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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xiv-beta-phase-1-and-2-fates-and-du/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

That withdrawal is a very real thing. I'm missing it.
Do you smell that on the wind, my friends? It smells like June is fast approaching, and more importantly it smells like soon we'll be able to welcome the third phase of testing with open arms. Which is good, since I am currently going through withdrawal. I wake up in cold sweats, try to change my class in other games, start up the Final Fantasy XIV beta client in the hopes that someone "accidentally" turned the servers back on... you get the general idea.

To help alleviate this, I'm going to talk about the two pieces of the game from the first two beta phases that are in need of the most polish. While there are places to improve elsewhere, FATEs and dungeons have issues that might need a bit more hammering to fix. Or they might be fine and we just haven't yet seen enough of the game to know everything. Either way, let's get started with the big addition to the game, the system that had no predecessor in Final Fantasy XIV's first version: the FATE system.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - FATEs and dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetasconsoleconsolesdungeonsdynamic-eventsfantasyfatesfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfull-active-time-eventsgroup-contentmog-logopinionraidssquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 18 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Shugo Kingdom returns to Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/wings-over-atreia-shugo-kingdom-returns-to-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/wings-over-atreia-shugo-kingdom-returns-to-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/wings-over-atreia-shugo-kingdom-returns-to-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia Shugo Kingdom returns to Aion
Who says we can't get what we want? I wanted the Shugo Kingdom Adventure event to return to Aion, and I'm getting my wish. Booyah! No, really, it's true: Starting after maintenance on May 22nd, Daevas who've flown over level 50 will again be able to journey for a limited time to the long lost vaults of the Shugo Kingdom in search of great and glorious treasure. And by treasure, I mean a trove of chests filled with AP items, Stormwing armor pieces and weapons, or even rare sets of wings. Of course what you get depends on how many keys you have and a little luck, so there's no harm in starting your sacrifices to Aion's RNG gods now.

Did you miss out on the event last time but are looking forward to it this go around? Or maybe you need a refresher because the trauma of not getting that one item caused you to block all knowledge of the zone from your mind? Either way, this edition of Wings Over Atreia will give you a heads up on what to expect. And as an added bonus, Associate Producer Sean Orlikowski shared his tips and tricks for making the most of your Shugo Kingdom Adventures.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Shugo Kingdom returns to Aion

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Shugo Kingdom returns to Aion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionbe-a-Shugodungeonseventf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguideImperial-Tombin-game-eventinstancencsoftopinionSean-OrlikowskiShigosShugo-Kingdom-AdventureStormwing-loottruly-freewings-over-atreiaSat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/wildstar-sneaks-a-peak-at-stormtalons-lair/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Maybe he just has allergies.
Making a new discovery on Nexus is always sort of a double-edged sword. The good news is that the Exile Academy of Science has discovered all sorts of fascinating details about the Thundercall Pell race living in the south of Galeras. The bad news is that some of this has come about as a result of discovering strange energy readings emanating from the caverns known as Stormtalon's Lair and the loss of a science team investigating the region, meaning that WildStar players will have to go in and deal with whatever ate the team that went in the first time.

The latest WildStar Wednesday sheds some light on this early dungeon, explaining the motivations behind the inhabitants of the Lair and some of the mysteries still surrounding them. Players will be tasked with fighting their way into the depths, stopping the Thundercall High Priest from awakening the eponymous Stormtalon. Which means you'll probably arrive just in time to fight Stormtalon before it gets free, because really, how else could this end?

MassivelyWildStar sneaks a peak at Stormtalon's Lair originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabetascarbinecarbine-studiosdungeondungeonsncsoftnewspreviewpreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 01 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: A look at C9's new 'extreme' dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/massively-exclusive-a-look-at-c9s-new-extreme-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/massively-exclusive-a-look-at-c9s-new-extreme-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/massively-exclusive-a-look-at-c9s-new-extreme-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive A look at C9's new 'extreme' dungeon
Continent of the Ninth Seal is preparing to unleash a raid to end all raids tomorrow. Webzen is marketing Bardiel Seal as an "extreme dungeon" that will send innocent players to their doom as they fight three new raid bosses: Molleck, Creios, and the Rebecca twins.

Despite the raid designation, Bardiel Seal only requires four level-62 players to tackle. If the bosses are downed, the game will reward the victors with some of the best armor to hit C9 yet. The fourth and final boss of the dungeon will be patched in next month.

To celebrate the release of Bardiel Seal, Webzen is handing out a reward package for returning players. Get a first look at the dungeon in the gallery and trailer below!

Gallery: C9: Bardiel Seal

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: A look at C9's new 'extreme' dungeon

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: A look at C9's new 'extreme' dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combataction-mmoc9c9-extreme-dungeonc9-raidc9-raid-modec9-trailercontinent-of-the-ninth-sealdungeonsextreme-dungeonextreme-dungeon-teaserf2pfree-to-playgallerypveteasertrailervideowebzenTue, 23 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Continent of the Ninth Seal adding raid mode, new dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/continent-of-the-ninth-seal-adding-raid-mode-new-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/continent-of-the-ninth-seal-adding-raid-mode-new-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/continent-of-the-ninth-seal-adding-raid-mode-new-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Continent of the Ninth Seal - Extreme raid
Webzen has announced that it's adding a four-player "raid mode" and a new dungeon to its Continent of the Ninth Seal action fantasy MMO. The company's press release highlights something called an Extreme Dungeon which houses three "dangerously difficult" bosses and appropriate rewards for defeating them.

Continent of the Ninth Seal features four classes (Fighters, Shamans, Hunters, and Witchblades) each of which give way to more advanced subclasses with plenty of combat combos to explore. C9 boasts traditional MMO PvE as well as 16-player PvP matches.

Check out the Extreme Dungeon teaser after the break, and look for the new content on the live servers on April 24th.

[Source: Webzen press release]

Continue reading Continent of the Ninth Seal adding raid mode, new dungeon

MassivelyContinent of the Ninth Seal adding raid mode, new dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combataction-mmoc9c9-extreme-dungeonc9-raidc9-raid-modec9-trailercontinent-of-the-ninth-sealdungeonsextreme-dungeonextreme-dungeon-teaserf2pfree-to-playpveteasertrailervideowebzenThu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Eden Eternal update introduces gear fusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/eden-eternal-update-introduces-gear-fusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/eden-eternal-update-introduces-gear-fusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/eden-eternal-update-introduces-gear-fusion/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Eden Eternal update introduces gear fusion
Eden Eternal has dropped its latest patch for players to unwrap and marvel over its contents. At the core of this update is the Arcane Box fusion system, which provides several ways to upgrade your character. By using the Box (a device whose mystery is only exceeded by its power), players can fuse gear together or break it down to make specific improvements.

The patch also adds a PvP zone called Elysian Island as well as a duo of PvE dungeons: Vingot Lab and Destruction Dimension.

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

MassivelyEden Eternal update introduces gear fusion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesarcane-boxdungeondungeonseden-eternalf2pfantasyfree-to-playpatchpvpupdateThu, 04 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/latest-dev-blog-delves-into-the-depths-of-the-secret-world-endga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Latest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World
If your Secret World adventures have thus far only entailed playing through the main story line, according to the latest dev blog you are missing out! The post plumbs the depths of TSW's character development and progression system (the endgame, if you will), detailing what lies in store for players after they turn that last page in the story.

With such a variety of situations and so many different builds to tackle them with, mastering TSW is a very lengthy process. Part of that process entails honing skills and collecting gear by moving to successively harder dungeons. Beyond just acquiring gear, players must also augment their arsenal with crafted kickbacks, stimulants, and pure anima potions. Then there is obtaining glyphs and knowing which one to use when for the best effect. And don't forget about getting ahold of powerful signets that can be added to weapons and talismans.

Of course, with the game's flexibility, there's no one "right way" to do things, so there are plenty of ways to experiment. Want some hints to use on this path to mastery? Check out all the details in the full post.

MassivelyLatest dev blog delves into the depths of The Secret World endgame originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playdev-blogdungeonsend-gamefactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswWed, 13 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: From Shugos to splitting up, Aion's instances are evolving]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/wings-over-atreia-from-shugos-to-splitting-up-aions-instances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/wings-over-atreia-from-shugos-to-splitting-up-aions-instances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/09/wings-over-atreia-from-shugos-to-splitting-up-aions-instances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia From Shugos to splitting up, Aion's instances are evolving
Today I was all set to focus my energies and words on cajoling NCsoft to not do certain things to Aion. I was poised to carefully blend pleading, ranting, and even some common sense into the perfect concoction to convince the studio to avoid introducing various trappings to Atreia. Then, surely as a means to distract me from said designs, the studio released news about the new instances coming after 4.0. Wait -- after?! A ha! Yet more fodder to add to my nonononono rant; after all, who wants to be teased about things coming after an expansion we don't even have a date for yet?

However, after a bit more reflection I decided that -- for today at least -- I'd rather applaud the company for looking at new ways to approach instances instead of rail on it for sharing the info so darned early. Perhaps it's the whole "you can catch more sparkies with honey than vinegar" approach, but the truth of the matter is I am happy with the direction this latest announcement portends. Aion is integrating variety into the dungeon-diving sphere, and that's a move that can only be good for the game.

Even better, you don't actually have to wait until after 4.0 to experience the first rumblings of this shift. Thanks to the Shugo Kingdom Adventure event going on now, Daevas can try their hands/claws at a new (though temporary) dungeon experience,

What about these new dungeons has me hopeful for the future of Aion? Let's dive right in and take a look.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: From Shugos to splitting up, Aion's instances are evolving

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: From Shugos to splitting up, Aion's instances are evolving originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionDanuar-Shelterdungeonsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playImpenetrable-Bastionjumping-puzzlesKamar-Battlefieldlimited-timelimited-time-eventncsoftOphidan-Bridgeopinionpost-4.0-contentSauro-Logistic-BaseShugo-Kingdom-AdventureShugossplitting-up-is-hard-to-doStorming-armortemporary-instancetruly-freevariety-is-the-spice-of-lifewingswings-over-atreiaSat, 09 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR awards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-swtor-awards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-swtor-awards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-swtor-awards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon the SWTOR awards
The Oscars were given out two nights ago. Celebrities, actors, and film crews dressed in their red-carpet best to be handed a 13.5-inch golden statue of a naked bald man. As I heard these writers and directors give thanks to various loved-ones and talent agencies, I thought about Star Wars: The Old Republic. (Sad. I know.) SWTOR contains some of the best writing and storytelling in all of MMOs. In my opinion, it's better than some of movies represented on that stage. Sure, it didn't impact the world like Zero Dark Thirty, but it did impact my world, and I'd like to recognize some of the best parts of this MMORPG.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR awards

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The SWTOR awards originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedawardsbest-ofbest-of-swtorbiowarecharles-boyddungeonseaelectronic-artsesselesf2pfeaturedflashpointsfree-to-playhall-hoodhyperspace-beaconimperial-agentinstanceskaraggas-palacelucasartsoperationsOperator-IXopinionpuzzle-bossraidsRishasci-fismugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwritingTue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/new-lotro-screenshots-sneak-another-peek-at-update-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

New LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10
Wondering what to do while whiling away the time waiting for the second half of Lord of the Rings Online's promised Riders of Rohan instance cluster? How about lose yourself in some of the imagery that will be awaiting you when Update 10 finally hits servers! Turbine has released 10 new screenshots showing off scenes from all three raid instances -- Flight to Lonely Mountain, The Fires of Smaug, and The Battle for Erebor -- as well as the single group instance, Bells of Dale.

Feast your eyes on the images in the gallery below. And if that isn't enough to tide you over, you can get more up-close and personal with Massively's hands-on preview.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: LotRO: Riders of Rohan

MassivelyNew LotRO screenshots sneak another peek at Update 10 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bells-of-Daledungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyFlight-to-Lonely-Mountainfree-to-playgalleryinstanceslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroraidsriders-of-rohanrorscreenshotsThe-Battle-For-EreborThe-Fires-of-Smaugturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA doubling its dungeon drop rate through Monday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/tera-doubling-its-dungeon-drop-rate-through-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/tera-doubling-its-dungeon-drop-rate-through-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/tera-doubling-its-dungeon-drop-rate-through-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

TERA double loot drop weekend
If you're still on the fence about checking out TERA's new free-to-play flavor, maybe this will change your mind: double loot drops! En Masse is running a bonus event that begins at noon Friday and continues through noon on Monday.

All TERA dungeons will feature double the normal drop rate, which means "more weapons, more gear, more cash -- more everything," according to the announcement on the game's official website.

MassivelyTERA doubling its dungeon drop rate through Monday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studiosdungeondungeonsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentf2pfantasyfree-to-playteratera-double-loot-dropFri, 08 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/flameseeker-chronicles-flame-and-frost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/flameseeker-chronicles-flame-and-frost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/flameseeker-chronicles-flame-and-frost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Flame and Frost
Well, my goodness! We've got a week of the Flame and Frost prelude patch behind us, and what a week it's been! The patch notes for this sucker were impressive; for a relatively minor patch, the Flame and Frost prelude brought in a lot of tweaks and updates. I'm kind of glad for that, as quality of life additions were top on my list for hopes for Guild Wars 2 in 2013. I'm very pleased with ArenaNet for shoring up the content that's already out rather than leaving it be in the rush to get out new content.

So! Let's take a look at what ArenaNet brought us in the past week.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Flame and Frost originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playdailydaily-achievementdungeondungeonsfantasyfeaturedflame-and-frostflame-and-frost-preludeflameseeker-chroniclesfractals-of-the-mistsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2january-patchlaurellaurelsncsoftopinionpatchpatchesupdateupdatesTue, 05 Feb 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/lotro-goes-to-the-lonely-mountain-update-10-raid-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain Update 10 raid preview
If you haven't heard the garment-rending woes of Lord of the Rings Online players who have had to wait and wait for the promised second half of Riders of Rohan's instance cluster (now with raids!), then you haven't been anywhere near LotRO in the past half-year. Fortunately, the imminent Update 10 will soon swoop in and provide the populace with a trio of raids as well as a six-person instance to tackle.

We got on the phone with Turbine for a tour of the new raids. Senior Designer Joe Barry opened the session by explaining that eastern Rohan just plain did not work for a location of instances due to lore restrictions, a lack of a big bad guy, and no iconic locations. So the team decided to tackle the IP-supported tale of the Easterlings' siege of Dale and the Lonely Mountain through the second half of this instance cluster.

Join us as we take a look at just what is up with the Lonely Mountain now that Smaug has vacated the premises!

Continue reading LotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview

MassivelyLotRO goes to the Lonely Mountain: Update 10 raid preview originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstance-clusterinstancesjoe-barrylonely-mountainlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroraidraidsriders-of-rohanrorthe-hobbitturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-10Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Dungeon review, part 1
I don't hide the fact that as an MMO gamer, I probably fall into the "casual" category by many of your definitions. Even so, I probably go dungeon diving in RIFT more than in other MMOs because of the game's silky-smooth LFG interface and the generally quick pace of the instance runs themselves. Hitting a dungeon while you've got one or more counters on the reward page is added incentive because you're at least guaranteed a solid loot drop of your very own (or plaques).

I'm still getting a feel for Storm Legion dungeons, but when it comes to the core game, I've run those instances more times than I can count. I figured I might as well share my thoughts on the first four dungeons you're likely to run in the early and mid-game to see if they pass muster. While I'm at it, I might tell a related story or two from my runs. Gather 'round, children, as Papa Olivetti smokes a stogie and tells you a tale you're unlikely to forget.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdungeondungeonsenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedinstanceinstancesopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 23 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: The game at the end of Guild Wars 2, revisited]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/flameseeker-chronicles-the-game-at-the-end-of-guild-wars-2-rev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/flameseeker-chronicles-the-game-at-the-end-of-guild-wars-2-rev/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/flameseeker-chronicles-the-game-at-the-end-of-guild-wars-2-rev/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles The game at the end of Guild Wars 2, revisited
I tend to dislike the term "endgame" because I suspect most people have scribbled out their own definition of the word and that anyone who dares to use it in reference to anything outside of that definition is summarily dismissed and excommunicated. I'm never quite sure what it is I'm being excommunicated from, mind you, but there's definitely a feeling of being suddenly, inexplicably, apart. Alien. Other.

Anyway, I hope we can agree that endgame is what happens at the, well, end of the game -- after the game has been, in some way, finished. We all know that this is ludicrous, right? As long as you're playing the game, the game is not ended, and expecting that it will change substantially enough to be classified in a new way is kind of silly. But people persist in using the term, and they persist in differing over when, precisely, the endgame starts. Does it start when you've hit the game's level cap, if there is one? How about when you've finished the game's storyline, if it has one?

You might've noticed that I'm kind of endgame agnostic. Regardless, let's go ahead and talk about Guild Wars 2's.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The game at the end of Guild Wars 2, revisited

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The game at the end of Guild Wars 2, revisited originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playcitadel-of-flamecofdungeondungeonsend-gameendgameendgame-agnosticismfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesfractals-of-the-mistsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2isaiah-cartwrightncsoftopinionTue, 15 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/15/arenanet-sells-three-million-copies-of-guild-wars-2-looks-to-th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArenaNet sells 3 million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future
We've got a whole passel of Guild Wars 2 news for you today, courtesy of ArenaNet Game Director Colin Johanson, who took to the company's blog to talk about some of the game plan for 2013. Johanson kicked things off by nonchalantly dropping the fact that Guild Wars 2 has now surpassed three million copies sold. (The last million milestone was hit in early September.) He then moved on to goals for 2013 -- specifically, to "build on areas of the game that were successful in 2012" and to "learn and apply lessons from things that didn't work as well."

ArenaNet has plans to add more events (since more events means fewer repeats all around), build new storylines, and give players of all levels a good reason to go back and re-examine content. Some of those good reasons will come in the form of tokens for achievements (which can be traded in for stuff like ascended gear and infusions), re-imagined daily achievements (and eventually, the option to complete only a certain subset of dailies to get the reward), and more vanity items.

Guilds will be getting more love with some new types of content, due "in early 2013," which will allow members to go on missions together. Over time, that system will be expanded with new rewards, missions, and tools to strengthen the importance of guilds within the Guild Wars 2 community. World vs. World will be seeing a lot of the same tweaks as the rest of the game, with the addition of improvements to culling and the introduction of paid server transfers.

PvP will also be getting some polish. Revamped reward systems, matchmaking based on skill, the ability to observe other matches, custom arenas, and leaderboards have all been listed as part of the plan. In case that's not enough for the first half of the year, there are also plans to improve the looking for group tool, fix up the Fractals dungeon, set up leaderboards on the website, redesign world and dungeon boss encounters, continue the war on bots, and otherwise tighten up the game as we know it.

Skip below the cut to let Johanson speak for himself.

Continue reading ArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future

MassivelyArenaNet sells three million copies of Guild Wars 2, looks to the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20133-millionanetarenanetbreakingbuy-to-playcolin-johansondungeonsfantasygame-planguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpatchpatchesthree-millionupdateupdatesvideovideoswar-on-botsTue, 15 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: The MapleStory developers talk about the Root Abyss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/massively-exclusive-the-maplestory-developers-talk-about-the-roo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/massively-exclusive-the-maplestory-developers-talk-about-the-roo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/massively-exclusive-the-maplestory-developers-talk-about-the-roo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Well, that's the face of horror right there.
When dealing with international games like Nexon's MapleStory, it's a simple reality that updates are often going to be coming out later for US players. It's just the nature of the beast; new updates have to first be tested natively, then localized. But the upcoming Root Abyss breaks the mold, with the full version due to be released on the global servers on January 16th before the Korean servers get a live push of the update.

But there's more to the dungeon than just the release date -- there are four new bosses and a variety of updated prizes for everyone to earn. If you're looking for more insight into how the dungeon was designed, click on past the break for an exclusive developer diary from the Korean design team. You can also check out the dungeon's trailer, which features a quick preview of all four monstrous and disturbing bosses.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The MapleStory developers talk about the Root Abyss

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: The MapleStory developers talk about the Root Abyss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-previewsdeveloperdeveloper-diarydevelopment-diarydungeonsf2pfantasyforeign-releasefree-to-playglobal-maplestoryglobal-serversmaplestorynexonnexon-americanexon-koreapatchpatchespreviewsroot-abyssvideovideosFri, 11 Jan 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/new-vids-detail-blade-and-souls-spiral-labyrinth-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/new-vids-detail-blade-and-souls-spiral-labyrinth-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/02/new-vids-detail-blade-and-souls-spiral-labyrinth-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Image
Blade & Soul's newest endgame dungeon release is called The Spiral Labyrinth, and Steparu has posted an extensive look at the content complete with multiple videos.

The dungeon features three floors, each of which ends in a boss fight, and there's a bit of randomization in the mix, too. Each time your party enters a particular room, you'll need to fight a miniboss. Defeating him triggers a random door which leads deeper into the dungeon level and eventually to the floor boss.

With a new dungeon comes new drops and new equipment. Steparu says that farming The Spiral Labyrinth will likely be necessary to compete in the game's upcoming PvP content. Have a look at the dungeon's first minotaur boss after the break, then head to the source link for several more gameplay videos and analysis.

Continue reading New vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon

MassivelyNew vids detail Blade & Soul's Spiral Labyrinth dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blade-and-soulblade-and-soul-gameplay-videoblade-and-soul-videodungeonsfantasymartial-artsmartial-arts-mmoncsoftncsoft-koreaspiral-labyrinththe-spiral-labyrinthvideoWed, 02 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/flameseeker-chronicles-hopes-for-the-new-year-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2
It's the dawn of a brave new year. Guild Wars 2 is still in its infancy, really -- ArenaNet's work in this year will do a lot to shape the future and lasting impact of the game. With apparently an expansion's worth of content coming out in January and February, this certainly promises to be an exciting year. I don't know whether the following things are predictions or hopes, but they can't be all that much more inaccurate than fondling sheep guts.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Hopes for the new year in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetascalonian-catacombsbuy-to-playdungeondungeonsesportsexpansionsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguestingguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2legendarylegendary-weaponncsoftnew-yearsopinionpatchespredictionsspvpupdatesTue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/lotro-talks-update-9-instance-cluster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster
The first half of Riders of Rohan's instance cluster is arriving with Lord of the Rings Online's Update 9, and the devs are excited to talk about the variety of experiences and challenges that went into making the trio of three-man dungeons. A new dev diary on the site gives the story overview for Webs of the Scuttledells, Seat of the Great Goblin, and Iorbar's Peak as well as a few behind-the-scenes notes.

Developer Pinion discussed how the team wanted to make the return to Goblin-town special: "I wanted to ensure that this new interpretation stayed true to the source material while still providing a very different experience from our existing instance in the Misty Mountains. With all the different varieties of goblins that make their home here, I felt it greatly important to distinguish them both in appearance and in drastically varied abilities."

A major change coming to these instances deals with loot. Not only is there remote looting for these dungeons, but each treasure chest will automatically reward class-appropriate gear for each player.

MassivelyLotRO talks Update 9 instance cluster originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diarydungeondungeonsexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstanceinstance-clusterinstanceslootloot-rollslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropinionremote-lootingriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-9Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Forsaken World kicks off its latest expansion, War of Shadows]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/forsaken-world-kicks-off-its-latest-expansion-war-of-shadows/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/forsaken-world-kicks-off-its-latest-expansion-war-of-shadows/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/forsaken-world-kicks-off-its-latest-expansion-war-of-shadows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Puppy!
If you're a stalwart fan of Forsaken World, your winter holiday of choice came early this year. The game's latest expansion, War of Shadows, has just gone live, bringing with it an entirely new race for players. Lycans can transform from their normal humanoid state into hulking wolf-creatures, providing a variety of new abilities and upgrades while they remain transformed. Other races have also seen several adjustments to bring them in line with the new kids on the block.

Even if you're not interested in new races or balancing old ones, the expansion features a new zone (Eclipse Hollow) and new dungeons (Ancient's Battleground and Hell Road), which provide new quests and challenges for players. Take a look at some screenshots of the expansion in our gallery, look at the full trailer for the expansion just past the break, and then get on in and start running around with your new wolfman.

[Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]

Gallery: Forsaken World

Continue reading Forsaken World kicks off its latest expansion, War of Shadows

MassivelyForsaken World kicks off its latest expansion, War of Shadows originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizardry Online adding tons of info to official wikia
If you've had questions about some of the nuts and bolts of the upcoming free-to-play fantasy game Wizardry Online, the incoming update to the official wikia might just give you some answers. From controls and settings to shops and dungeons, this update will offer more information on a variety of game mechanics and features.

Did you know that you can pick up the body of a fallen player to be deposited at the Quopaty Temple once you travel back to town and pay a fee to increase the odds of revival once there? Or that you'll need entry permits to enter dungeons? Or that shopkeepers will identify items for adventurers? You will when you read through the details of this substantial wikia update! You can also learn more about Wizardry Online by checking out Massively's hands-on experience.

[Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]

MassivelyWizardry Online adding tons of info to official wikia originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsgamepothardcoreofficial-wikiaopen-pvppermadeathpkplayer-killingpvpshopssir-techsoesony-online-entertainmentwikiawizardrywizardry-onlineThu, 06 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: The spotter's guide to the Fractals of the Mists, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-the-spotters-guide-to-the-fractal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-the-spotters-guide-to-the-fractal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-the-spotters-guide-to-the-fractal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SHINIES SHINIES SHINIES SHINIES
Hello, volunteer, and welcome back to the Spotter's Guide to the Fractals of the Mists! We're here to teach you the difference between an Urban Battleground and an Uncategorized fractal, a Bloomhunger and a Mossman, and a chicken and a Charr. Part one came out earlier this week, so be sure to check it out if you're looking for the full guidebook for Guild Wars 2's newest dungeon; otherwise, let's move on!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: The spotter's guide to the Fractals of the Mists, part two

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles Extra: The spotter's guide to the Fractals of the Mists, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdungeonsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesfotmfractalfractalsfractals-of-the-mistsguideguidesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionThu, 29 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yup, you're dead: Hands-on with Wizardry Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/yup-youre-dead-hands-on-with-wizardry-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/yup-youre-dead-hands-on-with-wizardry-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/yup-youre-dead-hands-on-with-wizardry-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Wizardry Online
Wizardry Online, an upcoming fantasy-based MMO from Sony Online Entertainment, is a "hardcore" MMO. I know this because the word "hardcore" shows up on the game's official beta sign-up page no fewer than three times (once in all caps). The website promises that thanks to Wizardry Online's "insane difficulty," my "greatest challenge" will be found somewhere in its universe. Perhaps in one of those "complex mazes" packed with "unrelenting mobs."

Now, I'm not one to back down from a challenge. In fact, I love a good fight, especially if it can potentially end in my suffering an embarrassing and expensive defeat. So I hopped into the brutal world of Wizardry Online to tempt fate and see just what this game was all about.

As it turns out, it's about dungeons, permadeath, and missed opportunities to make either worthwhile.

Gallery: Wizardry Online

Continue reading Yup, you're dead: Hands-on with Wizardry Online

MassivelyYup, you're dead: Hands-on with Wizardry Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingdungeonsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgamepothands-onhardcoremicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopen-pvppermadeathpkplayer-killingpremiumpreviewpreviewspvpsir-techsoesony-online-entertainmenttestingwizardrywizardry-onlineTue, 27 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online releasing Rohan instances in two parts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/lord-of-the-rings-online-releasing-rohan-instances-in-two-parts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/lord-of-the-rings-online-releasing-rohan-instances-in-two-parts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/26/lord-of-the-rings-online-releasing-rohan-instances-in-two-parts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

All right, guys, this is a really funny story but you have to promise not to get mad.
Lord of the Rings Online players have had to wait a lot lately. Riders of Rohan was delayed, which is something that happens every so often in MMO development but is still upsetting. But Turbine promised players that even with the delay, the Rohan instance cluster would still be released this year. Today, community manager Sapience took to the forums to explain that the team is splitting the instance cluster into two parts, and only the first part will be released this year with Update 9.

The revised plan has three instances coming out with Update 9, with four more set to be released in February 2013 (although that date is subject to change). Not coincidentally, the instances all call back to portions of The Hobbit, which does have a film adaptation coming out shortly. Whether or not players are happy about the source material, the delay is bound to cause some contention among the players waiting for the large-scale raids currently delayed until next year.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online releasing Rohan instances in two parts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managercontentdelaydungeondungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playinstanceinstanceslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatchpatch-delaypatchessapienceturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-delayMon, 26 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists dungeon detailed in new vid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/guild-wars-2s-new-fractals-of-the-mists-dungeon-detailed-in-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/guild-wars-2s-new-fractals-of-the-mists-dungeon-detailed-in-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/guild-wars-2s-new-fractals-of-the-mists-dungeon-detailed-in-new/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2's new Fractals of the Mists dungeon detailed in new vid
Ready for some more info on new high-end dungeon experiences in Guild Wars 2? Good, because ArenaNet is obliging with a dev diary designed to show off Fractals of the Mists.

The content is "an array of mini-dungeons" called fractals, which are in fact "slices of the Mists," which themselves are fragments of time. It's not as confusing as it sounds at first; think of each fragment as an historical vignette, some of which may be familiar to you if you're a Guild Wars veteran.

ANet has made the dungeon accessible to everyone via a side-kicking system, though the dev diary does say that the aim was to challenge level 80s. Not only that, but every time you revisit Fractals of the Mists, it scales up in difficulty. Take a look at a preview clip after the cut.

Continue reading Guild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists dungeon detailed in new vid

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Fractals of the Mists dungeon detailed in new vid originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every girl crazy 'bout a transparent cape.
Are you ready for the ninth expansion for EverQuest II, Chains of Eternity? It's coming out tomorrow, so if you're not ready, you should probably get ready pretty quickly if you play the game. This also means that today is the last day to pre-order and get an exclusive cape as a pre-order customer. Technically you have until 2:59 a.m. EST on the 13th, but it's best to just take care of that now if you've been meaning to order it and haven't gotten around to it.

But what if you're still undecided? The team at Sony Online Entertainment has put together one last preview video to help tempt you over with information about the expansion's dungeons. It's a quick video hitting the highlights of the nine new dungeons included with the expansion, complete with commentary from the developers regarding the design and the visual points of interest. Jump past the break for the preview, and if you're still on the fence about ordering, you'll need to make up your mind quickly.

Continue reading EverQuest II posts a preview for Chains of Eternity on the last day to pre-order

MassivelyEverQuest II posts a preview for Chains of Eternity on the last day to pre-order originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chains-of-eternitydungeondungeonseq-2eq-iieq2eq2-chains-of-eternityeqiieverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionexpansionsf2pfantasyfree-to-playnew-expansionpre-orderpreviewpreview-videoreleasesoesonysony-online-entertainmentvideovideosMon, 12 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 updates Lost Shores page with video, schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2-updates-lost-shores-page-with-video-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2-updates-lost-shores-page-with-video-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2-updates-lost-shores-page-with-video-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 updates Lost Shores page with video, schedule
Hey karka, leave our kids alone! If you find yourself saying this at some point this week, it's probably because you're neck-deep in Guild Wars 2's latest content update, The Lost Shores. ArenaNet's updated the official page of the update with lots of time-specific information as well as a teaser video for the big event.

The first stage of Lost Shores begins on November 16th and tasks players to defend Lion's Arch. On the next day, the tides will turn as players seek to retake the town. The 17th is also when the new area, Southsun Cove, opens for business. Finally, there will be a one-time event on November 18th in Southsun Cove, where the invasion and counter-attack will come to a head.

You can watch the trailer after the jump, and don't forget to check out our Lost Shores primer!

Continue reading Guild Wars 2 updates Lost Shores page with video, schedule

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 updates Lost Shores page with video, schedule originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbreakingcontent-patchdojodungeondungeonsend-gameendgameeventevent-previewfantasyfeaturedfractal-dungeonfractalsfractals-of-the-mistsguild-wars-2gw2in-game-eventinfinite-dungeonkarkancsoftpatchschedulethe-lost-shorestrailervideoMon, 12 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2's Lost Shores content primer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2s-lost-shores-content-primer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2s-lost-shores-content-primer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2s-lost-shores-content-primer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Attack of the bow-legged crustaceans!
We're just days away from Guild Wars 2's next big content patch and special event. So far the Lost Shores have been shrouded in mystery. Will the shores ever be found? Who lost them? Exactly how absent-minded does one have to be to misplace an entire shore?

There are other, more pragmatic mysteries too. What is the content update all about? What can we expect? What sort of name do you give to a race of evil, bow-legged crustaceans? Happily, we're equipped to shed a little light on all those and more. Read on for our Lost Shores content primer!

Gallery: Guild Wars 2: The Lost Shores

Continue reading Guild Wars 2's Lost Shores content primer

MassivelyGuild Wars 2's Lost Shores content primer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbreakingcontent-patchdojodungeondungeonsend-gameendgameeventevent-previewfantasyfeaturedfractal-dungeonfractalsfractals-of-the-mistsgalleriesgalleryguild+wars+2guild+wars+2+lost+shoreguild+wars+2+lost+shoresguild+wars+2+newsguild-wars-2guildwars2guildwars2lostshoreguildwars2lostshoresguildwars2newsgw2http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/12/guild-wars-2s-lost-shoreinfinite-dungeonkarkancsoftpatchpatchespreviewpreviewsprimerpvppvp-mapscreenshotscreenshotsspecial-eventspvptemple-of-the-silent-stormMon, 12 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which dungeon is the most replayable?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-daily-grind-which-dungeon-is-the-most-replayable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-daily-grind-which-dungeon-is-the-most-replayable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/the-daily-grind-which-dungeon-is-the-most-replayable/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind Which dungeon is the most replayable
If MMO features were furniture, then dungeons would be the family couch that shows an immense amount of wear and tear from all of the butts that have traversed its terrain over the years. Perhaps it's not as beautiful and exciting as it was the day you brought it home from the store, but there's something to be said for familiarity and comfort as well.

Some dungeons get more wear than others, and usually this is due to one of two factors: better rewards or a more enjoyable experience. A great dungeon has impeccable design, a smooth flow, and memorable moments that make players continue to want to come back for more.

So if you had to pick a dungeon that's the most replayable or the instance that you wouldn't mind running again and again, which would it be?

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: Which dungeon is the most replayable? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddungeondungeonsinstanceinstancesopinionreplayabilityreplayabletdgthe-daily-grindSun, 11 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/flameseeker-chronicles-theres-something-in-the-water/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles There's something in the water
October is gone, and with it went the Mad King. He's returned to his realm, and if the number of his slippers I have piled up in the corners of my bank vault is any indication, he's ill-prepared to deal with any sudden drops in temperature. On the first day of November, Lion's Arch citizens marveled at the sudden disappearance of all the festive decorations, applauded the continuity of the lion statue's still being absent from the Piazza, and set about life as normal.

Until they saw the whales.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: There's something in the water in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeached-whalescolin-johansondungeondungeonsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2lions-archlost-shoresncsoftnew-dungeon-typeopinionrampant-speculationshadow-of-the-mad-kingthe-lost-shoreupdateupdatesTue, 06 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion releases RIFT's new Storm Legion dungeon to pre-order customers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/trion-releases-rifts-new-storm-legion-dungeon-to-pre-order-cust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/trion-releases-rifts-new-storm-legion-dungeon-to-pre-order-cust/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/trion-releases-rifts-new-storm-legion-dungeon-to-pre-order-cust/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Trion releases RIFT's new Storm Legion dungeon to pre-order customers
Storm Legion pre-order customers can take an early crack at some of the content slated for next month's RIFT expansion as of today. Trion says that its newly released Exodus of the Storm Queen dungeon sets up the main storyline for the expansion, and the instance will remain open to level-capped players who pre-order all the way through Storm Legion's November 13th release date.

Exodus of the Storm Queen is a five-player affair that features the usual boss fights, monsters, and epic loot as well as the chance to see Crucia escape from her icy prison.

[Source: Trion press release]

MassivelyTrion releases RIFT's new Storm Legion dungeon to pre-order customers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestcruciadungeonsexodus-of-the-storm-queenfantasypvpriftrift-expansionrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legionstorm-legion-pre-orderthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsTue, 30 Oct 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Dragon Nest's Titan Nest, Lotus Marsh equals pwnage within]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/free-for-all-dragon-nests-titan-nest-lotus-marsh-equals-pwnag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/free-for-all-dragon-nests-titan-nest-lotus-marsh-equals-pwnag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/free-for-all-dragon-nests-titan-nest-lotus-marsh-equals-pwnag/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dragon Nest's Lotus Marsh screenshot
Ah, Dragon Nest -- you are one of my favorite action MMOs. Truth be told, you're currently ranked above Vindictus in this household. I know, I know... but don't judge me until you have played through the new content that is being released today and until you watch my embedded video. It shows just how dramatic, well-scripted, and fun dungeons in Dragon Nest can be.

I was given a level 45 character, a Lunar Knight, one of the new classes coming with this patch, to try out on the test server. The saddest part is that I haven't reached anywhere near level 45 on my current Warrior, even though I have learned his abilities well and enjoyed the heck out of him during my 24-hour stream. Unfortunately I didn't utilize the powerset from the Lunar Knight in the video much, instead using my familiar Warrior abilities. I was also given a nice set of Sea Dragon Armor, a mount, and a killer sword -- after all, a naked level 45 character would be sad.

I loaded up and jumped in, and here's what I found.

Gallery: Dragon Nest Lotus Marsh and Titan Nest screenshots

Continue reading Free for All: Dragon Nest's Titan Nest, Lotus Marsh equals pwnage within

MassivelyFree for All: Dragon Nest's Titan Nest, Lotus Marsh equals pwnage within originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-based-combatarchbishop-nestbeau-hindmanclassesdragon-nestdungeonsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgrindingguild-warshands-onlotus-marshNexonnexon-americaopiniontitan-nestvelvet-ropeWed, 24 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: TSW's investigation missions steal the show]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/choose-my-adventure-investigations-steal-the-show/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/choose-my-adventure-investigations-steal-the-show/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/choose-my-adventure-investigations-steal-the-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure Investigations steal the show
Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't... I hope!

Sometimes you just have to go with what the director says, not because that's who's in charge but because that's who can see the performance as a whole. We mere actors must trust that the director knows what s/he is doing. That said, I had my doubts about your last set of directions for this next act of Choose My Adventure.

Although some of you cautioned me to beef up before moving along to the Savage Coast in The Secret World, the actual vote steered me otherwise. The Savage Coast? That sounds so... well, savage! So after biding my time with missions, exploration, and Polaris while waiting for the final vote, I hoofed it on over to the edge of Kingsmouth and into the tunnel once the polls closed. Boy, it's a good thing you also voted for me to group up because those bugs can bite!

Between my adventures in Kingsmouth and those in the new region, I gained a deeper appreciation for the intricacies and uniqueness of TSW. And I learned that I am not, in fact, the star of this show! Let's shine a spotlight on this week's adventures and see who really is.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: TSW's investigation missions steal the show

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: TSW's investigation missions steal the show originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriechoose-my-adventure-The-Secret-Worldchoose-my-adventure-TSWcmadungeonsfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhands-onhorrorinvestigation-missionsmythologyopinionPolarispollpollsreaders-choiceSavage-Coastsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswvotevotingWed, 03 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures
With a few weeks to blow before Storm Legion arrives to give us a wealth of new content to explore, I decided to roll up an alt in RIFT and see just how far I could get him in the meantime. The character is a mage, and the Harbinger soul looks wicked awesome, so I figured, why not?

I wasn't that interested in going back through all of the quests and zones, however. I've done them, explored them, and made peace with them, and I knew that chugging back through all of those quests would drive me nuts (and take too long!). So instead, I figured I might as well try a new tactic: I resolved to just use instant adventures augmented by dungeon runs for the entirety of my leveling experience.

It's a huge plus in RIFT's favor that this is an actual option, and I quite enjoy IAs anyway, so that choice felt right. Over the past week of doing this, I've learned a few interesting lessons about chugging through IAs as a character's sole source of XP, loot, and advancement. For anyone who might be following this path, I'd like to share those lessons.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdungeon-finderdungeonsenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedguideiaiasinstance-finderinstant-adventuresopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 03 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 patches up dungeon rewards and difficulty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now I have all of the tokens! I am the queen of Tokenania! That's how it works, right?
If you've had your fill of helping NPCs around the world and advancing your personal story in Guild Wars 2, you're probably going to head into one of the game's dungeons. You may have noticed some changes to the way that the dungeon rewarded your accomplishments if you've already done that today. These changes are the result of the game's newest patch, which has altered the reward structure for dungeon tokens and some of the encounter mechanics within individual dungeons.

Players now receive dungeon tokens by reaching the end of an explorable chain rather than via individual boss kills, which prevents players from farming the first boss that drops tokens. To help increase the overall rewards from a single run, the chains will offer 20 tokens on completion and an additional 40 the first time you clear one in a given day. Thus, clearing all three chains in a given dungeon in one day will reward you with 180 tokens in total. Read up on the full changes, along with some minor balance adjustments and bugfixes, in the full patch notes.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 patches up dungeon rewards and difficulty originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdevelopmentdungeondungeon-updatesdungeonsfantasygame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2improvementsncsoftnewspatchpatchesrewardsTue, 25 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 dungeons and dungeon talk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2-dungeons-and-dungeon-talk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2-dungeons-and-dungeon-talk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/flameseeker-chronicles-guild-wars-2-dungeons-and-dungeon-talk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Flameseeker Chronicles Dungeons & dungeon talk
I finally had enough time set aside to head into a dungeon this weekend. We made it through the Ascalonian Catacombs story mode with considerable grace, and I'm hoping to progress through each story mode before doubling back to start on explorable versions.

Having made more than 60 silver in coin and drops (and only losing a small handful to a single armor repair after the dungeon), I feel a bit better about the currency gain throughout the game. I've heard plenty about people giving up on certain explorable branches of certain dungeons because they were effectively losing gold due to armor repair costs, but I can't really speak to that yet.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 dungeons and dungeon talk

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 dungeons and dungeon talk originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetascalonian-catacombscatacombs-of-ascalondungeonsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionTue, 25 Sep 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet talks Guild Wars 2 dungeon difficulty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-dungeon-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-dungeon-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/arenanet-talks-guild-wars-2-dungeon-difficulty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 dungeon
ArenaNet has already taken the stance of waiting for players to adjust to the current state of the game before making big changes to skills and overall balance in Guild Wars 2. That mindset, as laid out by Game Director Colin Johanson in a forum post, is also being applied to dungeon difficulty. Rather than rushing to adjust to initial player feedback, ArenaNet devs are taking the long view and waiting for players to get used to the game and its difficulty. They took a similar approach with the original Guild Wars' dungeons and elite areas, to eventual success. Johanson talked about player outcry when the Domain of Anguish was first introduced and how just months later, without real balance changes, "people viewed it as the most fun thing in the game." He went on to explain:
We're actively monitoring every dungeon and working on balancing issues we encounter appropriately. We'll be keeping an eye on bosses we think don't have enough varied mechanics to warrant their large health pools and updating them over time to make them more varied/interesting fights. We'll be monitoring, and continually tweaking/adding to dungeon rewards over time and of course balancing where we see the need. And of course, we'll be looking at adding more dungeons as well!

All of that being said, the game is VERY new for most of our players, and I can absolutely promise with more knowledge of the game and advanced player skill, the explorable dungeons can all be overcome by being skilled groups. We've seen many groups do it just fine in our internal alpha test once they had time to learn how to play the game well. Just like Domain of Anguish in [Guild Wars], it takes time and practice to learn how to overcome stuff as hard as our explorable mode dungeons, and that's exactly the kind of players they are designed for.

MassivelyArenaNet talks Guild Wars 2 dungeon difficulty originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbalancecolin-johansondoadomain-of-anguishdungeonsfantasyforumguild-warsguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftpveMon, 17 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have MMO standards changed for the better?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Instead of Star Wars Galaxies, they probably should have called it Planet Wars Servers. Bonus: No lightsabers.
When Ultima Online launched in 1997, most of us were happy just to walk from one end of the city to the other without crashing. EverQuest didn't actually offer any quests in those early days. Star Wars Galaxies launched without vehicles, let alone starships, and World of Warcraft issued forth without any sort of formal PvP at all.

But in 2012, our standards have changed. Now we complain when Star Wars: The Old Republic launches without a dungeon finder and when Guild Wars 2 dungeons feel a bit loose two weeks into the game. Our complaints are no longer about basic gameplay bugs and functionality, and so our discussions sound esoteric to all but the most die-hard MMO gamer.

Does this mean our MMO standards have changed as our games have grown up -- and have they changed for the better? Or do we expect more from games than they can reasonably provide?

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: Have MMO standards changed for the better? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeon-finderdungeonseqeverquestGuild-Wars-2gw2lagold-schoolopinionquestsstandardsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtortdgthe-daily-grindtorUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/03/age-of-conan-heralds-secrets-of-dragons-spine-update-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Age of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series
Hyboria's about to get a lot more rowdy, as if that was possible. Funcom announced that it is planning a series of updates for Age of Conan called Secrets of Dragon's Spine, with the first update coming in the next few months. The key focus for this content will be in the titular desert region of the Dragon's Spine, located southwest of Pteion.

These updates will not only introduce a new zone, but also plenty of additional quests, dungeons, challenges, and even a new mount type. Funcom says that the Dragon's Spine will be around the same size as the coast of Ardashir, and will feature a new raid and PvP area. The three dungeons to be introduced are the Coils of Ubah Kan, the Sepulchral of the Wyrm and the Slithering Chaos.

Creative Director Craig Morrison hopes that this announcement gets fans pumped up: "Our version of Hyboria has grown into a vast online world since we launched back in 2008. With the Secrets of Dragon's Spine update, we are moving into an incredibly exciting part of Robert E. Howard's work, and I think both Age of Conan players and fans of Howard's work alike will find a lot to enjoy once they get to explore this new content."

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyAge of Conan heralds Secrets of Dragon's Spine update series originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedCoils-of-Ubah-Kanconancraig-morrisondragons-spinedungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriapatchespreviewpvpraidrobert-e-howardsecrets-of-dragons-spinesecrets-of-the-dragons-spineSepulchral-of-the-WyrmSlithering-ChaosunchainedupdatesMon, 03 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST