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[GameStop throws its hat into the digital distribution ring]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/gamestop-throws-its-hat-into-the-digital-distribution-ring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/gamestop-throws-its-hat-into-the-digital-distribution-ring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/gamestop-throws-its-hat-into-the-digital-distribution-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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.

MassivelyGameStop 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionall-the-fun-of-gamestop-without-the-smell-of-the-clerksamazondigital-distributiondirect2drivedownloadfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xi-ultimate-collectiongamestopgamestop-digitalgamestop-digital-distributionlego-universeneed-for-speed-worldsteamultimate-collectionMon, 01 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Want a box with that?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/the-daily-grind-want-a-box-with-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/the-daily-grind-want-a-box-with-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/24/the-daily-grind-want-a-box-with-that/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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!

MassivelyThe 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxcheesy-cloth-mapcollectors-editiondigital-distributiondigital-downloaddistributiondownloaddrmfantasymmo-industryopinionphysical-mediaretailsci-fithe-daily-grindSun, 24 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Icarus preps Fallen Earth soundtrack release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/icarus-preps-fallen-earth-soundtrack-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/icarus-preps-fallen-earth-soundtrack-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/icarus-preps-fallen-earth-soundtrack-release/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Once upon a time, we spent an afternoon ripping audio files out of the recesses of our Fallen Earth directory. This wasn't fun, or especially productive, but the end result was a collection of MP3 snippets strung together on a playlist labeled FE Soundtrack. The whole hackneyed effort served as a stop-gap measure for getting our daily dose of wasteland ambiance while waiting patiently on an official solution. Happily, this half-arsed attempt is about to become obsolete, as Icarus Studios is gearing up to release their Firefly-esque soundtrack to fans all over the Grand Canyon province.

The 20-track album will be available via the Fallen Earth website next week, and can be purchased for $13.99 US (or $.99 per individual track).

Shiny.

MassivelyIcarus preps Fallen Earth soundtrack release originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadfallen-earthfallen-earth-llci-want-a-cd-not-a-digital-downloadicarusicarus-studiosmp3shinysoundtracksoundtrack-downloadwastelandSat, 18 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth client now available via torrent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/fallen-earth-client-now-available-via-torrent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/fallen-earth-client-now-available-via-torrent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/fallen-earth-client-now-available-via-torrent/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Icarus Studios and Fallen Earth have announced a nice surprise for fans frustrated with slow downloads. As a convenience to their users, there is now a Fallen Earth torrent file for faster downloads of their game client.

If you're unfamiliar with how it works, it's pretty simple. Just download the torrent file, provided in this handy link or in the announcement on the official site, then double-click the icon on your PC to begin the full download. Once everything is downloaded, you'll start the installation process. Again, pretty simple, and the Fallen Earth team has kindly provided step by step instructions with the announcement.

One last reminder from the Fallen Earth guys: "This is new, so if you encounter any issues, just let us know and we will try to respond quickly!"

MassivelyFallen Earth client now available via torrent originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadfallen-earthicarusicarus-studiostorrentFri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you need the box?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-the-box/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-the-box/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-need-the-box/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One could easily argue that game boxes are quickly becoming a thing of the past. These days you have what feels like an endless variety of options to receive your favorite game right away, without leaving your seat, let alone your house. Steam and Direct2Drive are huge, and pretty much every company out there has the option to purchase and download their latest game or expansion directly from their site. The rapid increase in free trials and limited free-to-play options make it an even more attractive option.

But on the other hand, there's something very enticing about having that box in your hands, and most game companies will make it worth your while to purchase the box by adding extra goodies, particularly if you pre-order or purchase a collector's edition.

So where do you fall? Do you like that box, those discs, and all the other goodies, or do you prefer just to download it so you can get to patching that much faster?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you need the box? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxcollectors-editionculturedownloadopinionpre-orderpre-order-bonusthe-daily-grindSun, 03 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Face of Mankind opens the gates for open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/face-of-mankind-rebirth-opens-the-gates-for-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/face-of-mankind-rebirth-opens-the-gates-for-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/face-of-mankind-rebirth-opens-the-gates-for-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you've been on the fence about trying out Face of Mankind in its earlier iterations, now might be the perfect time to jump in and try the game out. The roleplay heavy MMOFPS is back in action as it launches into open beta and calls for new recruits to join the ranks of the game's eight factions.

The game has undergone significant changes to its in-game systems since the initial release of the game back in 2006 and the subsequent closure of the game in 2007. Faction systems, penalty systems, territory control, and many more aspects of the game have been tweaked to ensure proper function and fun for the players involved. However, even with all of these changes, the publisher of the game, Duplex Systems, has stated that things are not as balanced as they wish it to be but they wish to iron out more problems with the help of players in open beta.

If you're interested in the single, persistent universe game, jump on over to the website, sign up for an account, and grab yourself the client.

Update: Nexeon Technologies has clarified that the game is no longer carrying the "Rebirth" subtitle, and is simply called Face of Mankind once again.

MassivelyFace of Mankind opens the gates for open beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadownloadduplex-systemsface-of-mankindface-of-mankind-rebirthfommmofpsopen-betarelaunchroleplayMon, 07 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine announces the release date of The Siege of Mirkwood expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/turbine-announces-the-release-date-of-the-siege-of-mirkwood-expa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/turbine-announces-the-release-date-of-the-siege-of-mirkwood-expa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/turbine-announces-the-release-date-of-the-siege-of-mirkwood-expa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The next Lord of the RIngs Online expansion, the Siege of Mirkwood, has been dated by Turbine! The downloadable expansion pack will go live on the servers on December 1st of this year, and Turbine is offering up some very nice pre-order packages for those interested in getting back into Middle-Earth. We also have some really awesome hi-res screenshots of the new expansion for you in our gallery below!

First of all, the lifetime subscription has returned to the 200 dollar price tag once more, making it very lucrative to grab a lifetime subscription if you don't have one already. Everyone, hooray for the nicely priced lifetime subscription.

Also, any current or former player who changes their subscription over to a multi-month package (three, six, or 12 months) will get the Siege of Mirkwood for absolutely free. Yes, that's right, you heard us, free. The multi-month package deal, however, does not include the lifetime subscription. Sorry.

Gallery: The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood expansion

Continue reading Turbine announces the release date of The Siege of Mirkwood expansion

MassivelyTurbine announces the release date of The Siege of Mirkwood expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdealsdownloadexpansion-packlevel-caplifetime-subscriptionlotrosiege-of-mirkwoodturbineTue, 29 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you still rely on DVDs or direct download for your MMO fix?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-rely-on-dvds-or-direct-download-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-rely-on-dvds-or-direct-download-fo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-rely-on-dvds-or-direct-download-fo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


I have loads of games, probably a bit of a given considering my day job, but I'm terrible when it comes to locating DVDs. Either I put them in the wrong cases (don't we all?) or, thanks to my visual disability, I just can't find them. I do mean that, the case could be sitting in front of me and I just wouldn't see it. Indeed I've not seen the discs for half my PC games since the day I installed them. As a result, and in order to pacify my inner minimalist, I love the way you can just re-download a game using just the internet. Whether it's WoW or Guild Wars, WAR or Aion, digital downloading seems to be the way to go.

So I wonder, readers, do you still rely on DVDs and have all those special collector's editions lined up on your shelves? Are you a minimalist and prefer the simplicity of going to an MMO's website and pressing 'download'? Do you find digital downloads are just faster and hassle free? What about if you're sans internet (let's say there's been a massive storm and you're putting the game on a new hard drive), do you keep the DVDs tucked away, just in case?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you still rely on DVDs or direct download for your MMO fix? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitydirect-downloaddownloaddvdsguild-warsthe-daily-grindwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftSat, 11 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ether Saga Online enters open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/ether-saga-online-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/ether-saga-online-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/17/ether-saga-online-enters-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you need a game that's sugary and saccharin-y cute to the point of inducing cavities via the internet, then look no further than Ether Saga Online, the latest game from the people who brought you Perfect World International.

Ether Saga has just entered their open public beta, meaning you can mosey on over to the website and sign up to try the game. Like Perfect World, Ether Saga will be a free to play game, supported by the usual cash transactions from an item shop.

The game does have some interesting features, including the ability to level up your character's affinity to the various elements in the game, adding a new dimension to each class beyond how the class normally functions. Past that, skills can be learned on the fly in the field without the need to visit a trainer, and characters get skills relating to their "birthday," the day of the week that they were born.

For all the information about Ether Saga Online, check out their website at http://eso.perfectworld.com.

MassivelyEther Saga Online enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabirthday-skillsdownloadesoether-saga-onlineethyrfree-to-playnascentopen-betaperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpublic-betaskillsTue, 17 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A copy of Darkfall: More evasive than a cheetah on speed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/a-copy-of-darkfall-more-evasive-than-a-cheetah-on-speed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/a-copy-of-darkfall-more-evasive-than-a-cheetah-on-speed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/a-copy-of-darkfall-more-evasive-than-a-cheetah-on-speed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Darkfall may have launched, but that doesn't mean you're going to be able to get your hands on it. The team at Aventurine is still holding a tight grip over the game's population and the sale of the game through the online store.

Each day, the store is opening at an unannounced time to offer a limited number of copies of Darkfall to the players. Once their goal for the day is met, the store shuts down immediately and the prospective buyers with empty hands have to go home pouting until the next day. This has lead to some players becoming demoralized while others use their expertise to suggest solutions to Aventurine. It is an odd time on the forums indeed.

Now, we here at Massively understand that finding the Darkfall shop is like finding a unicorn. If you're having trouble finding where the button to go to the shop is even located, it's on the account page after you sign in. After that, however, you're on your own. Good luck though!

MassivelyA copy of Darkfall: More evasive than a cheetah on speed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinebillingdarkfalldarkfall-onlinedownloadlimited-salesonline-storepre-orderWed, 04 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beware third party downloads for Darkfall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/24/beware-third-party-downloads-for-darkfall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Brannoc, the community manager for Darkfall, has released an announcement today regarding downloading the Darkfall client from any group other than Aventurine. In a nutshell, he says don't do it. Aventurine cannot guarantee the quality of those downloads or what may be hidden inside of them. If you wish to download the Darkfall client, do so from Aventurine's official torrent.

Brannoc's official announcement states, "Many people have begun to host the client we made available by torrent on other websites for direct download.

Aventurine cannot guarantee the efficacy of these clients and make no guarantees as to their security or freedom of malware. For that reason we recommend only utilizing official download sources for the Darkfall client.

Aventurine also does not support any 3rd party applications or programs for use with the Darkfall client.

Anytime you utilize non-official resources you run a security risk for your system and for that reason we recommend you keep an up to date antivirus program and firewall software up and running. "

MassivelyBeware third party downloads for Darkfall originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinebrannocclientdarkfalldarkfall-onlinedownloadpatcherthird-partytorrentTue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[No download, no problem: Browser-based MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/no-download-no-problem-browser-based-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/no-download-no-problem-browser-based-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/13/no-download-no-problem-browser-based-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Not all of us have the high end computers to run graphics intensive games like Lord of the Rings Online. Others players may just not want to take the time or bandwidth to download a whole MMO client just to find out that it's not worth it. Plus, maybe we want a game that we can play easily from any computer -- something that we can access while on the road. What could be the solution?

How about a good browser-based MMO? While we here at Massively tend to concentrate on the more mainstream titles, Dean Sherwin over at MMOHub has written an article in the defense of browser based MMOs, plus a list of some games that we can easily grab while on the road from any computer. Things like RuneScape, Adventure Quest, and many others are all listed easily on their website.

MassivelyNo download, no problem: Browser-based MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-questaqworldsbandwidthbrowserbrowser-baseddownloadlotrommohubrunescapethe-lord-of-the-rings-onlineturbineTue, 13 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mines of Moria updater now available from Turbine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/mines-of-moria-updater-now-available-from-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/mines-of-moria-updater-now-available-from-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/mines-of-moria-updater-now-available-from-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


To prepare you for the release of Mines of Moria next week, Turbine has announced that their downloadable updater is now available. With this updater, you'll be able to download the new expansion for Lord of the Rings Online before it actually goes live on the servers. Plus, this is a way for you to download the content on another computer, transfer the patch to a disk or device, then run it on your LotRO computer later.

Take special note that this downloader is needed for those who have not purchased Mines of Moria, as well. It contains many other updates, including Book 15, UI and class changes, and more. This means that you don't need to pre-order Moria to have access to this updater. Also note that this particular patch is only for the North American/AU/NZ version of the game, and will not work for the EU version. More download options, such as a torrent file and more direct download links will be available soon. If you're stuck, you can always check out this walkthrough article for more information. See ya in the mines!

MassivelyMines of Moria updater now available from Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdownloadlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-book-15mines-of-moriaturbineupdaterMon, 10 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Factors that could make or break WAR's longterm success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/factors-that-could-make-or-break-wars-longterm-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/factors-that-could-make-or-break-wars-longterm-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/factors-that-could-make-or-break-wars-longterm-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Syp over at the Waaagh! Warhammer Online blog looks at the title's 750,000 registered players figure and observes that merely buying the box (or the download) shouldn't necessarily imply that monthly subscription dollars will follow. There are a number of factors involved that will determine how well Warhammer Online does in the long run. There's no doubt that WAR is enjoying its time in the limelight -- even lukewarm reviews of the title still give it decent ratings, not to mention the hardcore contingent of players who are either fans of the IP or simply love that it's not World of Warcraft. But are many of these registered players only in WAR for the time being?

Syp writes about this in his "Future Tense" post, and breaks down the factors that could make or break the title's success in the long run, not limited to the upcoming expansions from other titles, word of mouth, and the longshot of breaking the pop culture barrier, as WoW has.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyFactors that could make or break WAR's longterm success originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>box-salesdownloadea-mythicfailurefantasyipmythicsuccesssypwaaaghwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 12 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the perfect download client?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/the-daily-grind-whats-the-perfect-download-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/the-daily-grind-whats-the-perfect-download-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/the-daily-grind-whats-the-perfect-download-client/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently, it seems game developers have been experimenting with different ways to deliver the initial game download to players. Age of Conan is now on Steam, Lord of the Rings Online has looked to torrents, Warhammer Online is making FilePlanet richer while others are sticking with the age-old company-specific download clients.

These are all still being tested, especially as MMOs are moving into the double-digit gigabyte file sizes, but do you think these are the best solutions? Sitting in a download queue for a day or more just to begin the 10 gigabyte file download is a bit ridiculous, but companies like FilePlanet are banking on our impatience. So is working through a third-party download site who requires a separate subscription really the best choice for us? If not, who do you think is doing it right? Or better yet, how can it be done right?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the perfect download client? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloaddownload-clientfileplanetqueuesteamthe-daily-grindThu, 11 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/new-aion-videos-give-aerial-tour-of-environments-and-classes-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/new-aion-videos-give-aerial-tour-of-environments-and-classes-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/new-aion-videos-give-aerial-tour-of-environments-and-classes-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Flight in MMOs is often focused on having mounts that let you take to the skies. NCsoft's latest twist on this idea is to give players their own pair of wings in Aion: The Tower of Eternity, which Massively recently got to see at PAX. So far we've seen a video showing off the character customization in Aion and a bit about the game's lore as well. NCsoft is steadily releasing more video footage of the new title though, most of which shows off some gorgeous graphics.

Our friends over at BigDownload are offering up two new Aion videos. One gives a soaring aerial tour of the game's environment an the other is a breakdown of the available classes, showing each of them in action. Check out the footage of both videos below the cut, as well as the links for BigDownload's HD versions.

Continue reading New Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action

MassivelyNew Aion videos give aerial tour of environments and classes in action originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbig-downloadcharacter-customizationclassescustomizationdownloadenvironmentfantasyflighthdlorencsoftpaxpax-2008previewsracesvideoThu, 04 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/warhammer-online-access-details-for-pre-orders-and-collectors-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Warhammer Online fans, the promised day is almost here. Mythic has announced early access details for pre-order and Collector's Edition customers. Pre-orders get a headstart and will be invited to play as of September 15th; those who sprung for the Collector's Edition get to trump everyone else, gaining access to WAR on September 14th in addition to some of those other sweet extras that come with the CE.

Still, not all Collector's Edition customers are happy about how CE customers are being treated. One Collector's Edition buyer named 'Micah' had a nightmare of a problem with his order from Electronic Arts (EA). A simple request to not have his CE shipped to an address he no longer lives at was met with a bizarre choice to be made -- either cancel the order and lose out on the sold-out CE, or let the order stand and have it shipped to the complete strangers living at Micah's former residence. Check out the entire correspondence between EA and Micah at The Consumerist. We hope this is an isolated incident, particularly given the cost and apparent rarity of the Collector's Edition.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Warhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition

MassivelyWarhammer Online access details for pre-orders and Collector's Edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingceclientcollectors-editiondownloadea-mythicearly-accessfantasymicahmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-betapre-orderpre-ordersthe-consumeristwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 01 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online NDA lifts tomorrow (August 19th)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/warhammer-online-nda-lifts-august-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Warhammer Online NDA is expected to lift tomorrow, according to Mark Jacobs, GM of Mythic Entertainment. The announcement has popped up in a few places, but the message is clear: the NDA is lifting. Jacobs' announcement also touched upon why they're running the Open Beta as they are and early client downloads, but it's the NDA lift that seems to be catching most everyone's attention.

Jacobs said, "We expect to lift it tomorrow morning. I was hoping it was going to be today but I wanted to wait till I got the beta reports from the weekend and we just didn't have enough time to get everything coordinated with our partners in order for the press release to go out today." Jacobs also stated that he'll explain the reasons for the delayed NDA release tomorrow. WAR bloggers everywhere are already freaking out (in a good way) over the news, so expect a literal flood of Warhammer Online info for tomorrow.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online NDA lifts tomorrow (August 19th) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementbetabloggersbreakingclientclosed-betadownloadea-mythicgmmark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentndanda-liftopen-betawarMon, 18 Aug 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan now available for digital download]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/age-of-conan-now-available-for-digital-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/age-of-conan-now-available-for-digital-download/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/age-of-conan-now-available-for-digital-download/#commentsFiled under: ,

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.

MassivelyAge 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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdigital-distributiondigital-downloaddownloadfuncomFri, 11 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Have Clone, Will Travel: 3 Essential Tools for Capsuleers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/have-clone-will-travel-3-essential-tools-for-capsuleers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/have-clone-will-travel-3-essential-tools-for-capsuleers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/have-clone-will-travel-3-essential-tools-for-capsuleers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


With Empyrean Age finally released, I wanted to give it a try to get this old Carebear in some pew pew action. Since my main character, Treenara Mazouk, was part of an industrial corporation that wanted to remain neutral throughout this war time, I decided to create an alternate character (Alt) to test out Factional Warfare.

What I didn't know, and didn't expect, was being humbled by the whole experience. You see, I've been immersed in EVE Online for almost four years now, and playing a new character reminded me how much work new players have to go through to get ahead. Talk about a major flashback!

Despite my experience and knowledge of the game, I still felt very limited by my new characters (lack of) abilities, assets and skills. It reminded me of my early days in New Eden, and how little I knew of what to do, where to go or who to ask. Through it all, I've gained a respect for the brave new players who start off in New Eden.

I felt I needed to do something about this. Something more then the initial list I had made a few months back. The following is a list of 3 basic tools that I feel every new capsuleer should have in order to survive the harsh landscape of the EVE universe. So strap yourselves in, buckle-up and start taking notes.

Continue reading Have Clone, Will Travel: 3 Essential Tools for Capsuleers

MassivelyHave Clone, Will Travel: 3 Essential Tools for Capsuleers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationdownloadeve-onlineevemonfactional-warfarefeaturedmodulesmonitorshipsetupsskill-pointsskillstrainingThu, 19 Jun 2008 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXI goes boxless]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/ffxi-goes-boxless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/ffxi-goes-boxless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/ffxi-goes-boxless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Square/Enix has taken another step towards the all-digital age, with their decision to go boxless with Final Fantasy XI sales. Downloads of the title and its expansions are now offered through Direct2Drive, already well-known for bringing a number of PC titles to gamers, eliminating trips to the store to pick up installation discs. Or dealing with rainchecks.

Whether the download is actually faster than driving to the local GameStop is debatable, but that's beside the point. Digital distribution of Final Fantasy XI puts the title in the club with EVE Online as well as the many Sony Online Entertainment titles which are distributed without boxes, and on demand. Direct2Drive is offering Final Fantasy XI and the expansions at $19.95 each; game manuals are available for download as well.

Via 1UP

MassivelyFFXI goes boxless originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digitaldirect2drivedownloadeve-onlinefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xigamestopsoesony-online-entertainmentsquare-enixFri, 30 May 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pumping Irony gets philosophical on patchers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/pumping-irony-gets-philosophical-on-patchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/pumping-irony-gets-philosophical-on-patchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/pumping-irony-gets-philosophical-on-patchers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Patchers. The upside and downside to online gaming. Sure, they bring you oodles of new content, but they can also result in wait times before you get in to play you favorite game. But did you ever stop to think about the difference in patchers across the genre? The subtle difference that's exhibited in each company's updating program, like logging in before downloading your update, or the amount of updates in a game?

Pumping Irony did. That's why they sat down and looked at the patching process amongst different games and began to get philosophical on your favorite (or most hated) launching device. Is requiring a player to log in helping you with your download times? Or is it just another barrier to keep you waiting longer before you get in to play, which may offset companies getting subscribers back into action? These questions and more are described within, and it's certainly worth the read for any MMO junkie.

MassivelyPumping Irony gets philosophical on patchers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogsdownloadmmo-industrynewspatcherphilosophypumping-ironySat, 03 May 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online on Steam now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/eve-online-on-steam-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/eve-online-on-steam-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/eve-online-on-steam-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Originally slated for a February 2008 release, EVE Online's debut on Valve's Steam service only barely squeaked in late on the 29th of February. Nevertheless, EVE Online: Trinity is available on Steam right now now, currently priced at US$14.95 (including the first month).

There's also a 21 day free trial available for those of you wanting to get a feel for CCP's popular space-based MMO - and it won't make your system unbootable. You'll need to have six gigabytes of hard-drive space available for steam to install it, so now's as good a time as any to tidy up the old hard-drive.

MassivelyEVE Online on Steam now originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpdownloadeve-onlinesteamvalveSat, 01 Mar 2008 01:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online heads to Valve's Steam platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/eve-online-heads-to-valves-steam-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/eve-online-heads-to-valves-steam-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/eve-online-heads-to-valves-steam-platform/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Icelandic dynamo EVE Online is going where no MMO has going before: Valve's Steam platform. CCP and Valve have banded together to offer the client (complete with Trinity II goodness) to Steam's 13 million users. To sweeten the deal, the pair are offering an exclusive 21-day trial period for the game, available only if you download via Steam. Folks who sign up for the game via the service will also receive a five dollar discount on their first month of pay service.

The press release for the announcement makes much of the fact that EVE is the first on Steam, and in hindsight it does seem kind of strange that no other MMOG devs have signed up for something like this. With this announcement, I imagine we'll see other developers beginning to work their online magic via Valve's service. The most obvious draw would be World of Warcraft. After all, Valve and Blizzard are siblings, and have been since before the Activision merger!

MassivelyEVE Online heads to Valve's Steam platform originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpdownloadeveeve-onlinesteamvalveTue, 22 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Skill Monitor widget monitors your skills]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/eve-online-skill-monitor-widget-monitors-your-skills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/eve-online-skill-monitor-widget-monitors-your-skills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/eve-online-skill-monitor-widget-monitors-your-skills/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've posted before about EVEMon, a program that you absolutely must use if you're playing EVE Online, but here's another cool dohickey for tracking your EVE character out-of-game. Corp Teacher on the forums posts about the EVE Yahoo! Widget, a slick little widget that shows all the important stats for your character, including where your skill training is at, and how long you've got left. It doesn't have nearly as much functionality as EVEMon, obviously, but if you want to watch your SP rise at work where applications aren't allowed, but widgets are, it's perfect.

And though it used to ask for your name and password (a security risk if there ever was one), it now works through EVE's API key program, so you don't have to worry about giving an untrusted program all your personal info. According to the changelog, it hasn't been updated too recently, but if you're looking for a low-footprint way to track your SP, and figure out whether Tranquility is up or down (so you can pine for the vastness of space while trapped in your tiny cubicle at work), here it is.

MassivelyEVE Online Skill Monitor widget monitors your skills originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationsdownloadeve-onlineevemonmonitorskill-pointstrainingwidgetsworkyahooTue, 08 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The music of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/the-music-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/the-music-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/the-music-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Can't get enough of EVE's ingame tunes? An Anarchyyt over on the forums has posted a link to a ZIP file of EVE's entire soundtrack, so that even out of game you can listen to those dulcet tones floating in space. I'm not sure how stable EVE Files' servers are, but if you can get in and download it, you're all set.

And even if you can't, don't forget that there's some good soundtrack links over on the official site, too. There's also a CD of a few of the tracks available at the official store. And a little bit of poking around brings us this JunkieXL remix of one of the tracks from the game (originally used in one of the game's trailers, I think?).

I have to say-- most of the time I spend mining in EVE actually is taken up with the soundtrack of whatever I'm watching on TV at the time. But when flying around and actually fighting rats, the tunes fit perfectly in the game.

MassivelyThe music of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadeve-onlinejunkiexlmusictunesMon, 19 Nov 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates preorder delayed, and that's bad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/27/pirates-preorder-delayed-and-thats-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/27/pirates-preorder-delayed-and-thats-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/27/pirates-preorder-delayed-and-thats-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pirates of the Burning Sea is coming out in January. That's good.

The preorder was supposed to happen this week, but it got delayed. That's bad.

SOE couldn't get it done in time, and they feel really sorry about it. That's good.

They couldn't get it done because they were running from the fires in California. That's bad.

Unfortunately, Flying Lab can't tell us where we can preorder, when preordering will happen online, or anything else about it besides that it will show up on November 13th. That's bad.

But they can tell us that answers are coming soon, and they even were nice enough to let us download four exclusive tracks from the preorder CD, four mp3s of the port music for each of the various nations. That's good!

Stay tuned for more info about the preorder. Hopefully SOE's employees will be able to get back to their homes safe and sound, and soon enough you'll be able to pick up the preorder box at a game store near you.

Can I go now?

[ via Tobold, with apologies to this obscure show ]

MassivelyPirates preorder delayed, and that's bad originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdelaydownloadflying-labfreenovember-13thpotbspreordersoesoundtracktracksSat, 27 Oct 2007 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London demo available now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/hellgate-london-demo-available-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/hellgate-london-demo-available-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/hellgate-london-demo-available-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,


There's a Hellgate London demo out, for those of you who've been waiting for this maybe-MMO from the makers of the original Diablo (and lots of team members from the old Blizzard North). I say maybe-MMO because it'll be a lot like Guild Wars, in that it'll be free to play out of the box, and there will be a lot of single player fun available. But it's also got that MMO bent to it, in that you'll be able to pay for more exclusive content, and there will also be guilds and player housing. Oh, and did I mention it's an FPS with heavy RPG elements?

So yeah, it's a game of many contradictions. But worry not-- you can try the game out yourself right now by downloading the hefty 1.4gb demo over at Worthplaying, GameDaily (disclaimer: AOL owns GameDaily, and they also own Weblogs, Inc, which owns Massively) or FileShack (shudder-- FileShack and I do not have a good history). KillTenRats says the demo lets you play as a Blademaster or Marksman, and that it'll take you through part of Act 1. He also hears that the demo is singleplayer only, so any big MMO elements will probably have to wait until the game is released.

And the good news is that that's not too long a wait-- we should see Hellgate: London in North America on October 31st. Let us know what you think of the demo.

MassivelyHellgate: London demo available now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availableblizzard-northdemodiablodownloadguild-warshellgatelondonThu, 18 Oct 2007 20:09:00 EST