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TERA hits the #1 spot for Amazon downloads

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Launches, New titles, News items, TERA

Whenever a game launches, there's always a question of whether it will sink or swim. MMOs don't necessarily live or die on the basis of their launches, but it takes a lot more effort to recover from a bad launch. TERA seems to have gotten off on the right foot, as it hit the #1 download spot for Amazon during its launch week, and all projections point to it hitting the top spot next week as well.

If you're tempted to jump on the bandwagon, now is definitely the time. Through the 31st of the month, players who purchase the game will receive discounted subscription rates as well as a special Golden Dragon weapon skin. The Digital Collector's Edition from Amazon also features a special mount and two necklaces to help improve your journey through the game world. If you like little added bits of value, now might be the time to give the game a shot.

[Source: Amazon press release]

TERA hits the #1 spot for Amazon downloads originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year?

Jef Reahard — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

If you've got a gamer on your Christmas list, congratulations. With the proliferation of digital download titles and services like Steam and Good Old Games, it's never been easier to put a smile on the face of your favorite geek.

Digital gifting does have a dark side, though, or at least a hmm-that's-kind-of-impersonal side. While most of us would never turn down a virtual copy of Skyrim or a few funny bucks to spend in an MMO cash shop, it is nice to get (and give) an actual present that someone's taken the time to wrap and deliver.

What about you, Massively crew? Are you giving the gift of digital gaming this year?

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

The Daily Grind: Are you giving the gift of games this year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gods & Heroes outsells RIFT on Steam, claims weekend top spot

Jef Reahard — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Culture, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Well someone's certainly playing Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, the newly launched fantasy MMORPG from Heatwave Interactive. It's a safe bet that said someones are playing via Steam, as Valve's digital download platform is reporting that the Roman mythology-flavored MMO outsold all challengers over the weekend.

Despite some predictions of a lukewarm reception due to the glut of fantasy MMOs and a hefty box fee (as well as a subscription model), Heatwave's game sold well enough to outpace RIFT as well as Guild Wars, DC Universe, and EVE Online, all of which could be had at or lower than Gods & Heroes' $39.99 price point.

Is it a case of a better-than-expected game or another example of how MMO players will buy anything and everything if it's new and shiny? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Gods & Heroes outsells RIFT on Steam, claims weekend top spot originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you prefer digital copies or boxed copies of games?

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Long ago, you had one way of obtaining a new game -- you went to a store that carried video games and brought it home. The advent of digital distribution has changed that, however -- it's quite easy to pick up a new game on Steam or via download, with certain games like Global Agenda primarily seeing distribution via digital outlets. Considering that most games offer a client download and patches will frequently update the entire game anyhow, getting a box almost seems quaint.

Of course, if you're used to having a hard copy on hand, it might not even be an issue of whether or not it's worth buying a boxed copy. You want a game, you go out and buy it. So when you have the option, do you head out to the mall and pick up a boxed copy to have a physical representation of the game? Or do you just download and not fuss about with what amounts to sentimental clutter?

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

The Daily Grind: Do you prefer digital copies or boxed copies of games? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gods & Heroes going worldwide on Steam this week

Jef Reahard — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising is coming to Steam. The mythology-inspired MMORPG, launched yesterday by Heatwave Interactive, is now available on Valve's North American digital distribution platform and will available worldwide later this week (June 24th, to be exact).

Aside from the convenience of avoiding a retail purchase, Steam customers will also receive a traditional platform-exclusive in-game item, in this case a mythical minion called a Gorpal. The Gorpal is a damage-dealing Phorcid pet that "protects players by fighting with claws and a poisonous bite," according to a Heatwave press release.

Check out our Gods & Heroes launch day coverage for more on the game, and don't forget to stop by the official website as well.

Gods & Heroes going worldwide on Steam this week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT pre-orders rewarded with exclusive Team Fortress 2 unlocks

Brendan Drain — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, RIFT, Promotions

Through regular closed beta events and frequent information reveals, Trion Worlds has really been pushing the word out on its upcoming fantasy MMO RIFT. The game's marketing campaign has taken a bit of an unexpected turn today with the announcement of a promotional partnership between the upcoming MMO and Valve's Team Fortress 2. Steam users who pre-order RIFT during the month of February or who have already purchased the game through Steam, will be given two limited-edition weapons in Team Fortress 2.

The "Sharpened Volcano Fragment" and "Sun-on-a-stick" are exclusive melee weapons available only to RIFT pre-order customers. In return, Valve is adding a new achievement to Team Fortress 2 that unlocks an exclusive item in RIFT. The Riftwalker achievement will grant TF2 players a code, which can be redeemed through the RIFT account management page. An exclusive headcrab-based headpiece, the "Well Spun Hat," will then be delivered in-game during RIFT's headstart period for pre-order customers on February 24th. This unusual promotion has left many of us here at Massively scratching our heads in confusion, but with the popularity of Valve's Team Fortress 2, it could prove to be a very successful move.

RIFT pre-orders rewarded with exclusive Team Fortress 2 unlocks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Riccitiello says game discs aren't going away

Jef Reahard — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Interviews, MMO industry, Miscellaneous

While Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello thinks digital distribution will finally outstrip its physical counterpart in 2011, he stops short of predicting the demise of retail packaging. In the second part of an interview conducted by Industry Gamers, the EA bossman sings the praises of the disc and debunks trendy cloud computing-based notions of gaming's near future.

"Sometimes you're not going to play because your internet connection is down and sometimes delivering a game by streaming is a really inefficient way to do it," Riccitiello says, in what might be music to the ears of gaming luddites dismayed at the thought of renouncing actual ownership of their collections. Riccitiello goes on to posit that services like OnLive will struggle with latency-dependent titles (your average first person shooter, for example) and ultimately concludes that the days of 100% digital delivery are pretty far into the future.

EA's Riccitiello says game discs aren't going away originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Masthead confirms Earthrise digital release date, system requirements

Jef Reahard — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Earthrise

The team at Masthead Studios has nailed down a definitive launch date for Earthrise. The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG will be available via digital distribution on February 4th, with a European retail box and exclusive content to follow. "We have worked incredibly hard to make Earthrise the best sandbox MMORPG on the market, and we can't wait for players to fully experience all of our hard work and become immersed in Enterra," said Masthead's Atanas Atanasov in a press release dated this morning.

In addition to last week's announcement that players will gather on a single worldwide server, the studio has also detailed the game's system requirements:

OS: Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7
Free hard drive space: 20 GB
CPU: 2.4+ GHz Single Core Processor
RAM: 2 GB
Video Card: NVIDIA 7800GT+ or ATI Radeon 9800 SE 256-bit
High bandwidth internet connection (DSL, Cable)

Masthead confirms Earthrise digital release date, system requirements originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop throws its hat into the digital distribution ring

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aion, Final Fantasy XI, MMO industry, LEGO Universe, Promotions

As brick-and-mortar stores are struggling in this day and age, digital distribution has been taking off into the stratosphere. Seeing where the winds of change are blowing, GameStop has announced that it is joining the ranks of Steam, Amazon and Direct2Drive by offering a digital distribution service through its website.

If players are comfortable sacrificing a physical box copy in exchange for the speed and convenience of a digital product, GameStop's service will allow them to purchase and download games, trials, expansions and various add-ons in the comfort of their own home. Players will be allowed to install the game on one to three PCs, depending on the product. Unfortunately, because the service is being handled by a third party, GameStop gift cards and certificates are not accepted as payment.

GameStop's downloads page features a number of MMOs for purchase, including Need for Speed World, LEGO Universe, Aion and Age of Conan. If you haven't given Final Fantasy XI a whirl, the Ultimate Collection is on sale for $9.99 in both boxed and digital form.

GameStop throws its hat into the digital distribution ring originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Want a box with that?

Jef Reahard — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

With the proliferation of digital-download gaming going on these days, it's getting progressively harder for those of us that care about box copies, collectors editions, cheesy cloth maps, and cheaply produced pewter figurines to get our fix. It's obvious why developers and publishers love digital delivery, as it saves them a lot of distribution money, but does it really benefit the consumer aside from scratching our instant gratification itch?

As I look over at the MMO box museum cluttering the shelves of my game room, I take no small amount of comfort in the fact that I got something tangible for my fifty bucks, even though in most cases the games themselves were incapable of sustaining my interest past the free month. In fact, I've only purchased a digital download twice: Fallen Earth (and I later obtained a box just because) and Darkfall (still hunting for a box).

Subscription-based MMOs are inherently more about renting than owning but -- for now at least -- you can still get a physical copy of your favorite virtual world and, if you're lucky, an outdated manual and a map. Today we ask you, dear readers, do you want a box, or are you OK with leaving your games on a remote server?

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

The Daily Grind: Want a box with that? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get Champions Online at a discount for a week

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Champions Online, Promotions

Champions Online put itself on the line during its anniversary by letting players have a full week of access to the game completely for free. The idea, beyond a doubt, was that once players had a taste of the metaphorical milk, they would simply have to purchase the equally metaphorical cow. But if you've been stymied by the fact that this month's cow budget is a bit on the tight side, there's good news on the horizon: for the next week, you can buy the game for only $6.

The sale isn't being run at any brick-and-mortar stores, but is being run through two of the most popular digital distribution services, Steam and Direct2Drive. Both retailers will be offering the game at the discounted price for a week, with Steam getting a slight edge simply because it also has a free demo available for the game. Players interested in purchasing Champions Online at a steep discount can head to either service before September 22nd, perhaps encouraging the creation of a cow-themed superhero.

Get Champions Online at a discount for a week originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe to get boxed retail copies of Global Agenda

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, News items, Global Agenda

Digital distribution is the in thing these days. Steam, in particular, has turned PC games into something that's almost easier to buy at home rather than in the store, with a ridiculously wide selection and the promise of never worrying about lost discs. The biggest drawbacks are the download times and potentially losing your login, and what MMO player doesn't plan for those issues? But there's still something nice about a boxed copy, which is why European gamers can take joy in the fact that Global Agenda will be releasing a boxed retail copy of the game starting in September 2010.

Thus far, the game has been using primary distribution through Steam, which has worked well -- but as the official statement explains, a retail box helps improve visibility. The game will launch in an English version in cooperation with Iceberg Interactive, with a German version due out a bit later. No word is given on whether or not an American boxed version will be available. It's a unique opportunity for Global Agenda, which itself is a very unique game, and success with the boxed copies likely will lead to more developing projects and more content for the game's fans.

Europe to get boxed retail copies of Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer has been dated

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Events, real-world, Expansions, News items

Yes, it's true, the first expansion for Age of Conan has been dated. Reports indicate that her father was exceedingly upset and... okay, yeah. Rise of the Godslayer, bringing us to the distinctly oriental lands of Khitai, has gotten an official release date of May 11th, 2010. That means it's only a couple of weeks away for anxious gamers, which is cetainly good news. And there's more good news for new players or returning members, as the expansion will be available by both digital means and boxed copies.

The boxes will contain not just the expansion, but the original game, allowing curious new players a chance to start new without doubling their investment. If that's not enough of an incentive, boxed retail versions will include a tamed puma pet which will be unobtainable through other means. Details have not been provided, but the boxes are set to contain other in-game items as well. Age of Conan's development team has been hard at work delivering the best they can with Rise of the Godslayer, and players willl only need to wait a little while longer to see the fruits of their efforts.

Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer has been dated originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: The Official Aion Magazine Issue One impressions

Jef Reahard — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, MMO industry, Reviews, News items, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

We here at Massively rarely 'review' MMORPGs, mainly because they're such sprawling, ever-evolving games that by the time we finished penning our initial impressions, they'd likely be out of date. That said, we'll happily give you our review of magazines based on MMORPGs. Under the microscope today is the debut issue of the The Official Aion Magazine.

Crazily enough, this e-zine focuses on NCSoft's Aion, and much like its namesake, the publication is a glossy, heavily produced affair crammed with beautiful avatars, absurd amounts of eye candy, and a gorgeous layout. The similarities end there, however. Whereas the game has a bit of depth and offers a multitude of ways for players to wile away the hours, The Official Aion Magazine's beauty is skin deep, and leaves a little something to be desired in terms of insightful original content.

Fly past the cut for more about the debut issue.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: The Official Aion Magazine Issue One impressions

Wings Over Atreia: The Official Aion Magazine Issue One impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth offers a new exclusive item via Direct2Drive

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Leveling, News items

Have you still not purchased Fallen Earth? Really? I mean, come on, you've been given special items everywhere you go to buy the game, you can get a discount if you're in the military, and they've just added new social features and gambling. Heck, we even had a piece about why you ought to be playing it, remember? Did all that not convince you? Well, admittedly, all of those other items were fluff and silliness, mildly useful but not exactly overwhelming. But with the latest offer, in partnership with Direct2Drive, they've brought what every apocalyptic survivor wants: brutal efficiency.

No t-shirts for you, after all. Fashion is nice, but it's not as nice as a tool that gives a +6 boost to Scavenging skills, without taking up one of your valuable armor slots. Nor is it as nice as having a pair of Experience Boosts on-hand for any and all late-night grinding sessions you'd care to take part in. And if you'd like some backup out in the harsh wastelands, well, that's what the included Buddy Pass covers, letting you invite a friend to join you in Fallen Earth for a free 15-day trial. If all of this hasn't yet enticed you into the game through one of the more popular digital distributors out there, well, we don't know what it will take. Maybe even more hats.

Fallen Earth offers a new exclusive item via Direct2Drive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alganon expands to Impulse distribution

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, News items, Alganon

Alganon isn't necessarily the darling of the MMO world at the moment, with a large number of people drawing conclusions about it before even setting foot in the game. So, really, more or less par for the course. But it has launched, it's developing its content, and it's clearly making moves to get itself noticed as something new and good. And if recent moves are any indications, one of the best ways to get yourself noticed is expanding on to the much-beloved digital distribution sources. The game has just been made available on the Impulse service, run by Stardock.

Those of you with acute memories may recall that it wasn't so long ago that Alganon had an exclusive setup with Direct2Drive. However, expansion is always a good thing, especially for a smaller studio looking to improve their visibility. There's no word on any exclusive giveaways a la the plethora of Fallen Earth bonuses for different services, but that's all right -- it's good enough to know that if you have a want for the game, there are more ways to go about getting it.

Alganon expands to Impulse distribution originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fallen Earth arrives on Impulse, offers more exclusive attire

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, News items

If you play Fallen Earth and are resolutely dedicated to having as many unique pieces of clothing as possible for your character, you probably already have a couple extra copies from your need for faction-centric t-shirts and a really awesome hat. Add another one on to your list as the game moves on to the Impulse digital distribution store, offering two exclusive items for purchase: the Fancy White Boots and the Snazzy White Hat. It's unlikely that you'd purchase the game again just for a pair of boots and a hat, of course, but for new players these both promise to be quite the enticement.

The boots are the more durable of the two, offering 31 primary armor, 20 secondary, and 10 tertiary, as well as a 3% bonus on all saving throws. The hat, on the flip side, offers about half of the armor and a bonus to the Scavenging, Nature, and Geology skills, excellent boosts for any new character. The game's array of extra items are all offering roughly the same overall bonus, but they give reason to pay attention as it spreads to different distribution methods, not to mention keeping the game fresh in people's mind. So if you haven't given Fallen Earth a try yet, perhaps the promise of some fancy white dancing shoes with matching hat will get you moving.

Fallen Earth arrives on Impulse, offers more exclusive attire originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Order Fallen Earth via Steam and improve your attire

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, News items

Just because the world has come to an end and society is left to scramble around in the ruins doesn't mean you can't look dashing in the process. Fallen Earth has been on a bit of a kick lately of giving away clothing to purchasers of the game, starting with an astonishingly fetching hat, and now extending via the popular digital service Steam. Until December 3rd, those who purchase the game via Steam will receive a voucher good for a special t-shirt representing one of the game's factions -- CHOTA, Enforcers, Lightbearers, Techs, Travelers or Vistas.

Each shirt qualifies as a piece of level 10 armor, with other stats that are appropriate to the faction in question. (Expect the Techs shirt to offer bonuses to crafting rather than combat bonuses, for example.) The vouchers can be turned in at any time, and should the player later decide they'd prefer to represent someone else, a shirt may be turned in and exchanged for another shirt as well. It's nothing game-breaking, but yet another added incentive to pick up Fallen Earth and see what all the fuss is about. Still not quite as good-looking as the hat, of course, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Order Fallen Earth via Steam and improve your attire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steam estimated at selling to 70% of PC market

Kyle Horner — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Opinion

Where did you buy your last MMO and where will you buy your next? Chances are you'll be getting it on Steam or so the story goes according to Brad Wardell, head honcho over at Stardock. We're inclined to agree with his assertion that Valve's digital distribution platform holds roughly 70% of the PC market as many of us here at Massively have been buying our MMOs -- and PC games in general -- on the service for some time now.

So is it a good thing or a bad thing for MMO players? Our experience with purchasing games like Aion and Champions Online through the service has been positive, and so long as no complications arise via patches or other client issues we see no reason to stop utilizing the service unless better offers appear.

The only real MMO-related issue we can see is with collector's editions. Some games offer a different set of bonus material for people who opt out of the physical copy and go for the digital, but certain items like art books, mouse pads and other bric-a-brac can't be delivered through a wire... at least, not until sometime in the far flung future.

Now, as far as the Steamworks integration issue goes... Well, that's a whole other sack of fishes.

Steam estimated at selling to 70% of PC market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alganon to be exclusively distributed through Direct2Drive

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Launches, MMO industry, News items, Alganon

Alganon fans, you're going to want to make sure you're keeping an eye on Direct2Drive, as Quest Online has announced an exclusive partnership to sell the game solely through the online digital distribution service.

Pre-ordering the game before the launch date of October 31st will net you a variety of incentives, including beta access, study bonuses, mounts, family heirlooms, and more! While we don't have any exact information to offer on what those items are, it still sounds like a nice plethora of stuff for buying the game early.

Of course, partnering with D2D means partnering with IGN, and that means that Alganon's beta will be conducted exclusively through Fileplanet. Those guys over there will be the keepers of the Alganon beta keys from here on out, so look to them if you're interested in the game's upcoming open beta.

Alganon to be exclusively distributed through Direct2Drive originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cities XL launching in North America on Oct. 9th

Kyle Horner — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST

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

This year's October seems like a busy month for gaming, and if you're into city building games it just got a little more crowded. Monte Cristo Multimedia has announced that Cities XL will be released in North America on October 9th and that it will come in two formats. You can either get it through a digital download or by mail order in case you prefer a boxed copy, and shipping is free. Both options will be available through the official website, but it's also possible to get the digital version from Steam, Direct2Drive, Trygames, Impulse Driven and Gametap.

We're sure plenty of you are excited to hear this news, or at least the small legion of you who've been building (or have wanted to be building) massive cities for the past several months.

Cities XL launching in North America on Oct. 9th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses

William Dobson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft's launch date is just around the corner now, and if you haven't pre-ordered yet but plan on doing so, there really isn't a lot of time left! While the retail distribution of the game in North America and Canada is exclusive to particular stores (Best Buy for NA and Future Shop in Canada), there are a few choices when it comes to making a digital purchase. Future players will be able to buy and download the title from CrimeCraft.com, Direct2Drive (IGN), Steam and Best Buy Digital. All of the digital downloads come with a few in-game perks (different from each other), and all of them bar Steam offer some extras for pre-ordering. No matter which way you go, the suggested price of US$49.95 includes two months of premium subscription, including a ration of gold bars that are used for in-game microtransactions.

All of the information you need to know in order to make your choice is just past the break -- be sure to check it out if you plan on getting CrimeCraft digitally.

Continue reading CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses

CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCSoft adds its titles to Steam

Lesley Smith — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Aion, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, Lineage, Lineage 2, News items, Free-to-play

If you're one of those gamers who prefers the digital minimalist approach as opposed to having game boxes everywhere then you're in luck. MMO-giant NCSoft have announced they will be offering their titles -- including City of Heroes, Guild Wars, and Lineage -- via Steam. They're also planning to offer their latest, most anticipated and shiny MMO, Aion as well when the game launches later this autumn.

The company seem really excited and the press release sent to Massively Towers includes not one but two quotes. NCSoft are especially keen to note that there will be plenty of special offers on their products via the site and it's a great opportunity for anyone who prefers digital downloading.

NCSoft adds its titles to Steam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online gaming is driving internet growth

Brooke Pilley — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Opinion

Online games, be they MMOGs like World of Warcraft or co-op/multiplayers like Team Fortress 2, are driving internet growth according to Vlad Ihora, head of gaming at TeliaSonera. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, he explains how the attitudes of internet service providors (ISPs) are changing toward online gamers and why he believes digital distribution of games will eventually become mainstream.

TeliaSonera, who look after Blizzard Europe's networking solutions for WoW, have noticed an increase in companies not even related to gaming wishing to hook up to their network. Also, internet usage has shot up by 52% in the last 12-18 months and ISPs are paying much more attention these days than ever before to issues that affect gamers such as connection lag, packet loss, etc..

In reference to digital distribution, Ihora states that from his side of things, it would be as simple as flipping a switch because there is so much more bandwidth available and he believes the networks that support the internet can handle the strain. He also believes the conversion from boxed to digital distribution will happen gradually rather than all-at-once, comparing it to the CD and MP3 music formats.

Online gaming is driving internet growth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck

Kyle Horner — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jumpgate Evolution, New titles, News items, Massively Interviews

With its June launch looming just a few months away, we spoke with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck. Within this interview you can find information on topics such as digital distribution, beta, hardcore mode and plenty more.

And if that somehow doesn't sate your thirst for information, then check out our previous interviews with Hermann, which contain all sorts of additional, informative goodies.

Gallery: Jumpgate Evolution Gallery

Continue reading Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck

Massively speaks at length with Jumpgate Evolution's Hermann Peterscheck originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE's Quantum Rise on Steam at reduced price, 21-day trial

James Egan — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, MMO industry

EVE Online's latest expansion Quantum Rise is here. We've written a fair amount on this expansion thus far, but it's primarily been a multi-staged release that introduces some new features and enhancements to benefit EVE's industry-focused players. We just noticed EVE Online's Quantum Rise pricing on Steam -- it's $9.99, down from Steam's already reduced $14.99; the initial cost when directly dealing with CCP Games is $19.99.

Steam also offers a 21-day trial which trumps the standard 14-day trial you get from CCP Games. Based on these numbers, Steam certainly looks like a good way to go. However, none of us at Massively have ever gotten our MMOs via Steam to date. We're curious, have any of our readers done so, and were the the lower pricing and other perks worth going through Steam in your opinion?

EVE's Quantum Rise on Steam at reduced price, 21-day trial originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan now available for digital download

Michael Zenke — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan

Funcom's Age of Conan is now available as a purely downloadable product. Folks who have been on the fence about buying the game because of the filthy retail box can now rest easy - the entire game can be obtained via digital distribution from the official Conan site. The game costs about $50 via download, and clocks in at 15 gigs. The downloader supports pausing and restarting of your transaction, so lost connections aren't the end of the world. And - one would assume - you can redownload it as many times as you'd like. The developers have even been considerate to the size of the stream. Purchasing the product will immediately activate Age of Conan but due to the size issue, two additional days are given to your account for a total of 32 days included.

Age of Conan now available for digital download originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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