Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New Firefall dev blog discusses raising the skill ceiling]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/new-firefall-dev-blog-discusses-raising-the-skill-ceiling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/new-firefall-dev-blog-discusses-raising-the-skill-ceiling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/new-firefall-dev-blog-discusses-raising-the-skill-ceiling/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Firefall
The other day we talked about Red 5 Studios' new development philosophy for its upcoming MMOFPS, Firefall, and its decision to take things in a direction that's more focused on player skill than levels or gear. Today, the studio has released a new dev diary that expounds on this philosophy by discussing how it plans to make the game "approachable and exciting to players of all skill levels," while ensuring that it remains rewarding to the truly hardcore.

The post begins by taking a look at the game's core combat, which contains "a number of weapons and abilities that are lower-twitch and lower-skill," such as beam weapons, AoE abilities, and splash damage. The post goes on to discuss a number of potential solutions to these problems, such as changing the high-splash-damage plasma cannon into a gun that deals lower splash damage, but with devastating direct-hit damage. It's an interesting read for players who are looking for a bit more skill-based gameplay in their MMOs, and Firefall fans in general would do well to go check out the full post on the game's official site.

MassivelyNew Firefall dev blog discusses raising the skill ceiling originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diaryf2pfirefallfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playmmo-shootermmofpspvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fishooterskillskill-ceilingwarThu, 24 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/rift-conquest-video-boasts-this-is-where-realities-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/rift-conquest-video-boasts-this-is-where-realities-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/rift-conquest-video-boasts-this-is-where-realities-collide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

RIFT
Curious how the makers of RIFT are going to turn a two-faction game into a three-faction PvP brawl? Us too! But Trion Worlds has a few clever ideas to capitalize on the best elements of PvP innovation and evolution with its upcoming Conquest system.

"With Conquest we're really trying to capture the essence of open-world PvP gameplay," shares Lead Designer William Fisher in a new developer video. "This is where realities collide." He goes on to say that this new system isn't Defiants against Guardians, but instead three brand-new factions from across the planes duking it out with player assistance.

Check out the new video after the jump, and when you're done with that, catch up with our very own Karen Bryan's hands-on experience with the Conquest system!

Continue reading RIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide'

MassivelyRIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestconquest-pvpconquest-systemdefiantsdev-diarydev-videofantasyguardianspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsvideowilliam-fisherWed, 23 May 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/arenanet-talks-about-naming-guild-wars-2s-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
While it's easy to get caught up in the big picture side of the development process, we risk overlooking the smaller but crucial work that goes into gluing the game together. One of these tasks is the naming of the world and all that lies within it. Content Designer Annie VanderMeer Mitsoda wrote an ArenaNet blog post about the challenges and decisions that went with labeling everything under the sun in Guild Wars 2.

Mitsoda said that the team has established a system for nailing down names. After coming up with the name, the team sends the moniker through a "sanity check" that makes sure it's not too hard to spell or say. The team also tries to weed out the more obscure or overt pop culture references, then passes along the names to the team's "loremasters," who check it against an internal wiki for consistency.

She goes on to share a few anecdotes about the naming process, such as the evolution of Charr names, the difficulty of putting a label on an animal that has no Earth equivalent, and how the creepy rat-dog Murellow got its name. It's an interesting read into a different side of the development process that often goes unnoticed, so check it out!

MassivelyArenaNet talks about naming Guild Wars 2's world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetAnnie-VanderMeerAnnie-VanderMeer-Mitsodaarenanetbetacharrdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2gw2loremurellownamenamesnamingncsoftWed, 23 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Star Trek Online Season 6 reveal: Fleet starbases]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/exclusive-star-trek-online-season-6-reveal-fleet-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/exclusive-star-trek-online-season-6-reveal-fleet-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/exclusive-star-trek-online-season-6-reveal-fleet-starbases/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

STO
You read that headline right: Star Trek Online will be introducing player starbases in its upcoming Season 6. For the first time in the game, fleets will be able to band together to build a virtual home in the icy blackness of space.

The project was spearheaded by Cryptic Lead Artist Jeremy Mattson, who was given the task of conceptualizing and designing this core feature of the path. Mattson sent us an exclusive developer diary to take us through this process, starting with his examination of starbases in Star Trek's canon all the way through the construction and finished product.

Continue reading Exclusive Star Trek Online Season 6 reveal: Fleet starbases

MassivelyExclusive Star Trek Online Season 6 reveal: Fleet starbases originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahldeath-starDenis-Osmanbogovicdev-blogdev-diaryearth-spacedockf2pfleetfleet-starbasefleet-starbasesfree-to-playhousingjeff-millerjeremy-mattsonk7Matt-JeffriesNick-Duguidperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplayer-housingplayer-starbaseplayer-starbasespreviewpwesci-fiseason-6star-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoTue, 22 May 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warplanes video diary details classes, roles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/world-of-warplanes-video-diary-details-classes-roles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/world-of-warplanes-video-diary-details-classes-roles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/world-of-warplanes-video-diary-details-classes-roles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Warplanes - dev diary title screen
Looking for the latest World of Warplanes news? Wargaming.net has you covered with part two of its developer diary video series.

The clip introduces us to some of the dev personalities working on the game as well as the three main aircraft classes (fighters, heavy fighters, and ground attack planes). "Fighters top the food chain," according to historical consultant Yuri Pasholok. "They are the most widespread, versatile, and -- pound for pound -- the deadliest class in the game."

In comparison, ground attack birds are "slow, clumsy, and very heavy." Pasholok says, "To imagine what flying a ground attack plane is like, think of flying a tank." Why would you want to fly a tank? Well, for the ridiculous amounts of destructive firepower, of course. Finally, heavy fighters are something of a middle ground between the previous two classes. They can take a beating better than their light fighter counterparts, but their main objective is defense and interception. Click past the cut to view the full video, and be sure to check out The Firing Line this Friday for an exclusive World of Warplanes producer interview.

Continue reading World of Warplanes video diary details classes, roles

MassivelyWorld of Warplanes video diary details classes, roles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diaryf2pfightersfree-to-playground-attack-planesheavy-fightershistoricalplaneplanespvptrailervideovideo-dev-diarywarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplanesworld-of-warplanes-classeswowpwowp-classeswowp-dev-diarywowp-video-dev-diaryTue, 15 May 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-firing-line-16th-century-fragging-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-firing-line-16th-century-fragging-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-firing-line-16th-century-fragging-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Image
What do War Thunder, World of Warplanes, Leonardo da Vinci, and Tribes: Ascend have in common? Not a whole lot aside from their respective appearances in this week's edition of The Firing Line.

Won't you join me after the cut for a rundown on some recent and notable online shooter news? If you're feeling particularly ornery, you can point and laugh at the fact that I'm still not in the War Thunder beta.

Continue reading The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition

MassivelyThe Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascendbrideachang-youchangyoudev-diarye-sportesportf2pfeaturedfiring-linefirst-person-shooterflight-simfpsfree-to-playgaijingaijin-entertainmenthi-rezhi-rez-studioshinterlands-maphuxleymmofpsopinionpvprenaissance-fpsrenaissance-heroesrenaissance-heroes-trailershootertartarustartarus-maptflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpstrailertribestribes-ascendtribes-dev-diarytribes-tartarusunreal-engine-3videowar-thunderwar-thunder-bomberswar-thunder-world-of-planesworld-of-planesFri, 11 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Fornost 'joining the modern MMO world']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/lotros-fornost-joining-the-modern-mmo-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
"Fornost was designed and built in a different era of MMO," Turbine's devs said about the newly revised dungeon. "It is time for Fornost to join the modern MMO world." With Fornost slated for a massive overhaul with Update 7, the team posted a developer diary to explain the history of the instance and its hopeful future.

The third instance ever created for Lord of the Rings Online will be chopped up from its current super-long state to four manageable dungeons. The devs said that it was designed from an EverQuest mindset of long dungeon crawls, but so much has changed over time and most players no longer have the time or effort to conquer it.

With Update 7, Fornost will turn into four element-themed six-person dungeons. Each of these dungeons should take well less than an hour to complete and scale from level 30 to 75 with two tiers of difficulty. The team's reworked positioning, bosses, and quests to reflect the upgraded experience. For those who might miss the old Fornost, the team says that playing all four instances back-to-back will replicate the grand tour that it used to be.

MassivelyLotRO's Fornost 'joining the modern MMO world' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diarydungeonf2pfantasyfornostfornost-revampfree-to-playinstancejoe-barrylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroshades-of-the-pastturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Thu, 10 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/mike-obrien-guild-wars-2s-beta-weekend-overwhelming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien said that the result of Guild Wars 2's initial public beta weekend was "overwhelming in more ways than one." ArenaNet's president took the time to write up a short blog post reflecting on the outcome of the past beta weekend and the reasoning behind this coming Monday's surprise stress test.

According to O'Brien, while the feedback from the event was quite positive, the team had to struggle with unexpected demand for the game. Even after the management temporarily turned off the ability for players' ability to pre-purchase the title through ArenaNet, the game's 48 servers couldn't contain the influx of testers and beta tourists.

It wasn't just a PR stunt, however. "This was definitely a real beta, designed to find problems, gather player input, and learn what work still needs to be done before we ship the game," O'Brien stated.

The team is anticipating a bigger crowd with the next beta weekend, which is why it's running a seven-hour stress test on May 14th to test new changes.

MassivelyMike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeta-weekenddev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguideguild-wars-2gw2Mike Shanahanmike-o-brienMikeShanahanncsoftpresidentserversstress-testThu, 10 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA writer discusses the labor of love behind game writing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/tera-writer-discusses-the-labor-of-love-behind-game-writing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/tera-writer-discusses-the-labor-of-love-behind-game-writing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/tera-writer-discusses-the-labor-of-love-behind-game-writing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You always hurt the ones you love, but it's usually not with a battleaxe.
There's a conception among some gamers that working with video games for a living entails more "video games" than "working." A new development diary by TERA's writing team manager David Noonan is quick to disabuse readers of that notion. He does see the job as a labor of love, but he also freely admits that every day brings the question of how much time will be "love" and how much time will be plain old "labor."

Noonan explains the way that he and his team look at bug reports relating to their department. Sometimes, the only thing that needs to be changed is a simple typo; other times, the dialogue of an entire quest chain will need to be rewritten from the start. But that doesn't negate the joy of filling in a story and creating a world, from the major quests down to the item names. If you have an interest in TERA's writing, game writing in general, or both, Noonan has some interesting insights to share.

[Thanks to Mike for the tip!]

MassivelyTERA writer discusses the labor of love behind game writing originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryblueholebluehole-studiosdavid-noonandev-diarydeveloper-diaryen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygame-designgame-writinglorelore-designlore-developmentlore-writingterawritingMon, 07 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Since the word came down recently that Turbine is revamping much of Lord of the Rings Online's Moria, players have been buzzing about the merits and scope of such a project. Content Developer Lauren Salk posted an article on the official site explaining the reasoning behind the decision as well as the specific changes involved.

Salk said that Turbine wanted to respond to player complaints about the difficulty and pace of Moria's leveling experience. She admits that the quests did not always lead to the best places and resulted in a frustrating stint underground instead of an amazing journey. Salk confessed that the zone even frustrated her mother, who never made it all the way through.

With Update 7, LotRO will update half of Moria, while the latter half will come later on down the road. In addition to a smoother quest flow, additional quests, and an easier difficulty level, Turbine's adding tasks for all to enjoy.

Travel through Moria will become more pleasant, as the lighting will be adjusted, additional stable routes added, monsters moved out of the major pathways, and a no-reputation goat made available from the start.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedev-blogdev-diarydev-postdifficulty-levelf2pfantasyfree-to-playlauren-salklord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-revampshades-of-the-pasttravelturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Repopulation
As The Repopulation is free from conventional MMO leveling and hews to skill-based progression instead, dealing with player gear is substantially more difficult than it would be otherwise. The team posted a five-minute dev video explaining how items, repair, and what it calls "fittings" work in the game.

The long and the short of The Repopulation's gear system is that players will be able to pick the outfit (or "shells") that they like the best visually and then equip the stats they want on it. This is done through fittings, which is similar to socket systems found in other MMOs.

As outfits take damage, the conditions of the fittings can and do degrade, reducing the stats associated with it. If it gets too bad, the fittings will either need to be repaired or replaced.

You can check out The Repopulation's gear system after the break. The team is currently accepting signups for June's alpha testing.

[Thanks to Halldorr and J.C. for the tip!]

Continue reading The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content

MassivelyThe Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiescustomizable-gearcustomizedev-blogdev-diarydev-videofittingfitting-systemfittingsgeargear-progressionitemitemsoutfitoutfit-systemrepairrepopulationsandboxsci-fishellsocketsocket-systemthe-repopulationvideoWed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net releases World of Warplanes video dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/wargaming-net-releases-world-of-warplanes-video-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/wargaming-net-releases-world-of-warplanes-video-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/wargaming-net-releases-world-of-warplanes-video-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Warplanes - Video dev diary #1
Anxious for an update on World of Warplanes? If so, Wargaming.net has just the thing in the form of a new video dev blog that features gameplay footage and talking head interviews with various project principals.

The clip resides on Wargaming.net's YouTube portal (and we've also got it for you after the cut, below). It's entirely in Russian, but fortunately it's also packed with sub-titles for the rest of us. Much of the info is a recap if you've been following the game for some time, but there are some interesting tidbits regarding aircraft prototypes (i.e., avatars that are quite different from the usual Mustang, Spitfire, and Sturmovik suspects found in most flight sims).

The dev diary also tells us that while WoWP will initially ship with 20 planes per nation, the roster will gradually expand up to 100 aircraft for each faction.

Continue reading Wargaming.net releases World of Warplanes video dev diary

MassivelyWargaming.net releases World of Warplanes video dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diaryf2pfree-to-playhistoricalplaneplanespvpvideowarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplanesworld-of-warplanes-dev-diarywowpwowp-dev-diaryTue, 17 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth dev blog details Haven revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fallen-earth-dev-blog-details-haven-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fallen-earth-dev-blog-details-haven-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/fallen-earth-dev-blog-details-haven-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth - new Haven Lightbearer building
It's been a month or so since we've heard from the folks working on Fallen Earth. Today, that news drought ends courtesy of a dev blog by one Ninjanomics.

The update is all about the changes in store for the town of Haven. Given the fact that the town is one of the more prominent features of the Northfields area, and given that it "had a confusing layout, was cruelly prohibitive to framerate, and didn't well reflect the serenity of the Lightbearers as a faction," the devs thought it was time for an extreme makeover.

Ninjanomics (also known as GamersFirst's art ninja) walks us through the rebuild process and details both the stylistic and the layout changes to the town. The original design had "no logical flow to speak of," which led G1 artists to divide Haven into two sections: the town proper and a grove area. As a result, the new Haven experience is markedly smoother for weary wasteland wanderers and fans of Fallen Earth's free-to-play sandpark ambiance.

MassivelyFallen Earth dev blog details Haven revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diaryf2pfallen-earthfallen-earth-dev-blogfallen-earth-havenfallen-earth-haven-revampfefree-to-playg1gamersfirsthavenhaven-revampninjanomicspost-apocpost-apocalypticsandboxsci-fiwastelandsFri, 13 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storybricks video reveals UI, gameplay, zombified NPC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/storybricks-video-reveals-ui-gameplay-zombified-npc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/storybricks-video-reveals-ui-gameplay-zombified-npc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/storybricks-video-reveals-ui-gameplay-zombified-npc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Storybricks UI
Back in January, Namaste Entertainment released its second video dev diary for Storybricks. Prior to that, company representatives drip-fed information to the press and convention-goers relative to the new title's story-based sandbox and its unique approach to both NPC and quest design.

Today we get to actually see the game in action courtesy of the newest video dev diary. Storybricks CEO Rodolfo Rosini walks us through eight minutes of gameplay, complete with a look at the UI, a small story instance, and some of the options available for customizing NPC action and motivation.

Storybricks looks to break the traditional kill-10-rats MMO quest paradigm. The video clip shows us how with multiple NPC actions, behaviors, and customizable flavor text (not to mention a zombie ability, which Rosini describes as "very important."). He also says the footage is "pre-pre-alpha," but it's pretty exciting nonetheless. See for yourself after the break.

[Thanks to John for the tip!]

Continue reading Storybricks video reveals UI, gameplay, zombified NPC

MassivelyStorybricks video reveals UI, gameplay, zombified NPC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarymmo-storymotivationnamastenamaste-entertainmentnpc-motivationrodolfo-rosinisandboxstorybricksstorybricks-gameplaystorybricks-uivideoWed, 11 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot retunes Relic system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/dark-age-of-camelot-retunes-relic-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecamelotclassic-mmodaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-blogdev-diaryeaelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyproducers-letterpvprelicrelic-keeprelic-keepsrelic-runsrelic-systemrvrStuart-ZissuTue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Steam fashions a pressurized skill tree]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/city-of-steam-fashions-a-pressurized-skill-tree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/city-of-steam-fashions-a-pressurized-skill-tree/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/09/city-of-steam-fashions-a-pressurized-skill-tree/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Steam
Many MMOs have skill or talent trees, but when you're doing a steampunk game, why not take a bland staple of the genre and turn it into something awesome? That's what City of Steam's Lead Designer Dave Winking is promoting when he shows off the team's ideas for turning the mundane into the fantastical.

After taking feedback from previous generic builds, City of Steam's dev team revamped the skill tree's visuals and mechanics to entice a "whoa!" out of its players. The concept is that the tree is now a maze of pipes, boilers, and valves. Players will build up "pressure" over time, pressure that can be vented into different pipes. The more pressure in a pipe, the higher a skill goes, and once a skill hits 100% pressure, it's usable by the player.

Winking says that players have more options than just filling up a pipe; they can also over-pressurize pipes to achieve higher skill ranks and take multiple paths to achieve better skills. There's even a mystery skill that Winking says will "make your character explode into pieces of bread with cat's heads stuck through them." Of course, he then says he's probably teasing about the last thing.

MassivelyCity of Steam fashions a pressurized skill tree originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacity-of-steamclockworkDave-Winkingdev-blogdev-diarydev-journalMechanist-Gamespressurepressure-valvepreviewskill-treesteampunktalent-treeMon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/arenanet-details-guild-wars-2s-squad-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/arenanet-details-guild-wars-2s-squad-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/arenanet-details-guild-wars-2s-squad-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - WvW group
So what the heck is a squad as it relates to Guild Wars 2? I surely don't know, but ArenaNet's Jordan Massey does. Fortunately for all of us, he's explained it via the latest GW2 dev blog that's hot off the presses.

Essentially, squads are ANet's answer to the problem of WvW communication. As Massey says, "team chat was too large because everyone in the entire map could talk in it, resulting in too much noise. On the other hand, parties [...] were too small."

The squad, then, is a "one-to-many" command structure with its own chat channel that only accepts chat from the leader. Squad leaders also get squad map markers, which function much as normal waypoints. Massey also says that while the squad mechanics were designed with PvP in mind, they'll be quite helpful for larger PvE events. Read all about it at the official ArenaNet blog.

[Update: ArenaNet has also clarified whether GW2 will be region-bound. The Facebook statements are after the break.]

Continue reading ArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated]

MassivelyArenaNet details Guild Wars 2's squad mechanics and region-locking [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-squadsgw2gw2-squadsjordan-masseyncsoftsquad-chatsquad-communicationsquadsThu, 05 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perpetuum expands the sandbox with player-built settlements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/perpetuum-expands-the-sandbox-with-player-built-settlements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/perpetuum-expands-the-sandbox-with-player-built-settlements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/perpetuum-expands-the-sandbox-with-player-built-settlements/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perpetuum
Perpetuum's sci-fi sandbox is preparing to go from your basic Toys-R-Us plastic pool to a full-on professional playground setup in the near future. Its team of 10 developers are slaving away at creating 24 brand-new "Gamma" islands for players to colonize and fight over, as well as the tools with which to stake their claim.

This chain of two-dozen islands will be the foundation for Perpetuum's Player-Built Settlements (or PBS, if you miss Sesame Street). Everything from the buildings to the land they're built on can be created and modified by players to make a real and lasting impact on the game world.

Settlements will be color-coded to represent its parent corporation and are incredibly complex in regards to how the buildings are linked to each other. Of course, this being a PvP game, other corporations will certainly have motive to destroy and conquer enemy territory.

[Thanks to Roy for the tip!]

MassivelyPerpetuum expands the sandbox with player-built settlements originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatar-creationsdev-blogdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playpbsperpetuumplayer-build-settlementspvpsandboxsci-fiterraformingSat, 31 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anarchy Online's future is so bright, it's gotta wear shades]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/anarchy-onlines-future-is-so-bright-its-gotta-wear-shades/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/anarchy-onlines-future-is-so-bright-its-gotta-wear-shades/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/anarchy-onlines-future-is-so-bright-its-gotta-wear-shades/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Anarchy Online
Game Director Fia "Lindelu" Tjernberg is absolutely pumped about Anarchy Online's future, and she's not shy about promoting it. In a massive March development update post, Tjernberg discusses many projects the team has in the works for the loyal citizens of Rubi-Ka.

Probably the biggest change on the immediate horizon is a brand-new global market interface that will allow players to buy and sell goods to each other. The market will be accessed at special terminals in the main cities as well as portable terminals, and can trade across all dimensions. Free players can browse the market, but only subscribers can buy or sell in it. Work-in-progress screenshots of the market were also posted to the main site.

She reports that while the team was happy to show off the upgraded graphics engine this past week, there's still a ways to go before it hits live. Other projects that occupy the devs' time are improving the new player experience, balancing professions, and a streamlined game launcher with a graphical character selection screen.

[Thanks to David for the tip!]

MassivelyAnarchy Online's future is so bright, it's gotta wear shades originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoclassic-mmodev-blogdev-diarydev-updatedevelopment-updateFia-Tjernbergfuncomglobal-marketgraphics-engine-updategraphics-updateLindelurubi-kasci-fiSat, 31 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check and mate: A look at Otherland's EightSquared simulation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/check-and-mate-a-look-at-otherlands-eightsquared-simulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/check-and-mate-a-look-at-otherlands-eightsquared-simulation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/check-and-mate-a-look-at-otherlands-eightsquared-simulation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Knight from B1 to -- aw, s**t.
Fans of Tad Williams' deliciously cyberpunk book series Otherland are almost certainly waiting with bated breath for gamigo and RealU's upcoming MMO adaptation of the universe. In hopes of making the wait just a tad easier, gamigo has released a new developer diary video focusing on the EightSquared universe of Otherland.

EightSquared, as you may have surmised from the name, is a simulation in which an entire medieval countryside has sprung forth from a gargantuan chess board on which the Red and White armies are locked in an eternal war/game. But something has gone wrong with the simulation: The armies are no longer following the rules of warfare (i.e., rules of chess), and it's up to players to find out where the problem lies before things get too far out of hand and cause the destruction of the simulation itself. The full dev diary also provides a look at the game's Lifecycle AI, which breathes life into the world by providing NPCs who follow their own day-to-day schedules.

So what are you waiting for? Log in to the Net and go take a look for yourself.

[Source: gamigo press release]

Continue reading Check and mate: A look at Otherland's EightSquared simulation

MassivelyCheck and mate: A look at Otherland's EightSquared simulation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online
Team Super Friends is hard at work living up to its name by bringing liberty, justice, and wholesale carnage to the EVE Online community. As the team prepares for May's Inferno expansion, it's tackling a reworking of the War Declaration system.

According to a new EVE dev blog, the system wasn't exactly broken, but it was underutilized and wasn't always working as intended. As a result, the team took the system apart, examined it thoroughly, and put it back together with a few improvements aimed at making the act of declaring and waging war between corps clearer and easier to understand.

These improvements to War Declaration include modifying how costs are calculated, eliminating automatically retracting wars, and putting a time limit on conflicts. Wars will go on for a week, after which the declarer can choose to pay to prolong it or end it right then and there. An informative War Report will help players understand the forces engaged, losses sustained so far, and the history of a corp's past wars.

The blog ends with a FAQ on the changes culled from the recent Fanfest.

MassivelyEVE Online declares war (more efficiently) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlinefanfestinfernointernet-spaceshipssandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlineteam-super-friendswar-declarationwar-declaration-systemThu, 29 Mar 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/jumping-out-of-an-airlock-is-a-legitimate-mode-of-travel-in-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Line of Defense
Contrary to many of Derek Smart's previous expansive computer titles, Line of Defense will be "streamlined" to focus on a small corner of the galaxy. In a new dev blog, Smart outlines the scope of the MMO's territory and how it connects to his previously established game universe.

Line of Defense consists of four space regions, each with its own planets and moons. The regions are connected by jump gates in the Sirius/Barnard's Star systems pathway. However, when the game first launches, players will only have access to the planet of Lyrius, with other planets and moons coming afterward.

Players can teleport from base to base on planets using Dynamic Jump Pads or can transfer to a station via a carrier. Jumpgates, however, will allow players in vehicles to traverse entire regions. But probably the most interesting mode of transportation is to let loose with an orbital drop from a space station down to the planet surface below.

The one thing that Line of Defense won't have, however, is the ability to seamlessly transition between planets, bases, and regions without loading screens.

MassivelyJumping out an airlock is a legitimate mode of travel in Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>derek-smartdev-blogdev-diarydr-derek-smartdynamic-jump-padgame-universegame-worldjump-gatejump-gatesjumpgatejumpgatesline-of-defenselodlyriusmoonsplanetssectorstransportationtravelWed, 28 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's lead designer explains abilities, skills, gear, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/the-secret-worlds-lead-designer-explains-abilities-skills-gea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/the-secret-worlds-lead-designer-explains-abilities-skills-gea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/the-secret-worlds-lead-designer-explains-abilities-skills-gea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - beta ability wheel
Funcom's been pretty quiet since its GDC reveal of The Secret World. Today, though, lead designer Martin Bruusgaard has dropped the smack down on the information void via a lengthy blog post on the game's official site.

You'll probably want a couple of caffeinated beverages for this one because Bruusgaard has a lot to say about The Secret World's abilities, skills, gear, progression, and crafting systems. We would try to summarize it for you, but we'd still be typing this time tomorrow, so suffice it to say that basically every mechanical question you have about the game is at least touched on in this post.

There are plenty of interesting tidbits too, like the fact that TSW is shaping up to be one of the more non-linear experiences to be found among the latest crop of AAA MMORPGs. "The players are free to go wherever they want from the beginning, but they will most likely get their ass handed to them in the more difficult zones," Bruusgaard explains.

MassivelyThe Secret World's lead designer explains abilities, skills, gear, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diaryfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormartin-bruusgaardmechanicsmythologyprogressionsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskillsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-craftingthe-secret-world-mechanicsthe-secret-world-progressiontswMon, 26 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Colonize the New World: Salem opens beta sign-ups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/colonize-the-new-world-salem-opens-beta-sign-ups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/colonize-the-new-world-salem-opens-beta-sign-ups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/colonize-the-new-world-salem-opens-beta-sign-ups/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Salem
It's time to set sail for the New World with Paradox Interactive's upcoming free-to-play sandbox title, Salem. The studio announced today that beta sign-ups for the title have opened up, and anyone and everyone is welcome to jump in and give the team feedback.

But remember, folks, the untamed wilderness of the New World is a harsh and unforgiving place, and death is not something to be taken lightly. If you don't play your cards just right, you could end up six feet under with no way of returning to the world of the living. Don't worry too much, though; the folks at Paradox have released a new video to give players a bit of a heads up on how to survive the wilderness. So after you're done with the "how-to-not-die-of-dysentery" primer, just head on over to the game's official site and get in on the test.

[Source: Paradox Interactive press release]

Continue reading Colonize the New World: Salem opens beta sign-ups

MassivelyColonize the New World: Salem opens beta sign-ups originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-sign-upsbeta-testbeta-testingbrowserbrowser-baseddev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playhistoricalnew-englandparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathsalemsandboxvideovideosFri, 23 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leave your legacy with Star Wars: The Old Republic's newest dev dispatch video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/leave-your-legacy-with-star-wars-the-old-republics-newest-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/leave-your-legacy-with-star-wars-the-old-republics-newest-dev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/leave-your-legacy-with-star-wars-the-old-republics-newest-dev/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic's patch 1.2 is slowly creeping over the horizon, and that means players are one step closer to getting to try out the next steps in the game's Legacy progression system for themselves. In light of this, BioWare has released a new video highlighting the inner workings of the Legacy system to give players a look at what exactly they can expect.

Here's a recap for the uninitiated: The Legacy system unlocks after a character completes chapter one of the storyline, and from that point on that character will gain Legacy experience in addition to the normal combat experience. Progressing through the Legacy system will unlock a variety of spiffy treats -- such as special skills, new class-race combinations, account-bound gear, and more -- for all characters on a player's account. Obviously the benefits are greatest for altoholics (whoo!), but even one-character players will be able to benefit from the new abilities and other unlocks. Of course, you don't have to take our word for it; the full developer dispatch video can be seen just past the cut.

Continue reading Leave your legacy with Star Wars: The Old Republic's newest dev dispatch video

MassivelyLeave your legacy with Star Wars: The Old Republic's newest dev dispatch video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredev-diariesdev-diarydev-dispatchdeveloper-diariesdeveloper-diarydeveloper-dispatcheaelectronic-artslegacylegacy-systemlucasartspatch-1.2sci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideosThu, 22 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World offers up a video diary on freeform progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-secret-world-offers-up-a-video-diary-on-freeform-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-secret-world-offers-up-a-video-diary-on-freeform-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-secret-world-offers-up-a-video-diary-on-freeform-progression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Okay. Maybe this is okay. Maybe it just wants a bacon strip.
The Secret World is going to feature a lot of different monsters to contend with, and that means a lot of different tricks to deal with all of them. We've known for a while that the game will feature a freeform skill system, but in a recent video diary the development staff shows off some of these freeform skills in action and in visual flow. As stated before, players can pick any different combination of skills and abilities from the skill wheel, with the big key simply being to look for synergy between your various abilities.

Regardless of what your character has unlocked, you'll be limited to seven active abilities and seven passive abilities at any given time, thereby ensuring that more experienced characters will have more options rather than more raw power. The video also talks about templates to help guide new players and the game's equipment system, all of which emphasize the role of players in determining how they want to play. If this sounds right up your alley, take a look at the full video diary just past the break.

Continue reading The Secret World offers up a video diary on freeform progression

MassivelyThe Secret World offers up a video diary on freeform progression originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryfactionfantasyfreeform-progressionfuncomgame-mechanicshorrormechanicsmythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskill-progressionskillsthe-secret-worldtswvideovideosWed, 21 Mar 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet focuses on community in latest dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/arenanet-focuses-on-community-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/arenanet-focuses-on-community-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/arenanet-focuses-on-community-in-latest-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Real Life
If you're reading Massively, we assume you're a player or fan of MMORPGs, but everyone has different reasons for playing. Some play for hardcore raiding progression, some play for role-playing, and some play just to wind down and relax, but there's one thread that ties all of these things together: community. After all, what's an MMORPG without the MMO? ArenaNet is well aware of this, and the studio has just released a new blog outlining its approach toward community-building with Guild Wars 2.

Some may be surprised to hear that ArenaNet will be offering official forums for GW2. Some may be even more surprised to hear that the studio will not be offering "traditional fansite support." But don't panic! This isn't the death of community, it's the evolution thereof. ArenaNet realizes that "gaming and community management have evolved over the last six years," so the studio plans to change right along with it. When you consider the fact that the GW2 community spans multiple separate communities, such as fansites, forums, social networking sites, and outlandishly fabulous sites such as Massively itself, it should come as no surprise that the studio is aiming to bring these players together. The final goal, according to the blog, "is to create an environment that is respectful, welcoming, inclusive, and friendly."

We're sure more details on the studio's community plan will be unearthed as the game approaches launch, but until then, ArenaNet is asking the community to be proactive by bringing community projects to its attention so that the studio can "[highlight] them for the broader community." So get to work, Guild Wars fans, and help to build a community that makes ANet proud.

MassivelyArenaNet focuses on community in latest dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetblogbuilding-communitycommunitydev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diaryfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftThu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pathfinder Online goes time-traveling in latest dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/pathfinder-online-goes-time-traveling-in-latest-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Artwork -- Pathfinder
According to the venerable Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, time is an illusion, and lunchtime doubly so. MMO time is perhaps even more illusory, and that's the exact topic of today's Pathfinder Online dev diary. It's always tricky deciding on the ratio of real-world to in-game time. On the one hand, if time moves too quickly, it can be immersion-breaking; on the other hand, if time moves too slowly, it can lend a sense of stagnance, especially if other gameplay mechanics rely on the day/night cycle (such as mobs that only come out at night).

In light of this, Goblinworks has decided on a 4:1 game-to-earth-time ratio. This means that four in-game minutes will pass in the span of one real-world minute, one in-game day will pass in the span of six real-world hours, and so forth. This will also influence the rate of travel within the game. The team is operating under the assumption that the average human moves at three miles per hour. In-game hexes are about three-quarters of a mile from edge-to-edge, which means that it would take a real person about 15 minutes to traverse one hex. When you take into account the game's chronological dilation, though, the same journey will take an in-game character less than four minutes (assuming he can travel in a straight line), which the team says passes a basic "sanity test when considering the travel times required to cross the zones in other MMOs."

The full dev blog is chock-full of even more information than we can cram into this article, including details on how different variables (such as mounts, magic, and difficult terrain) will affect travel time and the perceived scale of the world, so if you're in the mood to have your brain addled by MMO chronomancy, head on over and give it a read.

MassivelyPathfinder Online goes time-traveling in latest dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diaryfantasyfast-travelgoblinworkspathfinderpathfinder-onlinepnpsandboxsandparkscaletimetime-scaletravelWed, 14 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Make your nation proud with Wakfu's newest dev diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/massively-exclusive-make-your-nation-proud-with-wakfus-newest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/massively-exclusive-make-your-nation-proud-with-wakfus-newest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/massively-exclusive-make-your-nation-proud-with-wakfus-newest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Wakfu
Now that Ankama Games' tactical MMORPG Wakfu is live and operational, it's probably about time for players to start getting familiar with the World of Twelve. Thankfully, the fine folks over at Ankama have provided us with a brand-new dev diary to help players to wrap their heads around the nations and territories of Wakfu.

For the uninitiated, the World of Twelve is the shared universe of Wakfu and its predecessor, Dofus. Lots has happened in the World of Twelve since the time of Dofus, however. Most importantly, a daft ogre by the name of Ogrest (presumably the older brother of Ogre and Ogrer) gathered the six primordial Dofus and used their overwhelming power to devastate the world, drowning all but seven major island nations beneath the sea. It's up to players to run these remaining nations and restore the World of Twelve to its former power.

Of course, it can't all be sunshine and butterflies between the seven nations; we need a reason to kill each other! Aside from the seven main islands, there are also a number of smaller islands that contain valuable -- and sometimes exclusive -- resources. The seven nations, of course, all want to claim these precious goods for their own. Players will have to represent their nations in the battle for these minor, resource-rich islands in order to bring prosperity and bragging rights to their respective homelands.

So there you have it, Wakfuians (that's totally a word, we promise). Now click past the cut for the full dev diary video, then get out there and make your countries proud!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Make your nation proud with Wakfu's newest dev diary

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Make your nation proud with Wakfu's newest dev diary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO
If you're a Lord of the Rings Online Warden, then your world is about to change. Update 6 will reshape this advanced class to strengthen the Warden as a tank, offer a better DPS role, and fashion a ranged fighting trait line. The latter will also be DPS, although it will also offer some measure of support for groups.

The latest dev diary by Turbine walks us through these changes as the team works to clearly define the three styles of play. One of the big changes is the addition of a brand-new gambit builder, which comes from javelin throws when players are fighting in the new ranged (Assailment) stance. This gambit builder will replace the spear thrusts in the stance, as it's somewhat difficult to jab someone from 40 meters away with a stick.

Another significant change is the addition to what Turbine calls "flavoring" for gambits. These are bonus effects that change depending on the Warden's stance to strengthen tanking, melee DPS, or ranged DPS. Other fun tweaks to the class include allowing Wardens to prep a gambit ahead of a battle and a huge overhaul to the three trait lines.

MassivelyLotRO cleans up the Warden's act originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclass-diarydev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playgambitslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6wardenwardensFri, 09 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO prepares for imminent Update 6 release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/lotro-prepares-for-imminent-update-6-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/lotro-prepares-for-imminent-update-6-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/lotro-prepares-for-imminent-update-6-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

LotRO
It's one of the bigger content updates that Lord of the Rings Online has seen in quite a while, and if all goes well, Update 6 will be uploaded to fans this coming Monday. As time is running short between now and then, Turbine is rushing to finish up with its dev diary series covering the major features of the patch.

Today's dev diary discusses the fleshing out of the Instance Finder, which will now offer players tailored rewards and the ability to pick specific dungeons and skirmishes. The diary goes into detail about how the rewards work, but the basic version is that players get better currency, power, and morale bonuses when they sign up for more skirmishes and instances at a time. This gives players an incentive to look for a wide range of instances while at the same time it facilitates match-ups between interested parties.

We've also got several new screencaps from Update 6 for your viewing pleasure, including four exclusive pictures and many more showing off the new "soldiers on landscape" feature. You can scope them out in the gallery below.

Gallery: LotRO - Update 6: Shores of the Great River

MassivelyLotRO prepares for imminent Update 6 release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleryinstance-finderlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroscreenshotsthe-great-riverturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall video diary talks open-world design, shows pretty vistas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/firefall-video-diary-talks-open-world-design-shows-pretty-vista/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/firefall-video-diary-talks-open-world-design-shows-pretty-vista/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/firefall-video-diary-talks-open-world-design-shows-pretty-vista/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Firefall - the view from Mushroom Island
It's March, which means it's high time for another Firefall video dev diary. Today's installment is all about (open) world-building, and unlike many of its shooter contemporaries, Firefall features a sprawling, accessible open-world map.

As world-builders Bobby Ross and Nick Keith explain, the game's jetpacks allow players to traverse vast distances and explore every little nook and cranny to their hearts' content. One example of Firefall's breadth comes courtesy of "Mushroom Island," a huge rock formation that's initially visible on your first drop-ship ride. Ross says that scaling the enormous formation is a reward in and of itself, with a spectacular view of the game's newbie area waiting at the top of the path.

Keith goes on to explain how Firefall integrates its PvP maps into the rest of the open-world design, primarily by giving non-combatants the option to stop over and watch arena matches and various conflicts in certain designated cities. Check out this and more via the full video after the break.

[Source: Red 5 press release]

Continue reading Firefall video diary talks open-world design, shows pretty vistas

MassivelyFirefall video diary talks open-world design, shows pretty vistas originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bobby-rossdev-diaryf2pfirefallfirefall-march-dev-diaryfirefall-march-diaryfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playmmo-shooternick-keithopen-worldopen-world-designopen-world-gameplaypvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fishootertrailervideovideo-diarywarWed, 07 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO paddles down The Great River in a canoe fashioned from patch notes and dev diaries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/lotro-paddles-down-the-great-river-in-a-canoe-fashioned-from-pat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/lotro-paddles-down-the-great-river-in-a-canoe-fashioned-from-pat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/lotro-paddles-down-the-great-river-in-a-canoe-fashioned-from-pat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
"The Great River not only offers something fresh-feeling and new, but also some fairly epic eye candy," the latest Lord of the Rings Online developer diary begins. The diary is referring to the latest zone being created for the game, which is slated to come with Update 6. We've already gotten a glimpse of the region, but now it's time for the team to go in-depth with its concept and creation.

One of the highlights of the new region is that The Great River will be home to the very first Rohirrim settlement: Stangard. Because of this, Standgard will feature unique visuals and architecture not found elsewhere in the game. In addition to providing new vistas to explore, The Great River will help players gear up further through quest rewards, a new reputation faction, and an elite area. For those interested in getting an idea of how Turbine puts together a zone like this, there's a terrific addendum that walks through the process.

Preliminary patch notes are also up for Update 6, which is now on the test server. There's a lot to digest here, although it's interesting to note that Virtues will be increased to 14 (from 12) due to player demand.

It's good to know that plenty of bugs will be fixed come this patch, including this one: "The sky objects will no longer vanish when you travel to certain instances and then return. Told ya; The sky is not falling. It was just...missing."

MassivelyLotRO paddles down The Great River in a canoe fashioned from patch notes and dev diaries originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anduindev-diarydeveloper-diaryf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatchpatch-notesreputationRohirrimstangardtest-serverthe-great-riverturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6virtuesThu, 01 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EQII producer teases March update info, promises more communication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/eqii-producer-teases-march-update-info-promises-more-communicat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EverQuest II
New EverQuest II Producer Holly Longdale has completed her maiden voyage around the good ship S.S. SOE, completing her first month of reviews and meetings as future plans are laid out. Now that she's gotten her feet wet, Longdale wrote a short letter to the community about the general activities and focus of the team.

The March update -- centered around the Velious storyline -- is coming along, and the team will be unloading tons of information in the near future. Longdale reports that it's not just new content that the EQII crew is concerned about, as bug fixing and refining features are a major priority for the team's engineers. Players irritated with the quest feather graphic issue will be happy to know that it's high up on the priority list.

Longdale also let players know that she's paying attention to "big hot-button issues" with the game and is trying her best not to overlook anything. She wraps up her post sharing the meaning behind her dev name, Windstalker, and promising that she'll be corresponding with the community frequently from here on out.

MassivelyEQII producer teases March update info, promises more communication originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugdev-diaryeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifixHolly-Longdalelettermarch-updateproducers-lettersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentveliousWindstalkerTue, 28 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
It's a dog-eat-dog world in Middle-earth, and only the most vicious of canines will succeed in the cutthroat world of PvMP. Lord of the Rings Online is preparing for a whole host of monster play renovations with Update 6, and Wargs are on tap for some serious love. A new dev diary on the official LotRO site lists all of the many, many changes coming for Wargs due to this shift in focus.

As a stealth class, Wargs were seen by developers as being too vulnerable to imminent death after entering into combat. As such, the devs are beefing up the class' survivability by giving players a choice. With Update 6, Wargs can move between Shadow (stealth) and Flayer (brawler) stances, depending on the player's preference and situation. The Flayer stance will replace the old Shadow Howler one.

Turbine previously outlined other changes for PvMP in Update 6, including Weavers, Audacity, and Commendations.

MassivelyLotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brawlerdev-diarylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playpvmppvpstealthturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6wargwargsTue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall slices away at 'initial unforgiving experience' with 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/darkfall-slices-away-at-initial-unforgiving-experience-with-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Darkfall
"In the current version of the game, we've had many occasions where the steep learning curve and initial unforgiving experience, unnecessarily kept people out of the game," Aventurine's Tasos Flambouras comments on the latest Darkfall 2.0 post.

This week's post illuminates three major systems on which the team is working to make Agon a more approachable world. With Darkfall 2.0, new players will start out in a safe training zone that is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game without the risk of imminent ganking. Plus, the devs promise "a nice adventure with an epic ending" to boot.

The other two systems are coming up with a way to protect mount theft and to encourage the player economy. Mounts in 2.0 will remember their owners for a time, and any thief will have to contend with being branded a criminal and coming under fire by guard NPCs. Finally, new markets will appear in all major cities and allow players to buy, sell, and place orders for others to fill. There is one catch to shopping, however: If you buy an item from another city's market, you have to either travel there personally to get it or pay a surcharge for delivery.

MassivelyDarkfall slices away at 'initial unforgiving experience' with 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0aventurinedarkfalldarkfall-2.0dev-blogdev-diaryeconomymarketmarket-systemmount-protectionmount-theftnew-player-experienceTasos-Flambourasupdateupdate-postFri, 24 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP still planning to expand EVE's station gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ccp-still-planning-to-expand-eves-station-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online - Rifter viewed from captain's quarters
Just when you internet-spaceship-only types thought it was safe to resume your relationship with CCP, the EVE Online studio has dropped a dev blog detailing its plans for further Incarna-style avatar development.

The recent CCP reorganization put bidpedal gameplay on the back burner due to a player outcry in favor of the game's flying-in-space elements, but as it turns out, CCP "still believes in the vision to bring your characters fully into the world of EVE." CCP t0rfifrans says it will simply take a bit longer for the firm to realize its ambitious sandbox goals. He also says those goals are currently up for debate, and while gambling minigames, corporation-owned hubs, and contraband trading haven't been ruled out entirely, Team Avatar has gone "back to the drawing board" in the interests of identifying rewarding gameplay and developing a prototype.

In other New Eden news, CCP's Power of 2 promotion is making a return engagement, and you can create a second account at a discount price through April 1st.

[Thanks to Kane Hart for the tip!]

MassivelyCCP still planning to expand EVE's station gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsccpccp-gamesccp-t0rfifransdev-blogdev-diaryeveeve-onlineflying-in-spacehtfuincarnainternet-spaceshipsnew-edenpower-of-2promotionssandboxsci-fiteam-avatarwalking-in-stationsThu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online announces an impending Inferno]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/eve-online-announces-an-impending-inferno/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/eve-online-announces-an-impending-inferno/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/eve-online-announces-an-impending-inferno/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online
EVE Online Senior Producer Jonathan Lander says now that some of the nitty-gritty reorganization within CCP has been completed, the devs "are back in the serious business of making EVE better and better."

Citing several small releases over the next few months as proof, Lander lets loose with the announcement of the game's next big expansion: Inferno. Inferno will hit EVE "just before the summer" and will attempt to bring EVE's conflicts to a whole new level. Concord-sanctioned warfare and factional warfare will be getting tweaks as a result of this focus. More specific details about Inferno will be revealed at the EVE Fanfest in March.

And while he won't go into specifics (yet), Lander says that CCP will reveal "more concrete steps" of how both EVE Online and DUST 514 are connected in the next couple of months.

MassivelyEVE Online announces an impending Inferno originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdev-diarydust-514eveeve-fanfesteve-onlineeve-online-infernoexpansioninfernoJonathan-Landerpatchproducers-letterWed, 22 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary is rather audacious]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-is-rather-audacious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-is-rather-audacious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-is-rather-audacious/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online's PvMP changes just keep rolling in, it seems. Last week, the Turbine team announced that a new currency known as commendations will be replacing the role of destiny in matters of PvMP transactions. Today, we've got a new dev diary that announces the upcoming addition of a new PvMP-only stat called Audacity.

What is Audacity, exactly? Well, put simply, it's a PvMP stat that will provide players with benefits such as reducing incoming damage and lowering the duration of crowd control abilities. Higher audacity, obviously, equates to lower incoming damage and shorter crowd control effects. But why introduce this feature in the first place? According to the post, the team believes that having PvMP and PvE gear on the same progression path resulted in underwhelming or overly difficult-to-obtain PvMP gear since the team had to ensure that "the PvMP items did not devalue the PvE offerings." In addition, Turbine feels that, thanks to the damage changes made in Rise of Isengard, PvMP combat was too fast-paced. The addition of audacity is intended to nix both of these problems.

Freeps will acquire their first rank of Audacity automatically at level 40, and further ranks will be boosted by PvMP gear that can only be purchased with commendations. Creeps, meanwhile, will gain their first rank of Audacity upon creation, and they'll gain further ranks by purchasing them directly from class trainers (seeing as how Creeps don't wear equipment).

For the full details on this new system, just click on through the link below to the official dev diary.

MassivelyLatest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary is rather audacious originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audacitycommendationcommendationsdev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrlotroplayer-vs-monster-playplayer-vs-monster-playerplayer-vs-playerpvmppvpturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwarner-broswbWed, 22 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes' newest Incarnate Trial learns from past mistakes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/city-of-heroes-newest-incarnate-trial-learns-from-past-mistakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/city-of-heroes-newest-incarnate-trial-learns-from-past-mistakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/city-of-heroes-newest-incarnate-trial-learns-from-past-mistakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes
Incarnate Trials have proven to be some of the most challenging -- and interesting -- endgame content in City of Heroes to date, and players who have enjoyed them are undoubtedly anxious for the latest one, Dilemma Diabolique, which is coming with Issue 22.

Senior Designer Chris Behrens wrote an informative dev diary in which he outlines five lessons the studio's learned from past Incarnate Trials and how these lessons will affect Dilemma Diabolique. These lessons include adding rest periods between fights, giving players clear information, keeping trash mobs from exhibiting super-powered (more so than usual) abilities, delivering attractive rewards, and tuning special mechanics so they don't overwhelm players.

Dilemma Diabolique looks to be a quicker trial than its brethren, although Behrens sees this as a virtue: "We feel that the faster pace of the trial for maxed Incarnates is reward in itself, since it makes accumulating Empyrean Merits for our most dedicated Incarnates a faster endeavor."

MassivelyCity of Heroes' newest Incarnate Trial learns from past mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chris-Behrenscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdev-diaryDilemma-DiaboliqueEmpyrean-Meritsf2pfree-to-playincarnate-trialsncsoftparagon-studiostrash-mobstrialsWed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST