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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[DDO expansion screens show off dryads, werewolves]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - dryads" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/header-1337779357.jpg" /></a></div>
Want the latest <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> expansion screenshots? We've got them for you in our gallery below, and they focus on dryads and werewolf monsters from the forthcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> patch. The shots are set in the Eveningstar region of the Forgotten Realms, which players will initially encounter after porting over from <em>DDO's</em> original Eberron locale.<br />
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<em>Menace of the Underdark</em> will add quite a bit of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/">new content</a> to <em>DDO</em>, including a new Druid class, epic destinies, and an old familiar campaign setting. The expansion is now available for pre-order on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine's</a> website. It launches on June 25th.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/">Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041258"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryadfight_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/werewolf02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/">DDO expansion screens show off dryads, werewolves</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20243385/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/ddo-expansion-screens-show-off-dryads-werewolves/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dryads</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>werewolves</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 10:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leaderboard/" rel="tag">Leaderboard</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/"><img alt="Permadeath" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/permadeath.jpg" /></a></div>
Permadeath is one of those game mechanics that seems destined to forever be nibbling away at the fringe of the MMO genre than invited to the cool kids' table. Many players find themselves aghast at the notion of losing all their hard-earned progress with one untimely demise, and it seems like game developers agree with them: Very few MMOs have any sort of permadeath option.<br />
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However, this most-severest-of-severe death penalties does persist. Some players elect to form <a href="http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Mortal_Voyage_Permadeath_Guild">guilds</a> and <a href="http://wowironman.com/">meta-groups</a> to pursue a permadeath lifestyle in their games. A few upcoming titles, such as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/salem/"><em>Salem</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/wizardry-online/"><em>Wizardry Online</em></a>, have permadeath as a core mechanic. Even the recently released <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/"><em>Diablo III</em></a> has a "hardcore" permadeath mode for the brave at heart.<br />
<br />
The question we put before you today is yet another nibble that may never be noticed by the mainstream, but it's important to consider: Is permadeath worth including in MMO design, even as an optional mechanic or server, or should this brand of death penalty kick the bucket once and for all? Vote after the jump!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/">Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20241604/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/leaderboard-permadeath-vs-no-permadeath/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battle-royal</category><category>battlenet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>d3</category><category>ddo</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>historical</category><category>leaderboard</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>new-england</category><category>one-on-one</category><category>one-vs-one</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>opinion</category><category>paradox</category><category>paradox-interactive</category><category>permadeath</category><category>permanent-death</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>salem</category><category>sandbox</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>versus</category><category>vote</category><category>votes</category><category>voting</category><category>vs</category><category>wizardry-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Druid wolf form" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/wolfform.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> continues its <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> info blitz this morning with a new video centering on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> maiden expansion. If you've been hiding in a troll cave for the last month, you may not be aware that the devs are taking players from Eberron to the Forgotten Realms starting on June 25th.<br />
<br />
There's also a new Druid class, which is the focus of today's dev diary clip. Executive producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz">Fernando Paiz</a> calls the Druid the single most requested feature by the <em>DDO</em> playerbase over the last six years. Click past the cut to learn more about the class and see if it measures up to your expectations.<br />
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[Source: Turbine press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/">New DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20240676/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-video</category><category>dnd</category><category>druid</category><category>druid-video</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark-video</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise/" rel="tag">Earthrise</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-speaking/" rel="tag">Massively Speaking</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/"><img alt="The Secret World" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/tswhollowearthportal-1337003971.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Massively Speaking Episode </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">201 </span>gets into all of your dirty little secrets -- not to mention <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom/">Funcom's</a>, as well! We're joined by Jef, who gives us the full scoop on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world"><em>The Secret World</em></a> now that the NDA's come tumbling down. Will this be another Failcom or possibly a Fabulouscom? Only Jef knows, and he's highly resistant to torture and bribery.<br />
<br />
Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to <a href="mailto:podcast@massively.com?subject=Massively%20Speaking">podcast@massively.com</a>. We may just read your email on the air!<br />
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<br />
Read below the cut for the full show notes.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/">Massively Speaking Episode 201: No more secrets</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20237486/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/massively-speaking-episode-201-no-more-secrets/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>brant</category><category>brian-green</category><category>brian-psychchild-green</category><category>brianna-royce</category><category>bricks</category><category>browser</category><category>browser-based</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>earthrise</category><category>f2p</category><category>faction</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>historical</category><category>horror</category><category>humor</category><category>justin-olivetti</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>massively-speaking</category><category>masthead</category><category>masthead-studios</category><category>mythology</category><category>namaste</category><category>namaste-entertainment</category><category>namaste-inc</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>new-england</category><category>opinion</category><category>paradox</category><category>paradox-interactive</category><category>permadeath</category><category>pgc</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>podcast</category><category>podcasting</category><category>podcasts</category><category>psychochild</category><category>salem</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fantasy</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>secret-world</category><category>skill-based</category><category>storybricks</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>virtual-world</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><enclosure url="http://massively.joystiq.com/podcasts/05-15-12-massively-E201.mp3" length="38132348" type="audio/mpeg"/><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:00 EST</pubDate><itunes:subtitle>Massively Speaking Episode 201</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Massively.com Staff</itunes:author><itunes:duration>01:03:33</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>podcasts</itunes:keywords></item><item><title><![CDATA[Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/"><img alt="DDO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/title.jpg" /></a></div>
On Thursday, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> will take the wraps off of <a href="http://www.ddo.com"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online:</em></a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/">commence with the closed beta</a>. It's a heady time for both the team and playerbase, as this 2007 title steps into the big leagues of expansion-holding MMOs. And because we know you hate waiting for all the goods, we joined Turbine on the test server for an advance look at some of the hottest features coming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/">with June's launch</a>.<br />
<br />
On the phone with us was Senior Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/eric-boyer/">Eric Boyer</a>, Community Specialist Amanda Grove, and Design Director <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ian-currie">Ian Currie</a>. "We want to show players how big the expansion pack is and how much it'll be changing the game," Boyer began, telling us that levels one through 20 were merely "heroic" -- now it'll be time to make the move into epic territory.<br />
<br />
From a look at the much-anticipated Druid and the previously vague Epic Destinies to a lightning tour of your first day in the Forgotten Realms, the team was out to convince us that <em>Menace of the Underdark</em> is fully worthy of the "expansion" moniker. How's it looking so far? Take a look for yourself!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/">Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20234142/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>amanda-grove</category><category>beta</category><category>character-customization</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>drow</category><category>druid</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eberron</category><category>epic-destinies</category><category>epic-destiny</category><category>epic-destiny-system</category><category>eric-boyer</category><category>EveningStar</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>fate-points</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>hands-on</category><category>ian-currie</category><category>level-cap-increase</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>moria</category><category>preview</category><category>the-darkening</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>twist-of-fate</category><category>ui</category><category>update-15</category><category>wolf-pack</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[DDO's Menace of the Underdark expansion beta starts May 10th]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - when dark elves attack" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/header.jpg" /></a></div>
Last week we showed you some screenshots of Eveningstar, a new town in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> expansion. Today <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> has released four additional shots taken in and around the small settlement that greets players as they transition from Eberron to the Forgotten Realms.<br />
<br />
Turbine has also told us that the expansion closed beta will kick off on May 10th. The testing period will be exclusive to pre-order purchasers of <em>MotU</em>, so head to the official <em>DDO</em> site to learn more!<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/">Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041258"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryadfight_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/werewolf02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/">DDO's Menace of the Underdark expansion beta starts May 10th</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20230067/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/ddos-menace-of-the-underdark-expansion-beta-starts-may-10th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-expansion</category><category>ddo-gallery</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eveningstar</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[See Eveningstar under siege in new DDO expansion screenshots]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Eveningstar under siege" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/header-1335367117.jpg" /></a></div>
Another week, another set of screenshots for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> expansion. This time around, we've got two new areas to explore: the town of Eveningstar (and some night battles set therein) and the Ruins of Temple Mystra.<br />
<br />
<em>DDO</em> players can check these areas out after leaving Eberron behind and stepping into <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine's</a> version of the beloved Forgotten Realms campaign setting. The expansion, <em>DDO's</em> first, is slated for June 25th. Head to the official website for more, but not before you peruse our screenshot gallery below.<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/">Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041258"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryadfight_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/werewolf02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/">See Eveningstar under siege in new DDO expansion screenshots</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20223890/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/see-eveningstar-under-siege-in-new-ddo-expansion-screenshots/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-expansion</category><category>ddo-gallery</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eveningstar</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine talks Eberron vs. Forgotten realms in new DDO video]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - spider queen" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/f15cc9d1af490575.jpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> has released the next installment in its <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> dev diary series. The video clip runs for two-and-a-half minutes and features various developer personalities discussing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> jump from one fantasy world to another.<br />
<br />
"It's really important to us that Faerun feels unique and is more true to the classic high-fantasy setting," says producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz">Fernando Paiz</a>. Whereas Eberron featured elements of fantasy-tech and magicpunk, the Forgotten Realms is one of the more iconic and traditional high fantasy settings around. As such, Turbine says, it has collaborated closely with Wizards of the Coast to ensure the authenticity of the expansion experience.<br />
<br />
So what is the link between these two different realms? In a word, Lolth, the drow spider-queen goddess who is powerful enough to connect the worlds. Turbine remains mum on the specifics, though, so you'll have to check out the expansion to see for yourself.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Turbine talks Eberron vs. Forgotten realms in new DDO video</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/">Turbine talks Eberron vs. Forgotten realms in new DDO video</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20220412/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/turbine-talks-eberron-vs-forgotten-realms-in-new-ddo-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beyond-the-game</category><category>beyond-the-web-trailer</category><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-expansion</category><category>ddo-expansion-video</category><category>ddo-video</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>magicpunk</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark-video</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online invites players to build a guild]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/promotions/" rel="tag">Promotions</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/"><img alt="Fight the Drow, fight random strangers in a bar.  Either one." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/ddo-buildguild-epl-419.jpg" /></a></div>
If you're going to take on the Drow in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dungeons-and-Dragons-Online/">Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online</a></em>, you're going to need help. You'll need allies, people you can count on no matter what. In other words, you need a guild. That means recruiting some good players -- and <a href="http://www.ddo.com/buildyourguild">the new Build Your Guild event</a> is aimed at giving players incentives for just that. Running until late June, the event offers players two different ways to gain fantastic advantages just by being in a guild.<br />
<br />
All players can gain extra experience and loot by grouping with fellow guild members, whether you're a new player or an old hand. You can also gain special bounties for reaching leveling milestones, which grants bonus guild renown and astral diamonds. Last but not least, guilds will randomly be rewarded a variety of prizes during the length of the event, culminating with a level 85 airship in late June. The event should provide plenty of incentive for players to work together in a guild, and if you happen to get some prizes along the way, <a href="http://www.ddo.com/buildyourguild">so much the better</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/">Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online invites players to build a guild</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20219958/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/dungeons-and-dragons-online-invites-players-to-build-a-guild/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>build-your-guild</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>guild</category><category>guilds</category><category>in-game-events</category><category>new</category><category>promotions</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine shows off new DDO expansion beasties]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - dire carebear" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/header-1334672108.jpg" /></a></div>
Those coy devils at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> have released another batch of screenshots hyping the upcoming expansion pack for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a>. As you're probably aware, the <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark">Menace of the Underdark</a></em> update will transport players from Eberron to the Forgotten Realms. As such, there are certain iconic D&amp;D monsters that simply must make an appearance.<br />
<br />
Chief among these are the drider, the dire bear, the green dragon, and the draegloth. We've got these and a few more available for your perusal in our <em>DDO</em> gallery below, so give them a good look before you head to the game's official site for more info on the expansion. And hurry up already; the new content is coming June 25th!<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/">Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041258"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryadfight_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/werewolf02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/">Turbine shows off new DDO expansion beasties</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20217431/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/turbine-shows-off-new-ddo-expansion-beasties/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-expansion</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>xpac</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New DDO trailer goes behind the scenes on Underdark expansion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Menace of the Underdark combat" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/ddo.jpg" /></a></div>
Can't get enough of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine's</a> new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> expansion, eh? We can't either, and fortunately the firm has released a new trailer that takes us behind the scenes on the making of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> content.<br />
<br />
The clip features producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz">Fernando Paiz</a>, who calls the expansion the largest content push in the game's six-year history. Since the expansion is delving into a new IP (the Forgotten Realms, as opposed to <em>DDO's</em> original Eberron setting), the devs have had to adjust their thinking in terms of both content and art direction. Turbine's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/jeff-de-puy">Jeff De Puy</a> says that "almost all the monsters [the devs are] creating for Forgotten Realms are epically large and big."<br />
<br />
How epically large and big? You'll have to click past the cut and view the video to find out.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New DDO trailer goes behind the scenes on Underdark expansion</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/">New DDO trailer goes behind the scenes on Underdark expansion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20213317/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/new-ddo-trailer-goes-behind-the-scenes-on-underdark-expansion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>art-direction</category><category>beyond-the-web</category><category>beyond-the-web-trailer</category><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-beyond-the-web</category><category>ddo-expansion</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>fernando-paiz</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>jeff-de-puy</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/polls/" rel="tag">Polls</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leaderboard/" rel="tag">Leaderboard</a></p><p style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/"><img alt="Leaderboard" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/hotbar.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>
	I've noticed that whenever a studio is developing an MMO that features action combat (i.e., faster-paced combat that's more dependent on positioning, reflexes, and mouse usage), it acts as though it's developing the savior of the genre -- even though action combat is nothing new (just ask <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> or <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>). Instead of seeing it as a revolution that will bring us out of the supposed dark ages, I look at it as a different style of play that some prefer while others shun.<br />
	<br />
	Both have their pros and cons. Hotbar combat allows for quick access to a wide variety of skills, levels the playing field for those of us old fogeys who aren't so tight in the reflex department, and focuses more on strategic thinking. However, it's typically slower and not as visceral as many non-MMO video games tend to be. Action combat, on the other hand, is certainly more in-line with its non-MMO contemporaries, with exciting pitched battles at the expense of time to think and a more limited selection of input.<br />
	<br />
	So for today's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Leaderboard/">Leaderboard</a>, we're going to tackle the grand ol' staple of MMOs, hotbar combat, vs. the action combat upstarts. Will reflexes or brains win the day? Cast your vote after the jump!</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Leaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/">Leaderboard: Hotbar combat vs. action combat</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20211184/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/leaderboard-hotbar-combat-vs-action-combat/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>battle-royal</category><category>conan</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>hyboria</category><category>leaderboard</category><category>one-on-one</category><category>one-vs-one</category><category>opinion</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>unchained</category><category>versus</category><category>vote</category><category>votes</category><category>voting</category><category>vs</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Massively Event Coverage</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online concept art" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/motu01.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 303px;" /></a></div>
<em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a></em> players are in for a whole new world of adventure when <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark/">Menace of the Underdark</a></em> launches this summer. The expansion, due to release on June 25th, will send players into the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/">Forgotten Realms</a> to fight against the Queen of Spiders, Lolth. Executive Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz/">Fernando Paiz</a> and Senior Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/eric-boyer/">Eric Boyer</a> welcomed us into their lair... er, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Turbine/">Turbine's</a> booth... to talk about the upcoming expansion at this year's PAX East. Read on for our preview!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/">PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20210540/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/pax-east-2012-menace-of-the-underdark-brings-big-changes-to-dun/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>con</category><category>convention</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eric-boyer</category><category>expansion</category><category>expo</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>fernando-paiz</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>interview</category><category>interviews</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>pax</category><category>pax-2012</category><category>pax-east</category><category>pax-east-2012</category><category>penny-arcade-expo</category><category>preview</category><category>previews</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Elisabeth Cardy]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dark-age-of-camelot/" rel="tag">Dark Age of Camelot</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-galaxies/" rel="tag">Star Wars Galaxies</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/ultima-online/" rel="tag">Ultima Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perfect-ten/" rel="tag">Perfect Ten</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/"><img alt="Perfect Ten" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/beetlejuice.jpg" /></a></div>
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.<br />
<br />
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.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/">The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20206365/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-perfect-ten-mmo-tributes-to-real-life-people/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>activision</category><category>ahab-wheathoof</category><category>Anthony-Stark</category><category>Armando-Ossex</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>camelot</category><category>Caylee-Dak</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>classic-mmo</category><category>coh</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>coyote</category><category>d-and-d</category><category>Dak-Krause</category><category>daniel</category><category>daniels-quest</category><category>daoc</category><category>dark-age-of-camelot</category><category>dave-arneson</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>Emily</category><category>eq</category><category>eq1</category><category>everquest</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>ezra</category><category>ezra-chatterton</category><category>ezra-wheathoof</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>Frank-Campbell</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>freedom</category><category>galaxies</category><category>gary-gygax</category><category>humor</category><category>jeff-freeman</category><category>Jesse-Morales</category><category>kyle</category><category>lord-british</category><category>lunar-festival</category><category>make-a-wish</category><category>make-a-wish-foundation</category><category>matthew-bragg</category><category>memorial</category><category>Michel-Koiter</category><category>mythic</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>mythology</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>opinion</category><category>p10</category><category>paragon</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>perfect-10</category><category>perfect-ten</category><category>phoenix</category><category>pvp</category><category>ribbitribbit</category><category>Robert-Bridenbecker</category><category>roundup</category><category>rvr</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>shrine</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-galaxies</category><category>superhero</category><category>superheroes</category><category>swg</category><category>swgo</category><category>the-perfect-10</category><category>the-perfect-ten</category><category>Tony-Stark</category><category>top-10</category><category>top-10-list</category><category>top-ten</category><category>top-ten-list</category><category>tribute</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>ultima</category><category>ultima online</category><category>uo</category><category>warcraft</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine releases new DDO expansion screens, shows off Eveningstar cavern]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/"><img alt="Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online - Eveningstar cavern" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/header-1332856094.jpg" /></a></div>
A new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> update is here, and no, we're not talking about the latest antics of elected officials in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online"><em>EVE Online</em></a>. You're probably aware by now that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> is branching out its <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online</em></a> foothold to include portions of the beloved Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Players crossing over from Eberron to the Realms will first encounter a mystical forest cavern underneath the new Eveningstar region. Turbine has released a handful of screenshots to show off the new zone, and we've collected them for you in the gallery below.<br />
<br />
The <em>MotU</em> expansion is due on June 25th, and in it, adventurers will explore the "vast subterranean world of the underdark" as well as play around with a new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/">Druid class</a> and an increased level cap.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/">Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041255"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041256"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041257"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryad03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041258"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/dryadfight_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdark/#5041259"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/05/werewolf02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/">Turbine releases new DDO expansion screens, shows off Eveningstar cavern</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20201752/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/turbine-releases-new-ddo-expansion-screens-shows-off-eveningsta/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eveningstar</category><category>eveningstar-cavern</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>galleries</category><category>gallery</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshot</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine reveals shape-shifting DDO Druid class]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Druid shapeshifting" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/druidtransformation.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> has a present for all you would-be shape-shifters out there, and it takes the form of the new Druid class coming with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> expansion.<br />
<br />
The content drops on June 25th, and the Druid will be available as a premium playable class (and free to VIPs). The Druid is primarily a caster, but he's also proficient with daggers, sickles, staves, and clubs. His signature ability allows him to transform into a winter wolf, a dire bear, a water elemental, or a fire elemental. Each shape has its own set of spells, and the class also features a Druidic oath that boosts resistances to entanglement, poison, and other natural ailments.<br />
<br />
More info on the expansion is available via Turbine's <a href="http://underdark.ddo.com/">official website</a>.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/">Turbine reveals shape-shifting DDO Druid class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20197029/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>classes</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>druid</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansions</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>shape-shifting</category><category>shapeshifter</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft/" rel="tag">World of Warcraft</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/chronicles-of-spellborn/" rel="tag">Chronicles of Spellborn</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wizard101/" rel="tag">Wizard101</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/"><img alt="Gaikai" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/gaikai1.jpg" /></a></div>
Imagine that you're reading up on an MMO on a site such as Massively (far-fetched, but stay with us on this). The words intrigue you and you think it might be worth checking out. You make a mental note to do so in the future -- to head over to the game's site, see if there's a trial, download it, set up an account, and give it a whirl -- but time gets away from you and none of that actually happens.<br />
<br />
Now imagine that right after you read that article there was a single button or link. Clicking on it, a Java window opens up on top of your screen and tells you that you're now playing a trial of the game. There's no wait, no download, no lengthy form to fill out -- just click and play, right away. You go from interested to inside the game within mere seconds, your computer specs (mostly) aren't an issue, and your curiosity is immediately sated.<br />
<br />
This isn't a far-fetched dream but the here-and-now reality. This is cloud-streaming MMOs brought to you by <a href="http://www.gaikai.com/">Gaikai</a>. And it just might be the future of MMOs as we know it.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/">Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20192493/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2moons</category><category>acclaim</category><category>activision</category><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>best-buy</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>browser-mmo</category><category>chronicles-of-spellborn</category><category>cloud</category><category>cloud-streaming</category><category>conan</category><category>dave-perry</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>ea</category><category>ea-origin</category><category>earthworm-jim</category><category>f2p</category><category>family</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>funcom</category><category>gaikai</category><category>gaikai-inc</category><category>hyboria</category><category>ipad</category><category>kid-friendly</category><category>kids-mmo</category><category>kingsisle</category><category>kingsisle-entertainment</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>streaming-mmo</category><category>the-darkness</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>unchained</category><category>walmart</category><category>warcraft</category><category>wb</category><category>wizard101</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><category>wow</category><category>youtube</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Massively Event Coverage</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-speaking/" rel="tag">Massively Speaking</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XIV</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/" rel="tag">Diablo III</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/"><img alt="Diablo III" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/d3.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Massively Speaking Episode </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">192 </span>recovers from the aftermath of last week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gdc-2012">GDC</a>, as Justin and Bree regain full mic privileges and prepare to sing a duet in celebration. In this episode, we wrap up the GDC craziness, talk about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/diablo-iii/"><em>Diablo III's</em></a> PvP circumcision, and celebrate the release of a couple of significant patches.<br />
<br />
Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to <a href="mailto:podcast@massively.com?subject=Massively%20Speaking">podcast@massively.com</a>. We may just read your email on the air!<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
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<br />
Read below the cut for the full show notes.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/">Massively Speaking Episode 192: When it's ready</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20191096/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/massively-speaking-episode-192-when-its-ready/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>action-rpg</category><category>battlenet</category><category>bioware</category><category>blizzard</category><category>blizzard-entertainment</category><category>brant</category><category>brianna-royce</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>con</category><category>conference</category><category>console</category><category>consoles</category><category>convention</category><category>d3</category><category>ddo</category><category>diablo</category><category>diablo-2</category><category>diablo-3</category><category>diablo-ii</category><category>diablo-iii</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>ea</category><category>electronic-arts</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>ff</category><category>ff14</category><category>ffxiv</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-14</category><category>final-fantasy-xiv</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-developers-conference</category><category>game-developers-conference-2012</category><category>gdc</category><category>gdc-2012</category><category>gothic-fantasy</category><category>humor</category><category>justin-olivetti</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>lucasarts</category><category>massively-speaking</category><category>multiplayer</category><category>online-multiplayer</category><category>opinion</category><category>podcast</category><category>podcasting</category><category>podcasts</category><category>prius-online</category><category>roguelike</category><category>rpg</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>square</category><category>square-enix</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>sub</category><category>subscription-fee</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><enclosure url="http://massively.joystiq.com/podcasts/03-13-12-massively-E192.mp3" length="40713331" type="audio/mpeg"/><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate><itunes:subtitle>Massively Speaking Episode 192</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Massively.com Staff</itunes:author><itunes:duration>01:07:51</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>podcasts</itunes:keywords></item><item><title><![CDATA[LotRO and DDO coming to a cloud near you]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/launches/" rel="tag">Launches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/browser/" rel="tag">Browser</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/"><img alt="LotRO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/download.jpg" /></a></div>
Cloud-based gaming service <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Gaikai-Inc/">Gaikai, Inc.</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Warner-Bros-Interactive/">Warner Bros. Interactive</a> have just announced a plan to stream <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Lord-of-the-Rings-Online/">Lord of the Rings Online</a></em> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dungeons-and-Dragons-Online/">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a></em> gameplay via browser. Players will be able to feed their impulse gaming by hopping into both hybrid free-to-play MMOs without any lengthy downloads or huge installations. According to a press release distributed today,
<blockquote class="bq-standard">
	Gamers can try <em>The Lord of the Rings Online</em> now, with <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online</em> to follow soon [...] via a simple one-step registration process that will provide them instant access to try the full version of the award-winning, free-to-play massively multiplayer experiences.</blockquote>
A <a href="http://www.lotro.com/support/download-lotro/1653-what-is-gaikai">Turbine FAQ</a> further clarifies that this service provides only one hour of gameplay. [Thanks to reader Mr. Angry for the heads up.]<br />
<br />
This marks the first MMO streaming Gaikai will have undertaken; its streaming portfolio includes non-MMO games like <em>Spore</em>, <em>Mass Effect 2</em>, and <em>The Sims 3</em>.<br />
<br />
[Source: Warner Bros. and Gaikai, Inc. press release]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/">LotRO and DDO coming to a cloud near you</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20189072/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/lotro-and-ddo-coming-to-a-cloud-near-you/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>browser</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gaikai</category><category>gaikai-inc</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>stream</category><category>streaming</category><category>streaming-gameplay</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>Warner-Bros</category><category>Warner-Bros-Interactive</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine enlists Chance Thomas to score LotRO, DDO expansions]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/"><img alt="Chance Thomas" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/chance.jpg" /></a></div>
If you were disappointed by the absence of new music in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online's</em></a> last couple of expansions, then today is a good opportunity to break out the headphones in celebration. Composer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/chance-thomas/">Chance Thomas</a> has announced that Turbine contracted him to create an "all-original orchestral, choral and acoustic ensemble score" for this fall's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/riders-of-rohan/"><em>Riders of Rohan</em></a>.<br />
<br />
It's not just <em>LotRO </em>audiophiles who have cause to rejoice, either: Thomas is also on board with creating the music for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> first expansion, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark/"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a>.<br />
<br />
Thomas' career in video game music dates back to the late '90s with <em>Quest for Glory V</em>. <em>LotRO</em> players know him best as one of the composers for both <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/shadows-of-angmar/"><em>Shadows of Angmar</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/mines-of-moria/"><em>Mines of Moria</em></a>. <em>Menace of the Underdark</em> will release June 25th, while <em>Riders of Rohan</em> is scheduled for some time this fall.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/">Turbine enlists Chance Thomas to score LotRO, DDO expansions</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20187173/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chance-thomas</category><category>composer</category><category>ddo</category><category>dnd</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>expansions</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>lord-of-the-rings</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>mines-of-moria</category><category>music</category><category>riders-of-rohan</category><category>score</category><category>shadows-of-angmar</category><category>soundtrack</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/podcasts/" rel="tag">Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-secret-world/" rel="tag">The Secret World</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-speaking/" rel="tag">Massively Speaking</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tera/" rel="tag">TERA</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/"><img alt="The Secret World" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/tswscreen35-1330368425.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Massively Speaking Episode </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">188 </span>wants you to know that colds are the pits -- and sleep ninja babies are just wicked to the core. But your intrepid hosts soldier through massive sleep deprivation to bring you garfle monkey shuffles! Also, popcorn purple Qwerty.<br />
<br />
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/">Massively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20180353/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>aion</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>featured</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>massively-speaking</category><category>original</category><category>podcast</category><category>soe</category><category>tera</category><category>the-secret-world</category><category>tsw</category><category>twitter</category><enclosure url="http://massively.joystiq.com/podcasts/02-28-12-massively-E188.mp3" length="32566784" type="audio/mpeg"/><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate><itunes:subtitle>Massively Speaking Episode 188</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Massively.com Staff</itunes:author><itunes:duration>54:16</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>podcasts</itunes:keywords></item><item><title><![CDATA[DDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/promotions/" rel="tag">Promotions</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/"><img alt="DDO Menace of the Underdark" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/underdark.jpg" /></a></div>
Speaking of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/">Guinness World Records</a> for video games, I wonder whether <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> would be eligible for "Longest time between game release and launch of its first expansion?" Six years may just be the longest we've ever witnessed, as <em>DDO </em>released in 2006, and it wasn't until 2012 that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark/"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> was revealed. The good news is that come June 25th, the drought will be over.<br />
<br />
We asked <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine</a> why now seemed like a good time for an expansion. The devs said that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/atari/">Atari</a> had made some noise back in the day about one, but it never came to fruition. With the success of free-to-play, Turbine wanted to see whether the expansion model was still viable, so <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> was chosen as a test subject. When <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rise-of-isengard/"><em>Rise of Isengard</em></a> became the best-selling expansion for the company, the company felt secure letting <em>DDO </em>have a chance, although there was quite a lot of wrangling with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/wizards-of-the-coast/">Wizards of the Coast</a> about the details and permissions.<br />
<br />
Record or no, it's an exciting event for <em>DDO </em>players, and the today, Turbine has announced the two biggest details for the expansion's schedule. The first is that <em>Menace of the Underdark</em> has a release date, and the second is <a href="http://underdark.ddo.com/">the opening of pre-orders</a>. Read on to get all of the juicy infos.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>DDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/">DDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:15:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20178855/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>baldurs-gate</category><category>ddo</category><category>druid</category><category>druid-class</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eberron</category><category>epic-destinies</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>Fernando-Paiz</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>neverwinter-nights</category><category>pre-order</category><category>preorder</category><category>ra-Salvatore</category><category>tome-of-learning</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>update-12</category><category>update-13</category><category>update-14</category><category>wizards-of-the-coast</category><category>wotc</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Unraveling DDO's Web of Chaos: Turbine talks Update 13]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons/" rel="tag">Dungeons</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/"><img alt="DDO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/update13.jpg" /></a></div>
The vanguard of the free-to-play MMO movement is bearing down on the industry this spring, as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> prepares for its sixth birthday, its 13th update, and its first expansion. We sat down with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine</a> Executive Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz/">Fernando Paiz</a> and Senior Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/eric-boyer/">Eric Boyer</a> to talk about this coming Monday's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/update-13/">Update 13</a> and what players have to look forward to once it goes live.<br />
<br />
Update 13 comes at what could be seen as a renaissance in the game's history. Following <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/"><em>DDO's </em></a>transition to F2P, Turbine saw an upsurge in players and profits that continues to this day. Paiz said that "the game is doing very well," and while he did not disclose numbers, he feels that <em>DDO's </em>status as one of the first F2P adaptations gave it a lead that others have yet to overtake.<br />
<br />
Even so, with only five updates in 2011, it's hard to deny that <em>DDO </em>has faded into the background somewhat as newer titles and more recent F2P transitions hogged the spotlight. Turbine means to rectify this: "I think it's safe to say that this year we're making some noise again," Paiz said confidently. He went on to share just why this Monday's patch will be one of the most pivitol in <em>DDO's</em> history.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Unraveling DDO's Web of Chaos: Turbine talks Update 13</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/">Unraveling DDO's Web of Chaos: Turbine talks Update 13</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20178366/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/unraveling-ddos-web-of-chaos-turbine-talks-update-13/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>6th-anniversary</category><category>anniversary</category><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-store</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eberron</category><category>eric-boyer</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>Fernando-Paiz</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>in-game-store</category><category>interview</category><category>lolth</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>screenshots</category><category>sixth-anniversay</category><category>spinner-of-shadows</category><category>stormreach</category><category>tome</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>update-13</category><category>web-of-chaos</category><category>wizards-of-the-coast</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever been a part of a regular group?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/"><img alt="The Daily Grind" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/group.jpg" /></a></div>
This week I'm trying an experiment: My friend and I are attempting to pull together a (semi-)regular adventuring group for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a>. It's an iffy proposition, as I've been part of a couple of other regular groups before and they've never lasted long (I blame my loud, abusive rants over Vent). But the idea is infectious, and I'm not giving up on trying them out.<br />
<br />
Regular groups -- if you can pull them off and stick with them -- can offer a singular experience in which friends bond over a continuous shared journey, one in which they become a fully functional team from the onset. Plus, being part of one means that no content is too big or too small, and one never need worry about having to troll the LFG channel or dungeon finders for strangers.<br />
<br />
So I'm curious: How many of you have been a part of a regular MMO group? How do you make it work, and what did you take away from it?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/">The Daily Grind: Have you ever been a part of a regular group?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20176382/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-a-part-of-a-regular-group/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adventuring-group</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>featured</category><category>group</category><category>grouping</category><category>opinion</category><category>penny-arcade</category><category>regular-group</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine releases new DDO Web of Chaos images]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Lolth" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/header-1329490575.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online's</em></a> new Forgotten Realms-themed expansion is on its way, but before it arrives on your desktop, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> will be upgrading the game via a prequel patch called <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/web-of-chaos">Web of Chaos</a>. Update 13 includes three new quests (the Lords of Dust, Servants of the Overlord, and Spinner of Shadows) as well as new veteran status that allows players to start their characters at level seven.<br />
<br />
The update features new items too, and we've got a preview of the patch in our <em>DDO</em> gallery below. Check it out for the latest screenshots featuring Lolth and the Drow.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/">Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 13 Preview</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839047"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicshots04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839048"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicstory07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839037"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicshots02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839034"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13drowchar003obsidian_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4827840"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/08lolthretexture2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/">Turbine releases new DDO Web of Chaos images</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20174115/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/turbine-releases-new-ddo-web-of-chaos-images/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>ddo-update-13</category><category>drow</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansions</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>lolth</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>patches</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>Turbine-Entertainment</category><category>underdark</category><category>update-13</category><category>web-of-chaos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift/" rel="tag">RIFT</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XIV</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/"><img alt="RIFT - dungeon group" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift.02.lg.jpg" /></a></div>
A wise man once described current-gen MMOs as "playing alone together." OK, truthfully I don't know who said that, nor do I know if he is particularly wise, but it resonated (and it's also applicable to a <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6710/tearing_down_barriers_how_to_.php">new editorial at Gamasutra</a> that focuses on improving the community aspects of our favorite genre).<br />
<br />
The piece looks at several current games -- including <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv"><em>Final Fantasy XIV</em></a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift"><em>RIFT</em></a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> -- and analyzes how they both succeed and fail at bringing players together. Particular attention is paid to mentoring systems, though <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii"><em>EverQuest II's</em></a> is omitted. What ultimately emerges from the lengthy read is a portrait of a challenging issue that has its roots in both operational and design considerations, and while the piece doesn't offer any particular solution, it does provide quite a lot of food for thought.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/">Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20172370/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>community</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>editorial</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>fantay</category><category>ffxiv</category><category>final-fantasy-xiv</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>grouping</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>opinion</category><category>playing-alone-together</category><category>rift</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine shows off new locations from DDO's Web of Chaos]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons/" rel="tag">Dungeons</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - Web of Chaos mobs" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/header.jpg" /></a></div>
In case you missed it, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> is trading Eberron for Faerun. Yes, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> is introducing a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/">Forgotten Realms-themed expansion</a> to its six-year old fantasy MMO, but first the company is gifting players with a prequel content push called Web of Chaos.<br />
<br />
Update 13 is scheduled to go live later this month, and today we have the first screenshots which focus on a cult called the Lords of Dust. Check out the gallery below for a look at their dungeon base as well as a glimpse of their Rakshasa cult masters.<br />
<br />
The content features new quests, new items, and the ability for veterans to start a character at level seven.<br />
<br />
[Source: Turbine press release]<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/">Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 13 Preview</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839047"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicshots04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839048"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicstory07_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839037"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13epicshots02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4839034"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/ddou13drowchar003obsidian_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/dungeons-and-dragons-online-update-11-preview/#4827840"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/08lolthretexture2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/">Turbine shows off new locations from DDO's Web of Chaos</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20161788/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/turbine-shows-off-new-locations-from-ddos-web-of-chaos/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>faerun</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gallery</category><category>lords-of-dust</category><category>screenshots</category><category>turbine</category><category>Turbine-Entertainment</category><category>underdark</category><category>update-13</category><category>web-of-chaos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[DDO 'prequel' update prepping community for the expansion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/"><img alt="DDO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/ddoupdate.jpg" /></a></div>
Prequels are generally bad, bad things that your mother warned you about but you didn't believe her until you saw The Phantom Menace. Occasionally, however, there is the rare exception, such as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons Online's</em></a> <a href="http://www.ddo.com/us/gameinfo/1918">Update 13</a>, which <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> is billing as the prequel to this summer's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark/"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> expansion pack.<br />
<br />
Update 13: Web of Chaos has a generous portion of goodies for all players in the form of three new free quests. These quests include tackling a uppity cult, freeing a prisoner from captivity, and battling the nefarious Spinner of Shadows itself.<br />
<br />
Also coming with <em>DDO's</em> next update will be a few additional store options, cosmetic pets, and the ability to unlock level 7 veteran status. The latter acquisition will allow you to make a new level 7 adventurer right out of the gate and can either be purchased with real money or in-game favor.<br />
<br />
You can read up on Update 13 and the expansion pack <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/">in our recent interview with Turbine</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/">DDO 'prequel' update prepping community for the expansion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20161223/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ddo-prequel-update-prepping-community-for-the-expansion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adventure-pack</category><category>cosmetic-pets</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>free-update</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>patch</category><category>prequel</category><category>spinner-of-shadows</category><category>the-phantom-menace</category><category>turbine</category><category>Turbine-Entertainment</category><category>update</category><category>update-13</category><category>web-of-shadows</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine: Subscription model isn't dead]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/"><img alt="Dungeons and Dragons Online - dark elves" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/ddogallery5.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> doesn't think subscription MMOs are dying, which might come as something of a surprise to fans of the pay-as-you-go business model that's spreading like wildfire across the Western MMO landscape.<br />
<br />
"It's probably not right to say the subscription MMO is dying, it's probably more right to say the idea of forcing a player to only have one option for having to consume your content -- that's probably dying," says spokesman <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/adam-mersky">Adam Mersky</a> in a piece at <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-30-subscription-mmos-arent-dying-says-lotro-maker-turbine">Eurogamer</a>.<br />
<br />
Mersky goes on to say that brave new business models are the norm across the entertainment spectrum, and he also claims that Turbine "certainly pioneered" free-to-play in the online gaming space (though it's worth noting that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> introduced a F2P option for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online"><em>Anarchy Online</em></a> in 2004, five years before <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> took the plunge).<br />
<br />
Finally, the Eurogamer piece touches on the upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/menace-of-the-underdark"><em>Menace of the Underdark</em></a> expansion as well as the unnamed "future project" that the company first hinted about in 2009.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/">Turbine: Subscription model isn't dead</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20160382/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/turbine-subscription-model-isnt-dead/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>adam-mersky</category><category>business-models</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>subscription-model</category><category>turbine</category><category>Turbine-Entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/" rel="tag">EVE Evolved</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/"><img alt="EVE Online title image" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/f2p-title.jpg" style="border-bottom: 0px solid; border-left: 0px solid; margin: 4px; border-top: 0px solid; border-right: 0px solid" /></a></div>
When <a href="http://www.eve-online.com/"><em>EVE Online</em></a> was released in 2003, the subscription model was the dominant business model for MMOs. Subscriptions have dominated Western MMOs throughout most of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/"><em>EVE</em></a>'s reign, but in the past two years we've seen the market push toward alternative models. Although the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/incarna"><em>Incarna</em></a> expansion controversially introduced a cash shop for cosmetic items, <em>EVE Online</em> has remained a subscription MMO in the face of tremendous market pressure to change. Although <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ccp-games">CCP</a> plans to use microtransactions heavily in <a href="http://worldofdarkness.com/"><em>World of Darkness</em></a>, and <a href="http://www.dust514.com/"><em>DUST 514</em></a> will not have a subscription fee, no plans to significantly modify <em>EVE</em>'s current business model have been announced.<br />
<br />
There's no sense in trying to deny it: The market is changing, with microtransaction-supported free-to-play games producing far more money than subscription titles. Hybrid models that give players the choice between microtransactions or a regular subscription have turned the industry on its head. When <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> first implemented a hybrid model in <a href="http://ddo.com/"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a>, not only did profit shoot up from the free players but <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/16/switch-to-free-to-play-working-very-well-for-ddo/">subscriptions rose</a>. When the studio gave <a href="http://lotro.com/"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> the same treatment, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/">profits tripled almost overnight</a>. The money is firmly in microtransactions, and it would be disingenuous to assume CCP won't chase that kind of financial reward. But could <em>EVE</em> even support a free-to-play business model, and what alternatives are there?<br />
<br />
In this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-evolved/">EVE Evolved</a>, I ask whether it would be possible for <em>EVE Online</em> to adopt a free-to-play business model, and I suggest a simple alternative model that could really work.<br />
<strong>[UPDATE: World of Darkness has not been confirmed as free-to-play, and though DUST 514 will not have a subscription fee, it will have a cover charge for initial purchase]</strong><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>EVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/">EVE Evolved: Could EVE Online go free-to-play?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20158183/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/eve-evolved-could-eve-online-go-free-to-play/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-evolved</category><category>eve-online</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>incarna</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>opinion</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>turbine</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brendan Drain]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The MMO Report: For realsies edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/"><img alt="The MMO Report" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/image1-1327617588.jpg" /></a></div>
This week on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/The-MMO-Report/">The MMO Report</a>, Casey dishes on <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Marvel-Heroes/">Marvel Heroes'</a></em> new engine, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dungeons-and-Dragons-Online/">Dungeons and Dragons Online's</a></em> inbound anniversary update and expansion, and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/RIFT/">RIFT's</a></em> financial success. He cheers <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ArenaNet/">ArenaNet's</a> revelation that <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Guild-Wars-2/">Guild Wars 2</a></em> will launch in 2012 -- for realsies! -- but then he mourns the lack of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/BlizzCon/">BlizzCon</a> this year:<br />
<br />
"But... the fans! The swag! The concert! The cosplay! People getting hurt during the dance contest! How can we go on living without BlizzCon 2012?"<br />
<br />
Finally, Casey dispenses bad advice and Nordic memes from Uncle Casey's Mailbag.<br />
<br />
All this and more in today's edition of The MMO Report, which is tucked behind the break.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The MMO Report: For realsies edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/">The MMO Report: For realsies edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20156877/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-mmo-report-for-realsies-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>blizzcon</category><category>casey-schreiner</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>expansion</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>humor</category><category>marvel-heroes</category><category>mmo-report</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>news</category><category>opinion</category><category>rift</category><category>the-mmo-report</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>turbine</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What vanity pet would you like to see in your favorite MMO?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/"><img alt="Fallen Earth" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/fe-rb-124.jpg" /></a></div>
Last week <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine</a> announced all sorts of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/">huge updates for <em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> in 2012. Among exciting talk of expansions, Druids, and level cap increases, one little item may have slipped under some folks' radar. Vanity pets are coming to <em>DDO</em> in 2012 -- specifically, "fun and cute DnD critters," according to Executive Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz/">Fernando Paiz</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/editor/justin-olivetti">Justin</a> and I chatted a bit about that on this week's Massively Speaking, and Justin put forth the awesome idea of a tiny Beholder pet. I loved the idea and it set me to thinking. Vanity pets in MMOs are such a frivolous little thing, yet they're such fun to so many people, and it seems like everyone has a wish list of "wouldn't it be cool if..." vanity pets.<br />
<br />
So what's yours? Would you love a little Beholder in <em>DDO</em>? Would you love to see <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fallen-earth/">Fallen Earth</a></em> offer a prairie chicken pet to go with your mount? Tell us what vanity pet you'd love to see trailing along behind your character!<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/">The Daily Grind: What vanity pet would you like to see in your favorite MMO?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20154492/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>fallen-earth</category><category>fe</category><category>g1</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>opinion</category><category>opinions</category><category>pets</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>turbine</category><category>vanity-items</category><category>vanity-pets</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rubi Bayer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Economy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-road-to-mordor/" rel="tag">The Road to Mordor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/crafting/" rel="tag">Crafting</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/"><img alt="LotRO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/lotrogear-1327003504.jpg" /></a></div>
Prior to <a href="http://www.lotro.com/"><em>Lord of the Rings Online's</em></a> free-to-play implementation, players were raising concerns of potential abuse of the F2P model and the <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/">LotRO</a> </em>store in particular. The CM at the time, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/patience/">Patience</a>, <a href="http://nerdybookahs.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/convenience-not-advantage-still-the-lotro-freemium-model/">posted a now-infamous response</a> stated that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Turbine/">Turbine</a> was about selling "convenience, not advantage" in the store. I thought it was a terrific stance to take (and still is, for any F2P MMO dabbling in microtransactions). It wasn't long, however, before <a href="http://lotrocommunity.com/forum/topic/279-turbine-purges-their-post-pledging-convenience-not-advantage-after-putting-store-only-relics-for-sale/">the thread was purged from the forums</a> entirely, although the playerbase has held on to those three words to this day.<br />
<br />
That phrase has echoed in my head over the past week, ever since we heard that statted armor was coming to the in-game store. I've been among those who have championed Turbine's F2P model as the way to do things right -- to offer fluff, a la carte content and convenience without straying into so-called "pay to win" territory that has plagued cheaper games. But now I wonder if the new motto is "convenience <em>and </em>advantage," especially in light of several other questionable store selections that have been pushed through despite player resistance.<br />
<br />
But let's concentrate on one topic today, that being the stat armor that's now available in the store. Is this strictly a "convenience" item that is meant to aid struggling lowbies, or does it represent the sale of a clear advantage for those who are OK with letting their money game for them? Are we making a mountain out of a molehill by discussing this, or is it far past time that something like this needs to be brought into the public discourse?<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/">The Road to Mordor: Convenience, not advantage</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20150259/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-road-to-mordor-convenience-not-advantage/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-casual-stroll-to-mordor</category><category>adam-mersky</category><category>crafting</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>in-game-store</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>lotro-store</category><category>pay-to-win</category><category>sapience</category><category>stat-armor</category><category>statted-armor</category><category>store</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/professions/" rel="tag">Professions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/"><img alt="Lolth" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/lolth-rb-118.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; " /></a></div>
The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> developers have been enjoying the game's success, and things are running smoothly, but fans know that doesn't mean the team's been kicking back and relaxing. We've had content updates regularly, and not just little token patches but rather new adventure packs, new races and classes, the addition of crafting, and much more.<br />
<br />
Have you enjoyed the past year or so in <em>DDO</em>? Well, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7miRCLeFSJo">hang on to your hats</a> because we spent some time chatting with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/eric-boyer">Eric Boyer</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fernando-paiz">Fernando Paiz</a> and... well, those updates aren't the only thing the developers have been working on.<br />
<br />
Click past the break to see what's about to take <em>DDO</em> by storm.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Turbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/">Turbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20146149/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>d-n-d-online</category><category>ddo</category><category>druid</category><category>druid-class</category><category>druids</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eric-boyer</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>featured</category><category>fernando-paiz</category><category>forgotten-realms</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>level-cap</category><category>level-cap-increase</category><category>menace-of-the-underdark</category><category>turbine</category><category>underdark</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rubi Bayer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Free for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fallen-earth/" rel="tag">Fallen Earth</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/business-models/" rel="tag">Business models</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-for-all/" rel="tag">Free for All</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/post-apocalyptic/" rel="tag">Post-Apocalyptic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-glance-at-fallen-earths-free-model/"><img alt="Fallen Earth screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/medium4.jpg" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px; margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; " /></a></div>
I used to be head-over-heels in love with <a href="http://www.gamersfirst.com/fallenearth/"><em>Fallen Earth</em></a>. I was on an immersion kick and had even designed a set of rules that dictated how my character would "live" in the world. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fallen-earth/"><em>Fallen Earth</em></a> provided me with a lot of great tools to become immersed, and it was the type of game that really stuck out from the pack. Of course, it also sported uglier character models than <em><a href="http://www.lotro.com/free.php?">Lord of the Rings Online</a></em> and was more brown than a bakery at the earlier levels, but it was neat.<br />
<br />
I gave up on the title after a while and became too busy with other games to return. Then, the free-to-play version of the title came out. I still ignored it because of scheduling, but recently I have been returning to it. I am finding a lot of bugs and an overall lack of polish that I had forgotten about, but it's still a really cool game.<br />
<br />
So how does the free version stack up to the subscription model? How <em>free</em> is it? Let's take a look.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Free for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/">Free for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20149626/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beau-hindman</category><category>cash-shop</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeon-and-dragons</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>EverQuest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fallen-earth</category><category>fe</category><category>featured</category><category>free-for-all</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>ftp</category><category>g1</category><category>gamersfirst</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>Microtransactions</category><category>post-apocalyptic</category><category>sandbox</category><category>wizard101</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Beau Hindman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The sequel!]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/choose-my-adventure/" rel="tag">Choose My Adventure</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/"><img alt="Here I go, here I go, here I go again.  Girls, what's my weakness?  MMOs!" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/cma-intro-epl-111.jpg" /></a></div>
When I was halfway through my tenure on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Choose-My-Adventure/">Choose My Adventure</a>, I had already made it clear that I wanted to come back around for another pass. After all, I had a grand time in <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a>, and I wanted to see what would happen with another run through the gauntlet. I hadn't expected it would be quite so soon, but here we are: It's time for a sequel adventure.<br />
<br />
And as we all know, sequels have to be bigger. They have to be louder. And they need a bigger budget.<br />
<br />
We've got nine games listed past the cut, all candidates for my play for the next several weeks. Some of these games are returning old favorites, and some of them are new to the cut, but all of them should provide for some interesting adventures. So check out the descriptions, make your vote before 11:59 p.m. EST on January 21st, and tune in next week when we kick this sequel off properly.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Choose My Adventure: The sequel!</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/">Choose My Adventure: The sequel!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20146791/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/choose-my-adventure-the-sequel/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>allods</category><category>allods-online</category><category>champions-online</category><category>choose-my-adventure</category><category>cma</category><category>co</category><category>column</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>dcuo</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>featured</category><category>fr</category><category>free-realms</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>opinion</category><category>poll</category><category>polls</category><category>rom</category><category>runes-of-magic</category><category>ryzom</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How frugal are you in F2P games?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/"><img alt="The Daily Grind" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/piggybank.jpg" /></a></div>
Those of you who shun free-to-play titles or are determined to never spend a single red cent in them are dismissed from today's discussion. But for those of you who do spend money in F2P MMOs -- and by all accounts, that's quite a few of you out there -- I'm curious just how frugal you are with the money you spend.<br />
<br />
I know that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/soe/">SOE</a> players often hold back from registering Station Cash cards until the studio does a double- or triple-point day, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine's</a> frequently put its in-game stock on sale for both <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a>. Around the holidays or during special anniversaries, players can also snag some good deals.<br />
<br />
So do you wait for certain items and unlocks to go on sale, or are you wealthy and/or impatient enough to simply go for it when you want them? Do you look for specials with an eagle eye? Jump on top of bonus in-game currency days? Clip coupons? Just how far do you stretch your gaming dollar?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/">The Daily Grind: How frugal are you in F2P games?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20136090/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>clip-coupons</category><category>coupon</category><category>coupons</category><category>ddo</category><category>deal</category><category>deals</category><category>discussion</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>f2p</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>frugal</category><category>frugalicious</category><category>frugality</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>opinion</category><category>promotions</category><category>sale</category><category>sales</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>special</category><category>specials</category><category>station-cash</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you loathe third-party downloaders?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-meta/" rel="tag">Massively Meta</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/"><img alt="DDO screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/12modreaversreach.jpg" /></a></div>
Every time I boot up <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Lord-of-the-Rings-Online/">Lord of the Rings Online</a></em> or <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dungeons-and-Dragons-Online/">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a></em>, I'm reminded that somewhere on my computer lurks Pando Media Booster. Ostensibly, Pando and software like Pando helps MMO players to download game clients, but they also spread out the load and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/pando-media-trumpets-global-download-data/">track other information</a> presumably of use to the game companies themselves. I've deleted Pando and similar software from my PC multiple times, but some games just don't function well without them. Players have been known to suggest the whole system of third-party installers and downloaders and launchers is nothing more than bloatware, or worse, malware and spyware.<br />
<br />
Am I alone in loathing MMO patchers that are really torrents I can't disable, launchers that lump the entirety of a company's games together, and third-party download whatever-ware that won't go away?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/">The Daily Grind: Do you loathe third-party downloaders?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20126526/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-loathe-third-party-downloaders/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>bloatware</category><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>installer</category><category>launcher</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>malware</category><category>opinion</category><category>pando</category><category>pando-media-booster</category><category>pando-networks</category><category>patch</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>third-party-downloader</category><category>torrent</category><category>turbine</category><category>update</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-darkness/" rel="tag">World of Darkness</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fallout-online/" rel="tag">Fallout Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perfect-ten/" rel="tag">Perfect Ten</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/transformers-universe/" rel="tag">Transformers Universe</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/otherland/" rel="tag">Otherland</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mechwarrior-online/" rel="tag">MechWarrior Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/"><img alt="Perfect Ten" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/p10.jpg" /></a></div>
In coming up with a follow-up list to my previous <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/">Upcoming MMO Contenders</a> list, I found myself almost paralyzed by more choices than I could shake a wireless mouse at. Pointing at the sure bets is one thing, but narrowing down a field of dozens and dozens of interesting -- yet more far-flung -- prospects is far more difficult. It's one thing to have a good idea; it's another to say whether or not this game will actually make it to launch, and if it does, that it'll pull the idea off well.<br />
<br />
That said, I've lost some hair and two pounds sweating out this list, and I feel sleeker for it. Today's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/perfect-ten/">Perfect Ten</a> is all about the long-shots, the titles that may not have the huge budget, big name studios, or anything solid to show for it, but could still become contenders in their own right if everything is played just right.<br />
<br />
Deep breath -- let's give it a go!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/">The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20116134/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>arenanet</category><category>bethesda</category><category>Bethesda-Softworks</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>class3</category><category>class4</category><category>cryptic</category><category>cryptic-studios</category><category>d-n-d</category><category>ddo</category><category>defiance</category><category>dnd</category><category>dominus</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons</category><category>eve-online</category><category>fallout-online</category><category>featured</category><category>goblinworks</category><category>guild-wars</category><category>interplay</category><category>jeff-strain</category><category>mechwarrior-online</category><category>neverwinter</category><category>otherland</category><category>pathfinder-online</category><category>penny-arcade</category><category>permadeath</category><category>prime</category><category>prime-battle-for-dominus</category><category>rift</category><category>syfy</category><category>tad-williams</category><category>transformers-universe</category><category>trion-worlds</category><category>undead-labs</category><category>wizardry</category><category>wizardry-online</category><category>world-of-darkness</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/"><img alt="SWTOR: Revan" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/454px-tor-revan.jpg" /></a></div>
In the lead up to <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic/">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em>, I find myself worrying that I'm missing out by not having read any of the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/BioWare/">BioWare</a>-commissioned, game-centric novels and stories -- Fatal Alliance, Deceived, Revan, and the rest. <em>SWTOR</em> isn't alone, of course, in having its own custom novels. <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/World-of-Warcraf/">World of Warcraft</a></em>, <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Dungeons-and-Dragons-Online/">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a></em>, and even unreleased games like <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Guild-Wars-2/">Guild Wars 2</a></em> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/ArcheAge/">ArcheAge</a></em> all feature books that fill in the backstory missing from the gameplay. I have to wonder whether books based on a game are as important to the game as, say, books are to games that were spawned by those very books -- I certainly don't think I'd appreciate <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Lord-of-the-Rings-Online/">Lord of the Rings Online</a></em> quite so much if I hadn't read Tolkien.<br />
<br />
So do you read game-related novels? Do you think they help you immerse yourself in the game, or do you just read them for fun?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/">The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20119204/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>archeage</category><category>book</category><category>books</category><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>Guild-Wars-2</category><category>gw2</category><category>novel</category><category>novels</category><category>opinion</category><category>star-wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>swtor</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>World-of-Warcraft</category><category>wow</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
