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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Not So Massively: The pseudo-MMOs of PAX South 2015]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/not-so-massively-the-pseudo-mmos-of-pax-south-2015/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/not-so-massively-the-pseudo-mmos-of-pax-south-2015/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/not-so-massively-the-pseudo-mmos-of-pax-south-2015/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM - Gigantic
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

This past weekend was PAX South 2015, the first PAX held in San Antonio, and our reporters covered not-so-massive online games in addition to MMORPGs, including Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Shroud of the Avatar, Gigantic, Moonrise and State of Decay, Pox Nora, and TUG. Here's what else the week brought not-so-massive fans.

Continue reading Not So Massively: The pseudo-MMOs of PAX South 2015

MassivelyNot So Massively: The pseudo-MMOs of PAX South 2015 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>borderlands-onlinebrianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingconconventiondayzdestinydotae-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportseventevent-coverageeventsexpof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgigantichearthstoneheroes-in-the-skyheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmarvel-heroesmassively-event-coveragemobamoonrisenewsnosgothnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpath-of-exilepaxpax-2015pax-southpax-south-2015penny-arcade-expopoepox-norapvpround-uproundupshards-of-warshroud-of-the-avatarsotaspace-engineersstar-citizenstate-of-decaythe-crewthe-witcher-battle-arenatugvideovideoswarframeworld-of-speedworld-of-warshipswowsMon, 26 Jan 2015 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ has sold over 3 million early access copies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/dayz-has-sold-over-3-million-early-access-copies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/dayz-has-sold-over-3-million-early-access-copies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/dayz-has-sold-over-3-million-early-access-copies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ has been on Steam early access for over a year now, and what does the post-apocalyptic zombie sandbox have to show for it? Well, over 3 million customers, for starters.

A new Bohemia Interactive press release touts the 24 updates the game has seen since its "launch," and it also mentions ongoing improvements including a core engine rewrite begun in 2014. The new engine is called Enfusion, and it includes renderer upgrades and corresponding performance upticks as well as "vastly improved" particle effect aesthetics.

Bohemia also notes that the DayZ dev team now boasts over 80 people.

[Source: Bohemia Interactive press release]

MassivelyDayZ has sold over 3 million early access copies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemia-interactiveday-zdayzgankboxgankinghorrorpost-apocalypticpvpsandboxzombieFri, 23 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Infestation producer: The War Z was a 'terrible choice of a name']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/infestation-producer-the-war-z-was-a-terrible-choice-of-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/infestation-producer-the-war-z-was-a-terrible-choice-of-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/15/infestation-producer-the-war-z-was-a-terrible-choice-of-a-name/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

the war z
Infestation Survivor Stories (previously known as The War Z) Executive Producer Sergey Titov has penned a post-mortem on Gamasutra about the game's launch in 2012, noting how inviting the comparison to DayZ worked against the project.

"That said, The War Z was a terrible choice of name, as it naturally invited comparisons between our game and DayZ," Titov admitted. "We made a big mistake in not listening to the vocal minority of our community who thought the name was terrible [...] Beyond not listening to the community, we were also very arrogant in our public communications. We should have taken more care to communicate how and why this was not a DayZ clone, citing specific differences in both design and conception. Instead of saying to ourselves 'Oh well, haters gonna hate!' we should have tried to understand where the hate was coming from and address it."

Another key mistake that Titov and his team made was engaging in an "arms race" to get The War Z to Steam before DayZ, which resulted in its being yanked from that platform due to misrepresentation of the existing game features. Even with these missteps, Titov said that Infestation sold 2.8 million copies, and of those, over half logged at least 50 hours of playing time apiece.

You can read Massively's hands-on impressions of this title from 2013.

MassivelyInfestation producer: The War Z was a 'terrible choice of a name' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b2pbuy-to-playcash-grabdayzfeaturedhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehands-onhorrorinfestationinfestation-survivor-storiespost-mortemsandboxsergey-titovsteamSurvival-Horrorsurvival-sandboxthe-war-zwar-zwarzzombiezombie-mmoThu, 15 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: SMITE's tourney, Shadow Realms' do-over, Heroes of the Storm's new mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/not-so-massively-smites-tourney-shadow-realms-do-over-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/not-so-massively-smites-tourney-shadow-realms-do-over-heroe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/12/not-so-massively-smites-tourney-shadow-realms-do-over-heroe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SMITE
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: SMITE's tourney, Shadow Realms' do-over, Heroes of the Storm's new mode

MassivelyNot So Massively: SMITE's tourney, Shadow Realms' do-over, Heroes of the Storm's new mode originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblacklight-retributionblizzardbrianna-royce-nsmchaos-heroeschaos-heroes-onlinecognitive-primecompetitive-gamingdayzdestinydotadota-2e-sporte-sportseducationeliteelite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamer-launchguild-launchhawkgirlhearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormhotshou-yiinfinite-crisisleague-of-legendslolminecraftmobamojangnathan-adamsnewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionoverwatchplanets-3planets3prize-poolpvpround-uproundupshadow-realmssmitethe-internationaltournamentturbineuniversityvalvevideovideoswar-thunderworld-championshipsww2zombie-studiosMon, 12 Jan 2015 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ fan film lacks zombies, still feels like DayZ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/dayz-fan-short-lacks-zombies-still-feels-like-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/dayz-fan-short-lacks-zombies-still-feels-like-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/08/dayz-fan-short-lacks-zombies-still-feels-like-dayz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ creator Dean Hall tweeted his appreciation for a new fan film based on his popular zombie-flavored open world title earlier today. And why not? The flick is a believably bleak meditation on the game's dog-eat-dog post-apocalypse, even though it doesn't feature a single zombie.

Click past the cut to give it a look!

Continue reading DayZ fan film lacks zombies, still feels like DayZ

MassivelyDayZ fan film lacks zombies, still feels like DayZ originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day-zdayzdean-hallfan-filmshorrorsandboxshort-filmssurvival-sandboxzombiesThu, 08 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/not-so-massively-elites-launch-transformers-sunset-and-smit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/not-so-massively-elites-launch-transformers-sunset-and-smit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/not-so-massively-elites-launch-transformers-sunset-and-smit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Transformers
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool

MassivelyNot So Massively: Elite's launch, Transformers' sunset, and SMITE's $2M prize pool originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarena-commanderbrianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingdayzdestinydotae-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportseve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgta-onlinehearthstoneinfinite-crisisleague-of-legendslolmarvel-heroesmechwarrior-onlinemobamoonrisenewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpvpround-uproundupshardsof-warsmitesmite-world-championshipsstar-citizensteel-generalstransformerstransformers-universevideovideoswar-thunderworld-championshipsMon, 22 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[H1Z1 early access available January 15]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/h1z1-early-access-available-january-15/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/h1z1-early-access-available-january-15/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/h1z1-early-access-available-january-15/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SOE's H1Z1 zombie sandbox is coming to Steam early access on January 15th. CEO John Smedley posted the news to Reddit a few moments ago, and he was quite specific about who should purchase the title in its current form.

"Is it going to be a finished game? Absolutely not. If that's what you're expecting, DO NOT BUY EARLY ACCESS," he wrote. "The goal here is to let you in early and help us mold it into a game you want to be a part of for quite a long time." Smedley went on to mention the entry-level price point ($19.99) and he also addressed comparisons between H1Z1 and Day Z.

"Is H1Z1 going to be better than Day Z day one? No it won't. We'll get asked that question a lot and I wanted to be up front about it," Smedley explained. "We're not as feature-rich and they have a lot of really cool stuff we just don't have yet. That being said, we're also a different game. We're an MMO and our goals are to create a large scale world that gives you the incredible feeling of being a survivor in a zombie apocalypse."

MassivelyH1Z1 early access available January 15 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingday-zdayzh1z1john-smedleyopen-pvppost-apocpost-apocalypsepvpsandboxsoesony-online-entertainmentzombiesMon, 08 Dec 2014 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: LoL's Rek'Sai, DayZ's price hikes, and The Crew's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/not-so-massively-lols-reksai-dayzs-price-hikes-and-the-cre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/not-so-massively-lols-reksai-dayzs-price-hikes-and-the-cre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/01/not-so-massively-lols-reksai-dayzs-price-hikes-and-the-cre/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HoN
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL's Rek'Sai, DayZ's price hikes, and The Crew's launch

MassivelyNot So Massively: LoL's Rek'Sai, DayZ's price hikes, and The Crew's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmcivilization-onlinecompetitive-gamingdayzdestinydotadreamhacke-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playheroes-of-newerthheroes-of-the-stormhotsleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpath-of-exilepoepvpround-uproundupshards-of-warstar-citizenthe-crewubisoftvideovideosworld-of-speedMon, 01 Dec 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Hellgate's return, HEX's beta, and Elite's pricing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/not-so-massively-hellgates-return-hexs-beta-and-elites-pri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/not-so-massively-hellgates-return-hexs-beta-and-elites-pri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/not-so-massively-hellgates-return-hexs-beta-and-elites-pri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Hellgate's return, HEX's beta, and Elite's pricing

MassivelyNot So Massively: Hellgate's return, HEX's beta, and Elite's pricing originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beyond-solbrianna-royce-nsmchance-thomaschaos-heroeschaos-heroes-onlinecompetitive-gamingd3dayzdestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfeaturedflagshippedfree-to-playhearthstonehellgateheroes-of-the-stormhexhotsMarvel Heroesmarvel-heroesmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpvpriotriot-gamesround-uproundupSciTechSerpentsmitestar-citizenSteamthe-crewtugvaingloryvideovideosworld-of-speedMon, 15 Sep 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ Producer: 'You are playing development builds']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/10/dayz-producer-you-are-playing-development-builds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/10/dayz-producer-you-are-playing-development-builds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/10/dayz-producer-you-are-playing-development-builds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

That rare time when the beta defense sort of works. Almost.
DayZ is a title in early access. That means that buying the game now will give you access to the full game when it goes live as well as the development versions along the way. Producer Brian Hicks recently took to the game's official forums to respond to player feedback by stating this rather bluntly: "You are not playing DayZ. You are playing development builds."

Hicks went on to explain that the game's current development pace is entirely normal for a large project, with the main difference being that most of these early builds are not seen by the public at large. Players who are displeased by the earlier builds are encouraged to step back and check in again when release is closer, as the later beta versions or the release client will be far closer to the finished experience. Whether or not you've been enjoying the game, it's a useful look at the development process and what it can mean to be playing on early access.

MassivelyDayZ Producer: 'You are playing development builds' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testalphasbetabetasbohemia-interactivebrian-hicksdayzdayz-standalonedevelopmentdevelopment-processearly-accessWed, 10 Sep 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are MMO mods and emulators on their way out?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/22/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-mods-and-emulators-on-their-way-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/22/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-mods-and-emulators-on-their-way-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/22/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-mods-and-emulators-on-their-way-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

E&B
We don't talk about emulators on Massively often because we're forbidden to encourage illegal activities or link or name specific emulators save those rare few publicly sanctioned by studios (so please don't). In fact, we've written before that emulators are a frustrating topic for many of our writers since gamers pour boatloads of creativity and technical skill into both legal and illegal emulators for games dead and alive, creativity that we can't write about even when we'd like to.

I can't be the only one who's wondered whether legit modders and underworld emulator coders are abandoning their craft in favor of more legal ventures, however. There might be more sunsetted MMOs, moddable UIs, and calls for "classic" game versions than ever, but the rise of low-risk crowdfunding, easy Steam greenlighting, and modular multiplayer titles that encourage customization makes me suspect that people who once modded shady MMO emulators or built interfaces for the masses are being lured away to work on something more legitimate or profitable or resume-worthy.

What do you think? Are emulators and modding going out of fashion? (Please don't link to anything illegal!)

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 MMO mods and emulators on their way out? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-callbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddayzdota-2emuemulatoremulatorslawlegalmodmoddersmoddingmodsopinionshroud-of-the-avatarsotatdgthe-daily-grindFri, 22 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Path of Exiles' Master of the Hunt, Destiny's expansion, and BioWare's Shadow Realms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/not-so-massively-path-of-exiles-master-of-the-hunt-destinys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/not-so-massively-path-of-exiles-master-of-the-hunt-destinys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/18/not-so-massively-path-of-exiles-master-of-the-hunt-destinys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

POE
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Path of Exiles' Master of the Hunt, Destiny's expansion, and BioWare's Shadow Realms

MassivelyNot So Massively: Path of Exiles' Master of the Hunt, Destiny's expansion, and BioWare's Shadow Realms originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamescomheroes-of-the-stormhotsleague-of-legendslineagelineage-eternallolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpath-of-exilepoepvpriot-gamesround-uproundupshadow-realmsshroud-of-the-avatarskarasmitesotathe-crewvideovideoswar-thunderwarframeMon, 18 Aug 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ switches over to DirectX 11 and reworked controls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/dayz-switches-over-to-directx-11-and-reworked-controls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/dayz-switches-over-to-directx-11-and-reworked-controls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/dayz-switches-over-to-directx-11-and-reworked-controls/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

dayz
The days of DayZ as we knew it are over; all hail the upcoming changes to everyone's favorite gankfest featuring the occasional zombie!

In an interview this week, DayZ creator Dean Hall outlined six improvements that the team is working on for the standalone version of the game. Right out of the gate is the decision to add an option to toggle DirectX 11 to make everything look a lot better. "Implementing DirectX 10 or 11 will have a dramatic, instant visual difference and quite a significant performance difference," Hall said.

Other changes include new 64-bit server architecture, better hunting mechanics, improved controls, a reworked loot system, and an early game experience fashioned specifically for new players.

MassivelyDayZ switches over to DirectX 11 and reworked controls originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2014 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabohemiabohemia-interactivedayzdean-halldev-diaryhackinterviewlivestockpathfindingsandboxsurvival-sandboxzombie-pathfindingMon, 30 Jun 2014 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Destiny, Star Citizen, and Elite at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/not-so-massively-destiny-star-citizen-and-elite-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/not-so-massively-destiny-star-citizen-and-elite-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/16/not-so-massively-destiny-star-citizen-and-elite-at-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elite
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Destiny, Star Citizen, and Elite at E3

MassivelyNot So Massively: Destiny, Star Citizen, and Elite at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingconconsoleconsolesconventionconvention-coveraged3dawngatedayzdestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportse3e3-2014electronic-entertainment-expoeliteelite-dangerousesportesportseveeve-valkyrieevent-coverageexpof2pfeaturedfree-to-playmarvel-heroesmassively-event-coveragemobanewsno-mans-skynot-so-massivelynsmoculus-riftopinionplanetside-2pvpround-uproundupsmitestar-citizenthe-crewthe-divisionvalkyrievideovideosvirtual-realityvrwarframeworld-of-tanksworld-of-warshipsMon, 16 Jun 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do games prompt cruel behavior?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/why-do-games-prompt-cruel-behavior/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/why-do-games-prompt-cruel-behavior/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/why-do-games-prompt-cruel-behavior/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Because when you're bored, you have to create something to do?
Games like DayZ and Rust have become a whole genre unto themselves: open-world survival sandboxes that quickly turn into simulations of human cruelty. But why is that, exactly? Why do people in a sandbox devote so much of their energy to tearing one another down with such vigor? A recent article on Wired asks exactly that question, exploring these open-world games and why they tend to provoke such abject cruelty in their participants.

The piece comes to no hard and fast conclusions, speaking both from personal experiences and from interviews with other players. One player speculates that the core of it is that these games give you nothing but tools, so players invent their own fun by using other players as content. Another possible explanation is the very nature of catharsis, envisioning dark behaviors whilst knowing that you would never carry them out in the real world. Take a look at the full article if you'd like a deeper look at why players spend so much time in games where anything goes by clubbing others with rocks.

MassivelyWhy do games prompt cruel behavior? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemia-interactivecruelcrueltyculturedayzdayz-standalonefacepunch-studiosnewsnews-itemsopinionplayer-culturerustsandboxsandboxesspeculationsurvivalsurvival-sandboxesWed, 28 May 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Destiny's pre-orders, The Division's delay, and Heroes of the Storm's Murky]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/not-so-massively-destinys-pre-orders-the-divisions-delay-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/not-so-massively-destinys-pre-orders-the-divisions-delay-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/26/not-so-massively-destinys-pre-orders-the-divisions-delay-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

NSM - Murky
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Destiny's pre-orders, The Division's delay, and Heroes of the Storm's Murky

MassivelyNot So Massively: Destiny's pre-orders, The Division's delay, and Heroes of the Storm's Murky originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardarcarena-of-fateblizzardbrianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormhotsleague-of-legendslolmechwarrior-onlinemobamurkynewsnot-so-massivelynsmoculusoculus-vropinionpath-of-exilepoepvppwereaper-of-soulsround-uproundupstarcraft-2the-divisionthe-internationalvideovideoszenimax-mediaMon, 26 May 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ gives zombies a hand crossing the street]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/dayz-gives-zombies-a-hand-crossing-the-street/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/dayz-gives-zombies-a-hand-crossing-the-street/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/21/dayz-gives-zombies-a-hand-crossing-the-street/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ
Poor zombies. All they want to do is eat a little brains and earn your respect, just like anyone else, but that's hard to do when they're walking into walls and clipping badly into a dumpster. Fortunately for our undead brothers and sisters, the devs on DayZ have figured out a good solution to problematic pathfinding.

"Our problem was not unique, but our situation was: our world is very big yet it requires the same precision as a small one," the devs wrote in a blog post. "The team devoted to solving this decided to use navigation meshes. The serious problem it presented, though, was how to generate these meshes. With nearly two million objects on the map, doing it by hand would not be an option. So a method was devised to split the world up into grids, and then raycast at a precise interval and generate chunks of navmesh."

The result? Zombies that can figure out how to cross a street and go into a building without embarassing themselves. The team also talked about some of the livestock it's creating for the game, including carp to be fished out of ponds by survivors.

MassivelyDayZ gives zombies a hand crossing the street originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactivedayzdev-diaryhacklivestockpathfindingsandboxsurvival-sandboxzombie-pathfindingzombiesWed, 21 May 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: The Division's delay, Atari's MOBA Minimum, and HEX's lawsuit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/not-so-massively-the-divisions-delay-ataris-moba-minimum-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/not-so-massively-the-divisions-delay-ataris-moba-minimum-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/19/not-so-massively-the-divisions-delay-ataris-moba-minimum-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Minimum
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: The Division's delay, Atari's MOBA Minimum, and HEX's lawsuit

MassivelyNot So Massively: The Division's delay, Atari's MOBA Minimum, and HEX's lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astro-lordsatariauto-club-revolutionbrianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfear-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playhearthstonehexleague-of-legendslolminimummobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpath-of-exilepoepvpround-uproundupshards-onlinesmitestar-citizenthe-divisionvalvevideovideoswizards-of-the-coastwotcMon, 19 May 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ servers hacked, Bohemia says user data is safe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/dayz-servers-hacked-bohemia-says-user-data-is-safe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/dayz-servers-hacked-bohemia-says-user-data-is-safe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/dayz-servers-hacked-bohemia-says-user-data-is-safe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ
Bohemia recently confirmed Reddit rumors of an attack on its DayZ servers. Speaking with Rock, Paper Shotgun, the studio downplayed concerns about user data security.

"We have recently detected an attack on some of our servers, the precise nature and scope of this attack is currently being extensively investigated. There were no user data on any of the servers. Current development goals and schedules for our games will not be affected by this attack. More information will follow as our investigation continues," the firm explained.

Initial reports claimed that DayZ's source code was stolen, which could lead to all manner of future exploits in the post-apocalyptic zombie survival sandbox. Bohemia has neither confirmed nor denied the source code rumor.

MassivelyDayZ servers hacked, Bohemia says user data is safe originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 May 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactivedayzdayz-hackdayz-hackeddayz-servers-hackedhackhorrorsandboxsecuritysurvival-sandboxzombiesFri, 16 May 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rust, H1Z1, and the emerging 'survival MMO' genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/08/rust-h1z1-and-the-emerging-survival-mmo-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/08/rust-h1z1-and-the-emerging-survival-mmo-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/08/rust-h1z1-and-the-emerging-survival-mmo-genre/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rust_town
I'm naked and alone again, but that's OK. After having to level up in other games a million times, deal with boring tutorials, repeatedly turn in quests that add no value to my play time, and then watch as my guild slowly bleeds members to the next MMO asking us to repeat the whole ordeal, "naked and alone" is actually nice. Well, maybe just the naked part.

And that, my friends, is the horror-survival/post-apocalypse genre. I love MMOs, but recent themeparks and building games have left me wanting something a bit more dangerous but still not a pointless murderfest. For the most part, these games are less about levels and quests and more about finding items to make sure you don't die. Hunger meters, diseases, and limited supplies in a world filled with enemies who loot you certainly feels like a good throwback to classic RPGs mixed with the multiplayer I've been craving since Asheron's Call first hooked me on MMORPGs.

But community-wise, these games have seemed more like lobby shooters than MMOs, which for a long time made me hesitate to try them. If you've been finding yourself in the same situation, hopefully my little plunge into this bloody genre will give you some ideas of what to expect.

Continue reading Rust, H1Z1, and the emerging 'survival MMO' genre

MassivelyRust, H1Z1, and the emerging 'survival MMO' genre originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaasherons-calldarkfalldayzdayz-moddayz-standalonefeaturedfull-loot-pvph1z1john-smedleyNetheropen-pvpopinionpost-apocpost-apocalypsepost-apocalypticPvPrustSandboxsoesony-online-entertainmentSurvival-HorrorzombiesThu, 08 May 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/not-so-massively-project-legions-reveal-star-citizens-43m-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/not-so-massively-project-legions-reveal-star-citizens-43m-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/05/not-so-massively-project-legions-reveal-star-citizens-43m-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model

MassivelyNot So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbrianna-royce-nsmccpcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2dota-3dust-514e-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportseve-fanfestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgames-of-gloryhearthstoneheroes-and-generalsheroes-of-the-stormhotsmarvel-heroesmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionproject-legionpvpround-uproundupsmitestar-citizenvideovideosMon, 05 May 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Minecraft's Realms service, LoL's latest character, and Hearthstone's world championships]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/not-so-massively-minecrafts-realms-service-lols-latest-chara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/not-so-massively-minecrafts-realms-service-lols-latest-chara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/not-so-massively-minecrafts-realms-service-lols-latest-chara/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Minecraft
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.
  • Minecraft's Realms subscription service is now officially live and ready to take your money.
  • League of Legends introduced new character Braum, the Heart of the Freljord.
  • Blizzard announced the Hearthstone World Championship for this year's BlizzCon.
  • HEX officially launched its closed beta.
  • Diablo III's Reaper of Souls soundtrack was released on iTunes for 10 bucks.
  • Nosgoth posted new screenshots and a dev blog about its new vampire class.
  • SMITE unveiled a new catsuit for playabler character Bastet.
  • Infestation: Survivor Stories claimed 2.5 million players to date and 100k daily logins.
  • DayZ's Dean Hall praised Steam for helping studios bypass publishers.
  • Destiny got a brand-new website and a bunch of new videos -- they're after the break along with more NSM updates!

Continue reading Not So Massively: Minecraft's Realms service, LoL's latest character, and Hearthstone's world championships

MassivelyNot So Massively: Minecraft's Realms service, LoL's latest character, and Hearthstone's world championships originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingconsoled3dayzdean-halldestinydiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2dota2e-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportseternal-crusadeevonyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormhexhotsinfestation-survivor-storiesleague-of-legendslolminecraftminecraft-realmsmobanewsnosgothnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpvpreaper-of-soulsround-uproundupsmitethe-war-zvalvevideovideoswar40kwarfacewarhammer-40k-eternal-crusadeworld-of-warplaneswowpxbox-360Mon, 28 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ's Dean Hall says Steam removes the need for publishers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/dayzs-dean-hall-says-steam-removes-the-need-for-publishers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/dayzs-dean-hall-says-steam-removes-the-need-for-publishers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/28/dayzs-dean-hall-says-steam-removes-the-need-for-publishers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't need a publisher, just my backpack. And a hopeful lack of people with handguns getting ready to shoot me.
Steam's ubiquitous nature as a digital distribution platform has really changed the landscape of PC gaming. It's changed it so much that according to DayZ creator Dean Hall, companies don't really need to worry about a publisher any longer. Hall went on the record recently saying that the Early Access service offered via Steam essentially lets players take over the role of publisher, paying to finish development and providing marketing via word-of-mouth.

The strategy has obviously worked quite well for DayZ, which has sold an impressive number of copies even in its very early and unfinished state. Hall also pontificates that it remains up to publishers to see where they fit into the new paradigm, since Early Access gives smaller studios an option that they wouldn't have otherwise.

MassivelyDayZ's Dean Hall says Steam removes the need for publishers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemia-interactivedayzdean-hallearly-accessgame-industrygreenlightindustrymmo-industrynewsnews-itemssteamsteam-early-accessMon, 28 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: LoL's Twitch revamp, Dota 2's tourney sales, and D3's hotfix]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/07/not-so-massively-lols-twitch-revamp-dota-2s-tourney-sales-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/07/not-so-massively-lols-twitch-revamp-dota-2s-tourney-sales-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/04/07/not-so-massively-lols-twitch-revamp-dota-2s-tourney-sales-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LoL
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL's Twitch revamp, Dota 2's tourney sales, and D3's hotfix

MassivelyNot So Massively: LoL's Twitch revamp, Dota 2's tourney sales, and D3's hotfix originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmccpcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdiablo-3diablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportseliteelite-dangerousesportesportseve-valkyrief2pfeaturedfree-to-playhearthstoneheroes-of-the-stormhotsleague-of-legendslifelesslolmobanethernewsnot-so-massivelynsmopinionplanets-cubedplanets3pvpround-uprounduptransformers-universevalkyrievideovideosvirtual-realityvrwargamingwargaming.netMon, 07 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III's expansion, LoL's team builder, and the Oculus Rift acquisition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-expansion-lols-team-builder-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-expansion-lols-team-builder-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/31/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-expansion-lols-team-builder-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

It's been a week of launches in the MOBA and multiplayer ARPG world!

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's expansion, LoL's team builder, and the Oculus Rift acquisition

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's expansion, LoL's team builder, and the Oculus Rift acquisition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfacebookfeaturedfree-to-playheroes-of-the-stormhotsinfinite-crisisleagueleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnosgothnot-so-massivelynsmoculus-riftopinionprime-worldpvpround-uprounduprunic-gamesshadowrun-onlinesmitestate-of-decaysupermantorchlighttorchlight-2torchlight-iityraelvideovideoswarfacewarframeMon, 31 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bohemia Interactive acquires a new team for DayZ and assembles a roadmap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/28/bohemia-interactive-acquires-a-new-team-for-dayz-and-assembles-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/28/bohemia-interactive-acquires-a-new-team-for-dayz-and-assembles-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/28/bohemia-interactive-acquires-a-new-team-for-dayz-and-assembles-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Marching forward, relentlessly consuming every bit of zombie gaming we can... wait a second.
Are you ready to kill your fellow survivors and take their stuff in DayZ? If so, you've got plenty of company; according to creator Dean Hall, the game has sold 1.7 million copies on Steam thus far. It's given the team good reason to expand, at that. Bohemia Interactive has acquired Cauldron Studios, now renamed Bohemia Interactive Slovakia, and will be putting that team to work developing more content and systems for the zombie sandbox experience.

Hall also outlined a roadmap of the game's coming updates, stating that the end of April should see the inclusion of fireplaces, loot respawns, and crossbows. New pistols and AI pathfinding are next on the list, followed by a 64-bit upgrade and the inclusion of animals for players to hunt and cook. Whether you're looking forward to what comes next or just like the current state of beating up players and taking what they've found, if you're a fan of the game you should take a look at the full rundown.

MassivelyBohemia Interactive acquires a new team for DayZ and assembles a roadmap originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemiabohemia-interactivedayzdean-hallfuture-updatesmodmodsnewsnews-itemspreviewsalessales-figuresupdateupdateszombiezombiesFri, 28 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/24/not-so-massively-the-official-launches-of-smite-and-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/24/not-so-massively-the-official-launches-of-smite-and-diablo-iii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/24/not-so-massively-the-official-launches-of-smite-and-diablo-iii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls

MassivelyNot So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-nsmcash-shopcompetitive-gamingd3dayzdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadota-2e-sporte-sportselite-dangerousesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgdcgothic-fantasyhearthstoneleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropinionproject-morpheuspvproguelikeround-uprounduprpgsmitestate-of-decayvideovideosMon, 24 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: D3's loot revamp, PoE's mini-expansion, and DayZ's cooking skill]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/not-so-massively-d3s-loot-revamp-poes-mini-expansion-and-da/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/not-so-massively-d3s-loot-revamp-poes-mini-expansion-and-da/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/not-so-massively-d3s-loot-revamp-poes-mini-expansion-and-da/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

NSM
Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3's loot revamp, PoE's mini-expansion, and DayZ's cooking skill

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3's loot revamp, PoE's mini-expansion, and DayZ's cooking skill originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blacklight-retributionblizzardbrianna-royce-nsmcompetitive-gamingd3dawngatedayzdiablo-3diablo-IIIdotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgta-onlinehearthstonehexinfinite-crisismighty-quest-for-epic-lootminecraftmobamotanewsnosgothnot-so-massivelynsmopinionpath-of-exilepoepvpreaper-of-soulsround-uproundupskarasmitestate-of-decaytransformers-universevideovideosMon, 03 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ's dev team is doubling up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/dayzs-dev-team-doubling-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/dayzs-dev-team-doubling-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/03/dayzs-dev-team-doubling-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ stealth kill
DayZ may be losing creator Dean Hall toward the end of 2014, but the popular zombie sandbox project will be gaining several additional developers. "We are inducting a large number of new people to the team, effectively doubling the whole project," wrote Hall on the DayZ dev blog.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Hall also reiterated his intention to move on, but stated that he will remain "in a leadership role until at least the end of the year."

MassivelyDayZ's dev team is doubling up originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Mar 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactivedayzdayz-dev-diarydayz-dev-teamdean-hallhorrorrocketsandboxzombiesMon, 03 Mar 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dean Hall is leaving behind DayZ and Bohemia Interactive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/dean-hall-is-leaving-behind-dayz-and-bohemia-interactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/dean-hall-is-leaving-behind-dayz-and-bohemia-interactive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/24/dean-hall-is-leaving-behind-dayz-and-bohemia-interactive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How could you leave all this behind? Easily, apparently.
Games are a bit like children. You work with other people to craft them, to help them go from little more than a twinkle in your eye to something capable of surviving without you. Dean Hall created DayZ, but he's jumping ahead to the part where he metaphorically kicks it out of the house and tells it to get a job. Or he's kicking himself out of the house... the metaphor is a bit tortured, but the important point is that he's leaving DayZ behind.

Why leave a game that's still early in testing and doing well? As Hall puts it, keeping him on the project could eventually lead to his being someone who tells others how things are done rather than adapting along with a changing game and culture. Instead, he's heading to New Zealand with plans of opening a different studio. The changeover is not happening immediately but should take place before the end of the year.

[Thanks to Zipzopboobidybop for the tip!]

MassivelyDean Hall is leaving behind DayZ and Bohemia Interactive originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactivechange-in-managementdayzdayz-standalonedean-halldepartureleaveleavingmanagementnewsnews-itemszombiezombiesMon, 24 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Darkness drawing inspiration from sandbox survival games while EVE CE goes on sale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/world-of-darkness-drawing-inspiration-from-sandbox-survival-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/world-of-darkness-drawing-inspiration-from-sandbox-survival-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/world-of-darkness-drawing-inspiration-from-sandbox-survival-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE
CCP assured World of Darkness fans that the project is "evolving rapidly" despite recent layoffs, will have a presence at Fanfest in May, and is even taking cues from sandbox survival games for its development.

CCP CEO Hilmar Pétursson told RPS that survival games have given the team inspiration for World of Darkness' social dynamics: "DayZ and Rust have shown us the power of a sandbox when you bring it into a more recognizable context. The creators of those experiences often reference EVE Online as an inspiration for their things. We're now cross-inspired by what we're seeing there. How the absence of all these structured game mechanics -- by just allowing these natural interactions to happen -- that is something we're definitely incorporating into how we think about World of Darkness."

Speaking of EVE, the space game's collector edition has gone on sale for $99.99. This 33% discount will last from today through February 17th.

MassivelyWorld of Darkness drawing inspiration from sandbox survival games while EVE CE goes on sale originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdayzdealeveeve-onlinefanfestfanfest-2014fantasygothichorrorinternet-spaceshipspromotionrustsalesandboxsandbox-survivalsci-fispreadsheets-onlinesupernaturalsurvival-horrorvampirevampireswhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessFri, 14 Feb 2014 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/nether-adds-crafting-creature-mode-and-tribes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/nether-adds-crafting-creature-mode-and-tribes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/04/nether-adds-crafting-creature-mode-and-tribes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Nether
The mean streets of Nether are easing up a bit on players, as Phosphor Games has patched in a slew of helpful systems for its February update.

The trio of new features includes crafting, a creature mode, and tribes. Crafting encourages players to scavenge from their adventures and fashion gear and weapons to use and trade. If being a bad guy is your thing, then the new creature mode allows users to step into the twisted role of a nether to stalk victims. And tribes, Nether's version of guilds, are now in the game with bases, a skill tree, and special objectives to be patched in later in the month. Players who join a tribe from now through February 15th will earn special bonuses including currency and a free uniform.

We've got a video showing some of the February update features after the jump, so get a move on, little doggy!

[Source: Phosphor Games press release]

Continue reading Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes

MassivelyNether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DayZ
It may be the most genial stick-em-up of all time. A group of DayZ bandits are ambushing players in game for a truly sinister purpose: to make them sing.

In the following video, you can see and hear players sneak up on unprepared foes, force them to their knees at gunpoint, and then offer them a choice. Either they sing their national anthem or they get shot. The bandits don't make their victims sing the entire thing and are recorded saying that they'll help them out with in-game supplies if they go along with it.

You can preview the spectacle after the jump.

Continue reading DayZ griefers force victims to sing

MassivelyDayZ griefers force victims to sing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasarmaarma-iibanditsbetabetasbohemia-interactivedayzdayz-standalonedean-halldevelopmentearly-accessearly-testinggriefershumornational-anthempatriotismsingvideoFri, 24 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Giveaways, zombies, and capturing the spirit of Ultima Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/ask-massively-giveaways-zombies-and-capturing-the-spirit-of-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/ask-massively-giveaways-zombies-and-capturing-the-spirit-of-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/09/ask-massively-giveaways-zombies-and-capturing-the-spirit-of-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Perpetuum
This week in Ask Massively, we're answering questions about eerily quiet games, giveaways, and capturing the spirit of classic sandboxes and The Walking Dead.

Holden asked, "Why has Perpetuum dropped off the map? I never hear about it anymore. The only time I even remember it is when I am doing searches for (more) robot/mech desktop wallpapers. Once monoclegate blew over, it was as if Perpetuum fell of the face of the earth, but it seems that it is still around from glancing at the website."

This was such a good question that we went digging for an answer before we even added it to Ask Massively. It had been a long time since we'd reported on Perpetuum because it had been a long time since Perpetuum had made a big splash in the news. Readers speculated that the game's playerbase has shrunk over the last two years, but in fact over the winter holiday, developer Avatar Creations posted a dev blog detailing plans for a newbie tutorial island intended to bolster the new player population. Hopefully Holden and other fans of the game will enjoy this "island of noobs" (Avatar's words, not mine!).

Continue reading Ask Massively: Giveaways, zombies, and capturing the spirit of Ultima Online

MassivelyAsk Massively: Giveaways, zombies, and capturing the spirit of Ultima Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnalbion-onlineashen-empiresask-massivelyavataravatar-creationsbrainsssssbrianna-royce-ask-massivelydarkfalldayzdie2niteeldevineveeve-onlinefeaturedgiveawaygiveawayshumorinferno-legendinfestation-survivor-storieslife-is-feudalmassively-metametamortal-onlinenetheropinionperpetuumrunescaperyzomsandboxsci-fishroud-of-the-avatarstate-of-decaythe-repopulationthe-walking-deadultima-onlineuowurm-onlinezombiesThu, 09 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ won't be released in 2014]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/dayz-wont-be-released-in-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/dayz-wont-be-released-in-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/07/dayz-wont-be-released-in-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It is possible that by the time DayZ is in full release we will be fighting off an actual zombie apocalypse.
If all of the reminders from Bohemia Interactive weren't enough to convey the message already, DayZ is still very early in its testing process. A recent post summing up the game's third week in early access mentions that the team is not expecting to be further than beta testing by the end of 2014, stating once again that the only people who should purchase the game's early access are those who want to be a part of the development process.

Aside from that, the development team is looking toward future features including customizable vehicles, structures, and in-depth mechanics for hunting and cooking animals in the wild. At 875,000 copies sold, it seems that the game is carving a niche for itself among zombie survival enthusiasts even if it is still very early in its development. Take a look at the full list of planned improvements to the game in the post.

MassivelyDayZ won't be released in 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasarmaarma-iibetabetasbohemia-interactivedayzdayz-standalonedean-halldevelopmentearly-accessearly-testingnewsnews-itemstestingupdateTue, 07 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ destroys Hall's early sales expectations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/dayz-destroys-halls-early-sales-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/dayz-destroys-halls-early-sales-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/06/dayz-destroys-halls-early-sales-expectations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DayZ

DayZ's standalone client continues its surprisingly successful run, topping 800,000 sales in three short weeks. Creator Dean Hall says he and Bohemia Interactive "had very ambitious plans for 2014, already, however this amount of sales was completely unexpected."

Hall goes on to explain that he would've considered 250,000 sales in the first quarter to be a success, "so to move nearly 800,000 in under a month is crazy." Finally, Hall recommends that gamers do their homework before shelling out $29.99 for the zombie survival sandbox's early access client. "I would recommend a very careful and critical review of whether purchasing now is such a good idea," he wrote on Reddit. "There are many problems which can ruin your gameplay experience. These are being actively fixed, but if you delayed your purchase by a month you would pay the same price but it would be a better experience."

MassivelyDayZ destroys Hall's early sales expectations originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b2pbohemia-interactivebuy-to-playdayzdayz-800kdayz-salesearly-accessrocketsandboxzombiezombiesMon, 06 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ sells 400,000 copies in its first week of early access]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/02/dayz-sells-400-000-copies-in-its-first-week-of-early-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/02/dayz-sells-400-000-copies-in-its-first-week-of-early-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/02/dayz-sells-400-000-copies-in-its-first-week-of-early-access/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wait, this isn't the one where I can make chainsaw gloves to cut up zombies.
The holiday season makes zombies of us all, as we lurch hither and yon through a combination of exhaustion and overeating. So it's totally understandable that you may have forgotten to really check in on the activities of DayZ's early access during the holidays. But now we're all back up and running, and it turns out the game did quite well for itself, with 400,000 copies sold during its first week of early access on Steam.

The official update stresses once again that the game is still very much in an early state, and the people who purchase it should be ready to take part in the ongoing development progress rather than expecting to get a finished game. While the team has understandably been taking a bit of a break over the holiday season, the game has its immediate future already mapped out. Despite the delays, the game seems very much alive in its current state.

MassivelyDayZ sells 400,000 copies in its first week of early access originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabohemia-interactivedayzdean-hallearly-accessearly-developmentearly-salesearly-testingsalessales-figuressteamtestingThu, 02 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Betawatch: December 14 - 20, 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/betawatch-december-14-20-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/betawatch-december-14-20-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/betawatch-december-14-20-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

BABY WE WERE BORN TO RUN (FROM ZOMBIES)!
After a wait so long that you could be forgiven for thinking it would never happen at all, DayZ's standalone version is finally in testing! It's a buggy and early sort of testing that requires you to drop money for it on Steam first, but it's still testing. The standalone reincarnation of what was previously a mod for Arma II seems to have done brisk business.

A lot of games have moved into the testing phase for the holidays: Inferno Legend opened its beta doors, Strife did the same, and ArcheAge went into beta in Russia. (It will never happen here.) Meanwhile, Ingress polished off the last of its testing and went out into the world, while Hearthstone announced an open beta delay.

Yes, there's a full list with more games and such past the break. As always, we appreciate people letting us know if a game crept between testing or launch stages without our noticing!

Continue reading Betawatch: December 14 - 20, 2013

MassivelyBetawatch: December 14 - 20, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasarcheagebetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betadayzfeaturedgame-testinghearthstoneinferno-legendingresslaunchlaunchesmassively-metaopen-betaroundupstrifetestingFri, 20 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ moves 172,000 copies in first 24 hours of early access]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/dayz-moves-172-000-copies-in-first-24-hours-of-early-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/dayz-moves-172-000-copies-in-first-24-hours-of-early-access/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/dayz-moves-172-000-copies-in-first-24-hours-of-early-access/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

DayZ
The standalone version of Arma II zombie survival mod DayZ, which stealthily went live via Steam's early access program earlier this week, has generated $5.1 million in its first 24 hours of availability. According to Bohemia Interactive's Maruk Spanel, DayZ moved 172,500 copies on launch day and 142,403 players were online at the time of his last update.

Creator Dean Hall has been celebrating the successful launch with regular tweets on the game's sales and performance, but he took a moment to remind possible buyers that this version of DayZ is still very much a work in progress:
Please do not just buy the game because you heard it was cool. Many streamers are now streaming. Visit this and view the (many) bugs first.
Early access to DayZ will run you $29.99.

MassivelyDayZ moves 172,000 copies in first 24 hours of early access originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testalpha-testingbetabeta-testbeta-testingbugsdayzdayz-alphadayz-footagedayz-videodean-hallearly-accessearly-alphahorrorlaunchlaunch-daylaunchesnsfwsandboxSteamsteam-storesuicidetestingtrue-blue-alphavideozombiezombiesWed, 18 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ standalone releases alpha on Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/16/dayz-standalone-releases-alpha-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/16/dayz-standalone-releases-alpha-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/16/dayz-standalone-releases-alpha-on-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ
DayZ's "true blue" alpha launched on the Steam store today for $29.99. The release is part of Steam's early access program with a caveat posted that players should not purchase it unless they're OK with "serious issues and possible interruptions of game functioning."

The launch was accompanied by a trailer which has since been pulled from the Steam store due to its graphic nature. Lead developer Dean Hall bemoaned the move on Twitter: "At the last minute, despite being told of the contents of my trailer for DayZ, Steam pulled my trailer due to censorship." The video is still on YouTube if you're curious, although be aware that it is NSFW and has a scene of a suicide.

MassivelyDayZ standalone releases alpha on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testbetabugsdayzdayz-alphadayz-footagedayz-videodean-hallearly-accessearly-alphahorrornsfwsandboxSteamsteam-storesuicidetrue-blue-alphavideozombiezombiesMon, 16 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST