minotaur wars who was willing to step up and answer a few questions without succumbing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Within a minute, my good friend Grimnir bit into the topic, and I reeled him in as he flopped and gasped for air. At some point, this metaphor got away from me, but no worries. Hit that jump and let's cast our nets down memory river and see what we can dredge up!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggerdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalldramaeveeve-onlinef2pfactionfeaturedfishing-metaphorfree-to-playgankgankergankinggrimnirgrimnirs-grudgesguild-vs-guildmudmudsopen-world-pvppkpkersplayer-citiespolitical-systempoliticspvpracial-divideracismrebootriftsandboxshadowbanethe-game-archaeologisttrash-talkubisoftwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cloneTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST