Massively

Pathfinder Online puts together a Kickstarter project [Updated]

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

Kickstarter has been getting a lot of attention from the gaming industry of late after a number of high-profile successes. It's even gained the attention of the team behind Pathfinder Online, the upcoming sandbox MMORPG based on the eponymous tabletop system. So instead of trying to secure venture capitalist funding for the project, the development team is reaching out directly to the fans via a new Kickstarter project to assemble a tech demo for the game.

It's important to note that the project is only for funding a demo of the game, enough to show bigger investors that the interest in the game does exist. However, the development team has still assembled a number of bonuses for prospective players, including special forum membership, specialized tabletop game products, and promotional posters. If you're interested in seeing the game continue in development, it's well worth dropping by the Kickstarter page and dropping in some money when it goes live soon.

[Update: The Kickstarter page is now live!]

Pathfinder Online puts together a Kickstarter project [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storybricks alpha video shows how you can choose your own adventure

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics

Ever since the Storybricks toolset was announced, a common question people have had is, "That sounds great, but how easy will it be to actually make my own MMO world? Will I need to be a master programmer or something?" The answer is, apparently, quite easy. The Storybricks devs took a few minutes to put together an alpha gameplay video showing how simple it is to set up complex social interactions between characters.

As players piece together the "bricks" that dictate a character's mood, actions, and responses to the player, every encounter in the game turns into a "choose your own adventure" that has a variety of outcomes.

One of the situations that was shown is that of a player encountering an irritated wizard. In the first attempt to interact with him, the player pesters the wizard, which prompts the wizard to unleash a zombie. If the player apologizes, the wizard is astonished, unsummons the zombie, and asks to be the player's friend. But in a second attempt, the player chooses to zap the zombie instead and then punch the guard that comes to investigate. This outcome leads to banishment from the city.

Storybricks is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. It's certainly a promising system fraught with possibilities, so give it a look-see after the jump!

Continue reading Storybricks alpha video shows how you can choose your own adventure

Storybricks alpha video shows how you can choose your own adventure originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Browser, Mobile

There have been plenty of attempts at creating MMOs on mobile platforms, but so far those have been largely confined to smartphones, tablets, and iPod Touches. Enter Project Triniate, an MMO aiming to release on Nintendo's 3DS handheld platform by developer Robdeprop of 3DSPlaza.com.

Since the 3DS can't handle Java or Flash, the idea is that the player uses the system's browser to navigate to the official website and use the website to run the game instead. The title looks like a top-down 2-D game that relies on the stylus for any in-game conversations.

While interesting, it's certainly a long shot; even the developer says that it might not be released. Still, if you have a 3DS you can currently give the game a try -- for a buck, that is. Check out a demo video of Project Triniate after the jump.

Continue reading Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS

Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's Raiderz

Jef Reahard — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

TERA isn't the only upcoming MMO to feature big-ass monsters and action combat. Perfect World Entertainment showed us a demo of Raiderz at last weekend's PAX East, and producer Mark Hill was pretty enthusiastic about the game's level of polish. He also made a point of highlighting the amount of free gameplay the company will be making available to fans later this year.

"We really want to blow people away with how much free content they're getting out of a really top-notch game," he said. Join us after the cut to see what Raiderz has to offer.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's Raiderz

PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Perfect World's Raiderz originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo

Elisabeth Cardy — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Events, real-world, Opinion, Hands-on, The Secret World, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions, Massively Event Coverage

Funcom's The Secret World has had a big weekend at PAX East with its first public chance for hands-on interaction! It's a game that's been stirring up quite a bit of interest; the classless, level-less progression system, secret societies, and sword-and-automatic-rifle genre-bending are just a few of its selling points. My ears tend to perk up when the game gets mentioned, so of course I was all but falling over myself to hop into the playable demo this weekend. Walking away from that experience, though, I'm unconvinced.

Continue reading PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo

PAX East 2012: The Secret World demo originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi-Rez Studios offering exclusive Tribes and SMITE demos at PAX East

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Previews, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage, MOBA

With the excitement and craziness of PAX East just a couple of days away, studios are clamoring for your attention with promises of candy and sweet, sweet previews. Hi-Rez Studios is no different; the company hopes that attendees will check out its booth for exclusive demos of its upcoming Tribes: Ascend and SMITE.

Players who visit booth 962 can check out a new preview release build of Tribes: Ascend before the game launches formally later this month. The demo contains a new game mode, Capture & Hold, which is a fast-paced experience that requires the mastery of vehicles and teamwork. Players will also get to see the return of a classic 1998 Tribes map revamped for modern times: Raindance.

Hi-Rez's other PAX East offering is its MOBA SMITE, which is in closed alpha testing. Here, attendees can choose from one of 15 deities and head out on to 5v5 battleground maps for serious smackdown. New to the public are six of these playable deities and the first look at the Fire Giant mob.

[Source: Hi-Rez press release]

Hi-Rez Studios offering exclusive Tribes and SMITE demos at PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect World demoing Neverwinter and RaiderZ at PAX East

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, real-world, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage, Giveaways

If you're heading out to PAX East next week and your dance card is getting full, you may want to save a foxtrot or two for Perfect World Entertainment's booth. The company has announced that it will be showcasing two of its upcoming titles to those lucky few who make it out to Boston.

At Perfect World's booth (#736), both Neverwinter and RaiderZ will offer demos so that players can see for themselves whether these are games worth anticipating. As if the early glimpse weren't enough, participants can discover special loot while they play that will transform into real-world prizes. Perfect World will also hold raffles for the chance to win gaming equipment.

Senior Vice President and General Manager of Game Publishing Yoon Im sees these two games as the most exciting of Perfect World's future lineup: "We are proud to showcase RaiderZ and Neverwinter at PAX East. Our strong partnerships with developers worldwide have allowed us to expand our diverse portfolio of impressive free-to-play games and strengthen our position as a leader in the business of online games. Both RaiderZ and Neverwinter are looking spectacular and we can't wait to show them off."

Massively will be on location at PAX East with an in-depth look at these games!

[Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]

Perfect World demoing Neverwinter and RaiderZ at PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Culture, Opinion, Leaderboard

For many, betas are the apex of the pre-launch experience. After months and even years of hearing about a title, discussing it rabidly, and scouring the internet for information on it, fans are finally given the chance to try it out for themselves. For many, this is wonderful, a drink of water to a parched gaming soul. For many, but not for all.

You see, betas can be a doubled-edged sword, capable of hurting as much as helping. They can be a boon to those who truly want to help a game's development by testing for bugs, they can help players decide if this is a product worth purchasing, and they can assist in getting one's "game legs" before the main event begins. However, betas have been known to foster an environment of entitlement ("Why isn't this game 100% polished? I judge it fail!") while robbing the newness of an MMO that has yet to release.

So, overall, do you deem that betas are a boon to the community or a bust? Are they useful tools for both developers and players, or are they nothing but glorified demos that harm more than help? Put your vote where your opinion is after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust

Leaderboard: Betas are a boon vs. betas are a bust originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: The Repopulation demonstrates world-building elements

MJ Guthrie — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, Previews, News items, Opinion, Roleplaying, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Sandbox, Crafting

GDC literally has a little of everything, from indie developers to major studios, from free-to-play games to shooters to arena battles to retro to family... there really is something for everyone. As a massive fan of sandboxes myself, I was pleased to get to spend so much time with Above and Beyond Technologies' lead dev and co-owner Josh Halls and artist Kevin Grove as they demonstrated some of the features in their upcoming title, The Repopulation. (And I would have even spent longer if I could have!)

While I had a monopoly on the team's attention, I had the chance to see some of the customization available to characters, both in appearance and gear, as well as get the lowdown on the world building element. We actually walked through the building of a nation, a feature that will make many a sandbox fan giddy! Although Josh was quick to point out that only a few items were available at this point in development, there was certainly enough to get a feel for the system. And I am looking forward to it!

Continue reading GDC 2012: The Repopulation demonstrates world-building elements

GDC 2012: The Repopulation demonstrates world-building elements originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: A look at Otherland and Grimlands with Gamigo

Karen Bryan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, Previews, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Post-Apocalyptic, Otherland

Do you prefer a post-apocalyptic world or Tad Williams' vision of the internet of the future? Luckily, you can have them both by the end of the year because Gamigo is working busy at work preparing to launch two new titles. Massively had a chance to talk with Anthony Guzzardo, Gamigo's North American Publicity Manager, as well as PR Manager Dennis Hartmann as they showed off Otherland, based on the works of Tad Williams, and Grimlands, a post-apocalyptic vision in the desert.

Continue reading GDC 2012: A look at Otherland and Grimlands with Gamigo

GDC 2012: A look at Otherland and Grimlands with Gamigo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

François Blondin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Horror, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, New titles, Previews, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Hands-on, The Secret World, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Dungeons, Crafting

Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

Hands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Secret World unveils Tokyo Flashback at New York Comic Con

Matt Daniel — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Video, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, PvE, The Secret World

As The Secret World draws ever closer to its April 2012 launch date, more and more information on the game continues to trickle forth. Today's treat comes to you from New York Comic Con, where Funcom has revealed the first eight-ish minutes of gameplay that new players will experience when they jump into the game.

This introductory instance is known as Tokyo Flashback, and not only does it serve to introduce players to the mechanics of combat within The Secret World, but it also sets up the game's conspiracy-laden storyline by introducing players to four key characters of The Secret World's universe. Most players will be familiar with these characters from the title'sprevious trailers, including the one from Gamescom 2011.

The demo of Tokyo Flashback follows a shotgun-toting heroine as she tags along with the NPCs against a horde of infected humans known as the Filth. The demo also imparts some new knowledge of gameplay mechanics. For instance, mobility is very important, and few -- if any -- abilities will root the character in place, allowing players to move freely at all times. It's also revealed that combat (or shotgun combat, at any rate) uses a combo-point-esque mechanic wherein certain attacks build resources on a target, and other "finisher" attacks expend those resources.

For the full trailer, head on past the cut, and check out the write-up of the Comic Con panel over at The Hydra Initiative. And don't forget, players interested in beta-testing The Secret World can sign up for The Secret War on the game's official site.

Continue reading The Secret World unveils Tokyo Flashback at New York Comic Con

The Secret World unveils Tokyo Flashback at New York Comic Con originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The panel is true: The Secret World preps a NYCC appearance

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Previews, The Secret World, Massively Event Coverage

MMO fans traveling out to the Big Apple for the New York Comic Con next weekend have another potential "must see" on their event list: an exclusive panel of The Secret World with the devs.

The panel will take place on Friday, October 14th at 4:00 p.m. EDT in room 1A24. It's here that Funcom devs Ragnar Tørnquist and Dag Scheve will not only present an all-new live demo of the upcoming conspiracy MMO but field questions from the audience in as candid a manner as possible.

Of course, considering the game in question, we note that this could be a trap by the Old Gods to swallow the souls of all those attending and turn them into husks to do the Old Gods' bidding, but that's just the chance you'll have to take.

The panel is true: The Secret World preps a NYCC appearance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Salem livestream set for September 27th

Jef Reahard — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Livestream, Sandbox, Crafting

Paradox Interactive is highlighting a new opportunity for fans of the upcoming Salem MMORPG to get a first-hand look at how game development is progressing. A live demo will be streamed over Paradox's Twitch.tv channel on Tuesday, September 27th, offering curious onlookers the first real glimpse of the game that bills itself as "the crafting MMO" while also featuring PvP and permadeath.

Salem is a free-to-play browser-based MMORPG that takes place in a fantastical New England, and though the game has its share of "light-hearted gothic" elements and "a charming and cute art style," it also has quite a dark side in terms of hardcore mechanics and dangerous creatures based on colonial folklore.

Salem livestream set for September 27th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Guild Wars 2, Massively Event Coverage

Hey Guild Wars 2 fans, bummed that you're not at Gamescom right now getting your paws, claws, or ferns on the game? We have the next best thing: nearly 40 minutes of video footage for you to digest.

On the Gamescom floor, ArenaNet's Chris Lye took time to walk Wartower.de through the full Guild Wars 2 demo for the event. During the tour, he shows us character customization, the Asura, and the Charr starting experience, capping it off with a giant dragon boss encounter.

So what's Lye looking forward to playing the most when the game goes live? "I've already found it: the Asura Thief. I love the size, I love the animations on the Asura, and I love how great they are as Thieves."

Grab some popcorn and settle in for the full video after the jump!

Continue reading Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay

Gamescom 2011: Guild Wars 2 shows off 40 minutes of gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated]

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Massively Event Coverage, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Livestream

It's the start of Gamescom, and this morning Electronic Arts will be making its big presentation to the crowd and to the world at large through its livestream of the event. As part of the presentation, BioWare will be putting on a multiplayer demonstration of Star Wars: The Old Republic for the press and viewing public.

[Update: You can watch the EA press conference livestream at GameTrailers or after the jump!]

Continue reading EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated]

EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Firefall hands-on coming to Gamescom and PAX

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage

Those heading to Gamescom and PAX Prime later this month have a treat on waiting for them: a hot new demo of Firefall, the free-to-play persistent world shooter. Red 5 Studios is gracing both conventions with a hands-on experience to let players see if it lives up to the growing hype.

The Gamescom crowd can expect to enjoy the full demo and some intense coop events, while PAXers will get to see additional multiplayer maps as Firefall debuts its open-world experience.

Not heading to either convention? Red 5 hopes you don't give up hope, and invites you to sign up for the Firefall beta program, which is currently in the friends and family stage but is set to expand significantly after PAX. Firefall is slated to launch this December, which is not a minute too soon to those anticipating this title.

Enough talk -- it's time for action! Hit the jump to check out the awesome new trailer showcasing Firefall's gorgeous cel-shaded look, crazy action scenarios, and glowy glider wings.

Continue reading New Firefall hands-on coming to Gamescom and PAX

New Firefall hands-on coming to Gamescom and PAX originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative

Dan O'Halloran — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Star Wars: The Old Republic

E3 officially kicked off today in Los Angeles, and I was lucky to be one of the first in line for the latest hands-on demo of Star Wars: The Old Republic at the enormous Electronic Arts booth. There were two different types of demo stations awaiting us: level 1 Galactic Republic characters for those who were new to the game and level 26 Sith Empire characters for those of us who were more comfortable with MMOs. I was hot to play the mid-level Sith characters, but first we had to watch a 10-minute instructional video on how to play each advanced class.

Continue reading E3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative

E3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom: Your guide to the Refuge of the Apostate

Jef Reahard — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Hands-on, The Anvil of Crom

Wow, I've completely forgotten how to play my Demo. Due to recent adventures in Bear Shaman land, my level 80 Age of Conan characters have been collecting quite a bit of dust. I haven't really missed them yet, either, as the Shaman is a heck of a lot more enjoyable than I expected. That said, he's only 35, and therefore he's out of the running when it comes to showing me through the new Refuge of the Apostate dungeon content that Funcom released a few days back.

Join me after the cut as I get reacquainted with spamming shockstrike and running around with various succubi pets and a severe outbreak of particle effects. I might even be persuaded to offer up a proper guide for the new dungeon (and some review commentary) as well.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Your guide to the Refuge of the Apostate

The Anvil of Crom: Your guide to the Refuge of the Apostate originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system

Jef Reahard — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, Interviews, New titles, News items, Hands-on, TERA

Ah TERA, you're such a tease.

And we're not just talking about your skimpy outfits, oh no. Your political system, your endgame, your Westernized (whatever that means) makeover... all of these have conspired to leave us breathless with anticipation.

Fortunately, we were able to take TERA for a spin at this week's GDC 2011. Along with help from a PUG comprised of En Masse Entertainment staffers, we ventured deep inside the game's Smuggler's Hideout, battling BAMS (En Masse shorthand for big-ass monsters) and checking out the title's streamlined UI and spiffy combat mechanics. Join us after the cut for a brief recap of the demo as well as an interview with producer Brian Knox during which we (politely) demanded a definition for the much-discussed concept of Westernization.

Continue reading GDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system

GDC 2011: Massively takes on TERA's Smuggler Hideout, and Brian Knox teases the political system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse shows off PAX TERA demo video

Jef Reahard — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, News items, TERA

En Masse Entertainment has taken the wraps off a lengthy video edit of their PAX Prime 2010 TERA press demonstration. If you missed the game convention, as well as our coverage of the cultist refuge, you can sample scenes from the demo that have been cut together and made available on YouTube. The video, featuring a look at several boss fights as well as the interior and exterior of the cultist's refuge, runs right at six minutes in length and is underscored by some cheeky narration courtesy of producers Sam Kim and Stefan Ramirez.

"TERA is deep, it doesn't just have a story, it is a story. Progression isn't just about levels, items, or skills but about moving the story forward and finding out more about the world and your role in it as a player," Kim notes.

In addition to the usual footage of TERA's combat, there are also some interesting shots of the environments and what looks to be harvesting mechanics in the form of butterfly gathering.

En Masse shows off PAX TERA demo video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Brianna Royce — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Classes, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, RIFT

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV confirmed for Gamescom 2010

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

So, despite your best efforts, you still are not currently able to play Final Fantasy XIV. Not that your computer can't handle the system requirements -- no, it's simply an issue of the release date being painfully distant and your need for the game not subsiding. You've applied for the beta, but no luck. You entered the fansite contests for beta keys, and still nothing. You tried building a time machine, but you ran into problems when you went shopping for a DeLorean. What else can you possibly do?

Well, you could try running off to Europe. Specifically, Cologne, where Gamescom 2010 will be held. Square-Enix has confirmed that they will be presenting several games at the convention in a playable state, one of which will be Final Fantasy XIV. Most likely it will be from the newest testing build, although there's no word on whether or not the game will be playable by the public or just for press. Keep your eyes peeled to see if any new information comes out of the convention, taking place between the 18th and the 22nd of this month.

Final Fantasy XIV confirmed for Gamescom 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Previews, Hands-on, RIFT

We've had our eye on Rift: Planes of Telara for some time now, especially after getting a little face time with the game back in April. Fortune smiles upon us all once more as Trion Worlds made the trek to E3 to showcase this gorgeous fantasy title. Shouldering our way to the front of the line -- hey, hey, I'm reporting here! -- we took the wheel of an interactive demo while the developers were kind enough to answer a few questions about Rift.

Your very first decision in game will be to choose a faction: the Guardians or the Defiant. Both are tasked with saving a world under attack, although they each have their own approach and butt heads against the other in the process. The Guardians are blessed by the gods and are chosen to be their holy knights, while the Defiant take the anti-hero route and rely on their own technology to wage this war. The Defiant had created vast cities in the desert using their magical tech, but they were infiltrated by dragons and saw their great achievements wiped away, reducing them to desert wanderers. There are races unique to each faction, as well as races shared by both. We learned that the Defiant have access to both the Eth (human) and Bahmi (human/elemental) races.

Continue reading E3 2010: Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara

E3 2010: Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Our tour of the Fallen Earth studio

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Fallen Earth, Interviews, MMO industry, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Post-Apocalyptic

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the home of Fallen Earth: Icarus Studios in Cary, North Carolina. While the 8-hour drive through the mountains of North Carolina was certainly gorgeous, hanging out with the people who make Fallen Earth was a treat in itself. Rarely will you find a group of more down-to-earth, creative and passionate people as you'll find in an independent game studio.

So I brought my trusty camcorder to capture everything for the Massively readers. We talked about Patch 1.5, the new Assault PvP, the weather system, the companion app (as seen in a separate video), answered the questions you submitted and much more. Follow along after the jump for the complete video!

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Massively Exclusive: Our tour of the Fallen Earth studio originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online offering veteran rewards and free trials

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, News items, Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online players and former players got a little surprise in their inbox this morning -- the promise of rewards if you were still playing, and the chance to get back in if you stopped. Quite apart from the recent update to the game's first large content patch, Cryptic is rolling out three new features to players: Veteran Rewards, a demo, and an upcoming free trial weekend.

The demo, not quite available yet but promised in the very near future, will work along the lines of the Champions Online demo: unlimited time, but gameplay itself limited to the first few missions and areas. For lapsed players or new players who prefer limited time and unlimited content, there's a free weekend coming up starting on May 7th. Again much like its sister game, there are no limitations on gameplay, just time: May 7th at 10 AM PST until May 10th 10 AM PST.

Of course, if you're an extant player none of these options are terribly engaging to you -- but the newly-added veteran rewards most likely are. Rolling in each 100 days, the rewards allow another free respec each interval, special costume pieces, and a small skill point buff on low-level characters. Take a look at the full page for all the rewards, which are the latest in a large dose of good news for Star Trek Online fans.

Star Trek Online offering veteran rewards and free trials originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Puzzle, Galleries, Screenshots, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, Opinion, The Secret World, Crime, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage

I bet you thought we were done with news from GDC 2010, right? Well, not exactly. The embargo on our demo of The Secret World lifts today and we're oh-so eager to tell you all about what we saw.

While Creative Director Ragnar Tørnquist's team at Funcom has been doing an excellent job of teasing us with just enough information to keep us excited (although they'll deny the websites are from them), there are still many aspects of the game we have yet to discover. This GDC demo doesn't even scratch the surface on what we can expect from the released game, but it gives us quite a bit more to chew on until that time comes.

Follow along after the jump for our impressions of what we saw in the game's combat, in-game cinematics, storyline and a brief Q&A with Ragnar himself. Plus, be sure to check out the screenshot and concept art galleries below for some gorgeous eye candy.

Gallery: The Secret World

Gallery: The Secret World Art

Continue reading GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World

GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online launches new demo program

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Champions Online

So you're interested in Champions Online, but you lack a friend playing the game who could give you a trial code. You've missed out on the free weekends the game has offered, and you're not quite adventurous enough to drop the full price of the retail box sight unseen. What's to be done?

Well, as of now, the proper answer is to give the brand-new demo program a try. Following in the vein of Warhammer Online, those interested in Millenium City's superheroic population can now create two different characters and enjoy romping about in an unlimited free trial of the starting area. The opening area, in which players defend the city from an alien invasion, introduces most of the game's core mechanical concepts and allows the player to start brushing shoulders with the big names in the game's lore.

The only real limitations are the number of characters, and the hard limit of level 15, which itself takes quite a bit of work to reach in the starter zone. While it's not quite the rush of the various free-to-play weekend within the game, it keeps things nice and accessible, and should certainly help anyone curious about the gameplay get a firmer handle on Champions Online. The fact that it's on Steam as well is just icing on the cake.

[ Thanks to Edward R. for the tip! ]

Champions Online launches new demo program originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA releases new information on their upcoming MMO

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, News items, Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond

Back in November, we talked about an exciting space MMO in the works from NASA, called Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond. The information they had at the time was pretty extensive, and left us anxious to find out more and try it out.

We're getting our wish, as NASA has announced that Moonbase Alpha, a "mini-demo game', will be available on Steam around January of 2010. Moonbase Alpha gives a real look at NASA Constellation program design details that are planned by NASA for 2020.

The full game is set farther in the future -- around the year 2035 -- "but the ability to explore our own near-future moon missions are in scope in the much-anticipated STEM-learning game sponsored by NASA Learning Technologies."

NASA releases new information on their upcoming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan offers streaming expansion demo Monday

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Age of Conan, Expansions, Previews

If you're playing Age of Conan, the odds that you're looking forward to the upcoming Rise of the Godslayer expansion are... pretty much one to one. The news on the expansion has been fairly slow in coming since its announcement earlier this year, but it looks like we're due for a big burst of new information on Monday. Funcom has announced that the developers will be hosting a streaming demo of the game on December 7th via Xfire.

The demo, hosted by game director Craig Morrison and the expansion lead designer Joel Bylos, will begin at noon PST (3 PM for those of us on the other coast). Scheduled to last for an hour, it promises to cover both the content in the demo -- which is all slated to be new material -- as well as the expansion in general, which is targeted for release in the first half of 2010. Both the developers and their hosts at Xfire are excited about the chance to show off a live demo, and odds that the game's playerbase is excited are, again, probably one in one. So clear some time to catch the broadcast on Monday, and see what's in store for Age of Conan as it journeys into the eastern empire of Khitai.

[ via WarCry ]

Age of Conan offers streaming expansion demo Monday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009

James Egan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, New titles, Quests, PvE, Star Trek Online

We recently mentioned that Star Trek Online fans would get a chance to play through a demo of the game at Eurogamer Expo last week. One of the first reports we've read about the Star Trek Online demo comes from Oli Welsh at Eurogamer who was uniquely positioned to check out the game (it was their Expo after all.) Welsh begins by writing, "Trekkies can put one fear to rest right now: Star Trek Online feels just like Star Trek." Although this might assuage a bit of the apprehension some gamers have about trying yet another Star Trek game, Welsh is up front about the fact that the demo he played through was a contained single player experience. It's too soon to say what gameplay will feel like when hundreds of other players are thrown into the mix.

He writes about the demo's transitions between locations via warp jumps, keyboard navigation of star ships (standard WASD, with additional throttle control), and the pacing of ship combat. Welsh also walks the reader from the bridge of a Federation vessel down to the surface of a planet where Klingon opponents await. Fans of the game should read Eurogamer's hands on with Star Trek Online and may also be interested in the video footage of STO gameplay from Limited Edition, shot at this year's Eurogamer Expo (starting at 02:40. They've also captured gameplay of Global Agenda as well.) We've got a video embed of that for you after the jump.

Continue reading Demo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009

Demo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Players to get hands-on time with Star Trek Online at Eurogamer Expo

James Egan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Trek Online

Some people have already gotten into the closed beta for Star Trek Online, but for the rest of us it's going to be a waiting game. There may be good news for some of our UK-based readers, though. Those in attendance at this week's Eurogamer Expo will get to experience both ship-based action and ground combat firsthand in a Star Trek Online demo Cryptic Studios has set up. According to Eurogamer, Cryptic will allow Expo attendees to fight a fleet of Klingons and follow that up with an away mission on a planet's surface, where they will encounter the "Guardian of Forever."

Eurogamer Expo will run October 27-28 in Leeds, and October 30-31 in London. You can check out the full details of this public hands-on of Star Trek Online in the Eurogamer announcement.

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

Players to get hands-on time with Star Trek Online at Eurogamer Expo originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cities XL English demo launches today

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, News items, Cities XL

As we mentioned last week, Cities XL has been launching their own demo version of the game for several different languages. The German and French version went up last week, but today marks the official launch for the English version.

Partnering up with Namco Bandai for this English version, the developers at Monte Cristo seem pleased that their city-building MMO is right on track for an October release. This demo for the game can be downloaded at our sister site, Big Download, and is playable throughout the month of September.

Cities XL English demo launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cities XL releases new trailer in preparation for demo

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, New titles, Cities XL

The Monte Cristo team has just released a new sample video depicting some of the major choices you can make in their city-building MMO, set to release on October 8th (EU) and 9th (US). This trailer is out now to prepare us for the new demo version of the game. While the German and French versions have released this week, the English version will release on September 8th.

What exactly is the demo and how is it different from an open beta? Well, the demo is a true demo in the classic sense of the word. You can try out cities, but only build them to 22k citizens (the full version of the game lets you create megalopolises of millions of citizens). You'll have access to 3 maps, while the single player mode will give 25 maps on launch, and the MMO Planet Mode will give you 50 maps. This is Monte Cristo's way of opening the game up to all players, considering their unique business model with a single-player and multi-player modes. Check out our previous coverage and their newly-revamped website for more details.

[EDIT: You can now get the demo here.]

Cities XL releases new trailer in preparation for demo originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser

James Egan — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, MMO industry, News items, Browser

Gaikai is a new game streaming service that's currently in development, which was first announced at GDC 2009 (and later was apparently previewed by game publishers at E3 2009.) We've since mentioned Gaikai a few times at Massively, and how the service could bring MMOs (and other games) to devices like netbooks that don't have adequate graphics capabilities to run these titles. Gaikai will use "Streaming Worlds" technology to do all the graphics crunching on remote servers and then stream games to your computer via a web browser. In effect, you're playing the game as a video stream. No client install required, no patching needed.

Given the reactions we've seen from gamers in our own comments and elsewhere on the web, skepticism abounds. Perhaps seeing is believing though, as Gaikai's David Perry has put out a video demo of the service today, explaining Gaikai to viewers as he plays several games, namely World of Warcraft and EVE Online. No doubt there will still be skepticism, but it's good to get a first look at the service. Perry makes a few details about the demo and the service itself clear on his blog: the data travel distance in the demo is 800 miles; this is a (non-fiber) home cable connection; it works over wi-fi and with netbooks lacking 3D graphics cards; any clicking sounds heard are only from Perry's wireless headset mic.

We've got a video embed of the Gaikai technology demo for you below, where you can see World of Warcraft and EVE Online played via a browser:

Continue reading First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser

First Gaikai demo shows WoW and EVE played via browser originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009: Impressions of Heroes of Telara

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, New titles, News items, Opinion, RIFT

To be honest, when the Heroes of Telara trailer first released, much of what we heard was "been there done that" from readers and friends. "Fantasy has been done to death" was another. That's why we were glad to see the game actually in play behind closed doors this last week at the Trion World Network space at E3. While we only saw a pre-alpha copy of the game (and would point out that it's what they used for the trailer) it's certainly raised our interest over the initial impression we had.

In motion, Heroes of Telara actually made some of us of think of an updated, shinier version of Guild Wars in terms of very pretty and highly-detailed stylized (yet somewhat realistic) graphics. As was explained to us by Chris Mancil, the Director of Community Management for Trion, one of the largest things that they feel will set Heroes of Telara apart from many others is that they are working to keep the game server-based. Their plan is to attempt to keep most of the "action" server side as is possible so that they can add new events into the game without having to send along enormous patches to players all the time. All assets will still reside client side, but they'll be able to manipulate game-play by telling the client to modify where things spawn, how things interact, and the like. From little things like different vendors having sales to large zone-wide events, it will allow them to change anything and everything on the fly and make Heroes of Telara feel more like it's taking place in a living, breathing, dynamic world that players will want to "live in, explore, and play."

Gallery: Heroes of Telara core gallery

Gallery: Heroes of Telara concept art

Continue reading E3 2009: Impressions of Heroes of Telara

E3 2009: Impressions of Heroes of Telara originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009: The Agency in-game footage

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, The Agency, News items, Massively Meta, Spy, Massively Interviews

As part of our extensive E3 tour through SOE's newest games, launched and upcoming, we got a fairly good look at some gameplay footage in The Agency. Of course, you know The Agency as the spy MMO that had everyone talking at last year's E3. With this new gameplay footage, you lucky readers (or, viewers) get to see what to expect when the game launches.

Click through after the jump to see the game's lead producer, Lorien Gremore, show us around a bit with combat, stealth, minigames and even a bit of female persuasion tactics*.

* Not from Lorien

Gallery: E3 2009: The Agency

Massively is on the ground in Los Angeles this week and covering all the latest E3 MMO news coming from the convention. Check out our breaking coverage (or all the Joystiq network E3 reporting) and keep your eye on Massively's front page for the latest developments.

Continue reading E3 2009: The Agency in-game footage

E3 2009: The Agency in-game footage originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stargate Worlds open beta to come right before launch and not suck

Samuel Axon — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Stargate Worlds, News items

Stargate Worlds Studio Head Dan Elggren told videogamer.com in an interview that there will be an open beta test for the game immediately before the commercial launch date. That's not a shock; most MMO developers these days run a small open beta test in the one or two weeks immediately preceding launch.

Elggren promised that the beta will be "pretty solid product," and pointed to Funcom's Age of Conan open beta event as the best example of what Cheyenne Mountain/Firesky is trying not to do. Our readers who participated in that beta may remember terrible performance and stability issues.

In both videogamer.com's interview and in a chat with us earlier in the summer, the SGW team has acknowledged that open beta events are more marketing tools than technical ones. The closed beta (which will begin within the next few weeks) might be a different kind of affair though.

[Via Ten Ton Hammer]

Stargate Worlds open beta to come right before launch and not suck originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Icarus Studios demos iPhone MMO software this week

Samuel Axon — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Mobile

Icarus Studios -- developer of Fallen Earth and the associated Icarus Platform virtual world development tools --announced via press release that this week it is demonstrating its 3D MMO platform running on Apple's iPhone at the Austin Game Developers Conference.

The demo is modest -- a "360-degree panoramic tour of a sample virtual world location." Users control the camera with the phone's accelerometer. Apple recently threw down the gauntlet, saying that the iPhone and the iPod Touch platforms are "the best portable device for playing games." No reason that future can't include MMOs, right?

The iPhone client is scheduled to launch in Q1 of 2009. Does this mean that within months everyone on the New York subway, the Chicago El, and the London Underground will be immersed in a never-ending, time-sinking quest for teh phat lewtz?

Icarus Studios demos iPhone MMO software this week originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft begins selling 14-day MMO trials at retail

Samuel Axon — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, Lineage 2, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Tabula Rasa

NCsoft Europe announced that it has begun selling in the U.K. what it calls "starter packs" for some of its games - City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, and Lineage II. Tabula Rasa will follow later in the year. The packs cost £1.99 at retail, and come with all game content plus a two week trial subscription period, encouraging players to return to buy the game at retail when the period ends.

This is essentially your standard 14-day trial -- a staple in the industry -- made available through retail for would-be subscribers who might not come across such opportunities on the web. NCsoft hopes that this move will net some new customers -- especially for its struggling properties.

"In an ever increasingly digitally orientated retail environment, encouraging players to return to retail is a win-win for both outlet and publisher," said an NCsoft rep. We had heard that the whole digital download thing could be the saving grace of the PC platform, but whatever!

NCsoft begins selling 14-day MMO trials at retail originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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