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[Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/not-so-massively-error-37-hero-spotlights-and-the-torchlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Well-known World of Warcraft guild Method secured a world first kill on Diablo III's Skeleton King in inferno mode just a few days after launch but was beaten to the game's completion by a single person. Players have been in outrage all week as server instabilities and login difficulties plagued the game's launch.

League of Legends revealed upcoming champion Darius this week and announced huge client updates that seem set to double the game's frame rate. Blacklight: Retribution released a new Netwar game mode, combining capture the flag and control point gameplay. Heroes of Newerth released its new support hero Riftwalker, Dota 2 released classic hero Treant, and Rise of Immortals took a close look at melee damage-dealer Tzai. Upcoming MOBA Smite will be entering closed beta at the end of the month, and Torchlight II's beta will soon end for the last time.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta

MassivelyNot So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III became potentially the most pre-ordered PC game in history this week, breaking both Blizzard's personal pre-order records and online retailer Amazon's. The game is set to launch at midnight tonight, unlocking physical copies and digital installers. Diablo-inspired free-to-play dungeon crawler Path of Exile approaches its own launch this week with the release of its penultimate version 0.9.9 patch.

League of Legends announced its upcoming MSI Beat IT tournament at DreamHack Summer 2012, with a prize fund of $40,000 US and a series of public online qualifiers. Bloodline Champions revealed its own $10,000 DreamHack tournament, with open in-game qualifiers scheduled for next weekend. Valve announced details of the second Dota 2 world championship, a series that started with last year's $1.6 million US tournament.

Blizzard settled its lawsuit with Valve this week, renaming Blizzard DOTA to Blizzard All-Stars but securing the continued non-commercial use of the DotA name for the fan community. Heroes of Newerth released its incredibly successful new Midwars game mode, and Rise of Immortals put forth its official immortal spotlight for new immortal Nauria.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III launch and DreamHack Summer 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With just over a week to go until Diablo III is released, Blizzard revealed the final details of the real money auction house, released some fantastic new class wallpapers, and launched a TV advertising campaign. Meanwhile, Torchlight II showed off the impressive final result of its earlier armour design contest and encouraged players to produce armour mods when the game is released.

Heroes of Newerth released a brand-new community-inspired MidWars game map this week to lend official support to the popular unofficial game mode. League of Legends revealed upcoming champion Varus with a full run-down of his abilities and a great art spotlight video. Dota 2 fixed some bizarre bugs and introduced classic hero Phantom Lancer. Rise of Immortals revealed details of its upcoming immortal Nauria, the Angel of Agony. Finally, Wrath of Heroes announced the controversial addition of health potions to its microtransaction store.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3 approaches, HoN reveals MidWars game mode

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3 approaches, HoN reveals MidWars game mode originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week, League of Legends revealed plans to buff support tanks in the Varus patch and change several ability power items. Riot also plans to buff Master Yi and nerf Ryze's ability to tank and deal damage at the same time. Dota 2 released an updated user interface designed to take all the pain out of using the courier, and Bloodline Champions revealed its massive $10,000 DreamHack Summer 2012 tournament.

Diablo III revealed the Witch Doctor this week, giving Diablo II necromancer fans a peek at the closest replacement they'll get in the upcoming title. Blizzard's Jay Wilson also confirmed that PvP arenas will be released long before the end of the year. Heroes of Newerth released its new support hero Ellonia, an ice mage whose abilities focus around a stacking slow debuff. Rise of Immortals released a new immortal spotlight video on popular area-effect damage-dealer Netheurgist and encouraged players to start guilds with a contest to win 1,000 prestige points for every guild member.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Hero spotlights and Diablo III confirms PvP arenas in 2012

MassivelyNot So Massively: Hero spotlights and Diablo III confirms PvP arenas in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III's open beta weekend was a huge success, giving developers the chance to stress test the servers that will be used when the game goes live in just over three weeks. Torchlight II teased fans this week with the release of its official opening trailer, which picks up the story from the end of the first game. Web series Extra Credits ran a special episode this week discussing Firefall's plan to let players work together to push back the map boundaries and unlock new content.

Rise of Immortals rolled out a new guild system in this week's patch and released its new area-effect tank immortal, Shard. Dota 2 added classic hero Brewmaster to the beta roster, and Bloodline Champions began preparing patch 2.4 with its new healer bloodline, Dryad. Wrath of Heroes released a hero spotlight video on melee fighter Bax Dreadtoof, and League of Legends highlighted some awesome fan-made art.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III open beta weekend edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III open beta weekend edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With just less than a month until Diablo III hits the shelves, Blizzard released another 275,000 beta keys into the wild. The share meter on the game's social media microsite also reached 30% this week and unlocked the first three pieces of exclusive content. Meanwhile, Path of Exile celebrated an incredibly successful pre-order campaign, netting over $200,000 in just six days and selling 13 of its $1,000 diamond packages.

In the land of MOBAs, League of Legends looked back on PAX East this week and celebrated some of the incredible costumes that fans turned up in. Dota 2 fixed a few behavioural problems with bots, added the ability to skip straight to kills in a game replay, and brought back the popular Random Draft game mode. Bloodline Champions revealed its new bloodline Dryad, and Rise of Immortals revealed its new crystalline tank immortal Shard. Heroes of Newerth released its third ranged agility hero in a row this week, the unfortunately named Artillery.

Continue reading Not So Massively: PAX East, D3 unlocks, and MOBA news

MassivelyNot So Massively: PAX East, D3 unlocks, and MOBA news originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With five weeks left until Diablo III launches, Blizzard started its pre-launch marketing campaign this week with a new series exploring each of the five classes. This week kicks off with a preview of the Demon Hunter. Meanwhile, Torchlight II revealed details of a new charge bar mechanic designed to keep a rapid pace of action, and dungeon crawler Path of Exile started gearing up for release with some tempting pre-order packages.

Penny Arcade made a guest appearance in League of Legends this week with a special comic introducing upcoming champion Varus. Riot also revealed the next champion due for release, armoured spectral warrior Hecarim. Rise of Immortals got the Penny Arcade treatment this week too when joke character Karapyss the Crabomancer was actually released. Bloodline Champions launched an Easter egg painting contest this week and asked players whether grades should be reset for the current competitive season.

Blacklight: Retribution officially launched this week and celebrated with the release of its first new gun, the heavy assault rifle. Finally, Wrath of heroes released its first hero spotlight video this week, introducing hybrid damage-dealer Nethys.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Meet Diablo III's demon hunter

MassivelyNot So Massively: Meet Diablo III's demon hunter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's that time of year again when we all forget to check our calendars and get suckered into believing outrageous April Fool's gags. This week's Not So Massively is a blend of yesterday's joke posts and the week's real news from games that aren't quite MMOs. League of Legends announced a joke 3-D mode, released the winners of the I Heart LoL contest, and delved into the game's North American playerbase as part of the ongoing world tour. Dota 2 added classic hero Lone Druid this week, and Firefall revealed its plans to scale up the beta soon.

Heroes of Newerth launched a new art contest and released its new mobile ganker Blitz, while Bloodline Champions laid on the April Fool's mischief with its Catch the Ranid game mode announcement and plans for a tournament with cheeseburgers for prizes. Rise of Immortals joined in the festivities with the announcement of its new immortal Karapyss the Crabomancer.

Blacklight: Retribution explained its datanode system and released a new troll face taunt, and Diablo III teased players with its joke Zergotchi authenticator. Diablo fansite Diablofans revealed changes to the upcoming game's Inferno mode and wrote a great April Fool's joke about releasing on the Wii. Path of Exile took a step closer to launch with a public stress test this weekend, and Torchlight II revealed the game's pets and announced that the latest build of the game will be playable at PAX East.

Continue reading Not So Massively: April fool's edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: April fool's edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week's Torchlight II developer update visits the game's animation department, and Path of Exile reset all beta players' passive skills this week following the launch of patch 0.9.7. Blacklight: Retribution revealed some impressive usage statistics from its first few weeks of open beta, and Firefall showed off its impressive Mourningstar and Typhon costumes at gaming convention SXSW.

In the world of MOBAs, League of Legends released its new champion Lulu this week and published her official champion spotlight video. Dota 2 added classic hero Lycan and introduced a new private rating system to help players track which heroes they're good at playing. Finally, Wrath of Heroes has entered open beta and is already selling items in its cash shop.

Continue reading Not So Massively: MOBAs, shooters, and dungeon crawlers

MassivelyNot So Massively: MOBAs, shooters, and dungeon crawlers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The big announcement we've all been waiting for has finally arrived: Diablo III has a release date! This week the beta was wiped to prepare for launch, and Blizzard's Jay Wilson responded to questions about the cash auction house in hardcore mode. Competing title Path of Exile continued development toward its own release, and Torchlight II gave players a unique look under the hood of the game with a breakdown of item drop statistics. Runic Games congratulated the Diablo team on its release date announcement and published an open letter to fans urging them to just wait a little longer for their Torchlight fix.

In MOBA news, League of Legends revealed its next champion, Lulu, and explored the game's rapidly growing German community. Dota 2 added classic DotA hero Shadow Demon and performed some much-needed tweaks to bots, and Rise of Immortals released the official Azcadelia immortal spotlight. Heroes of Newerth released Gunblade, an original ranged agility carry hero that was been met with some strong disapproval in the community. Blacklight: Retribution's open beta updates continued this week with the release of its Vertigo map, a battleground set in the roofspaces of a sprawling industrial complex.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James Ohlen
As the Star Wars: The Old Republic guild leaders lined up to get a taste of the Lost Island flashpoint, I was at BioWare studios getting my hands dirty with deeper PvE and PvP content as well as speaking with developers like Combat Designer Georg Zoeller, Lead Writer Daniel Erickson, Art Director Jeff Dobson, and Lead Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi. However, the best part was at the end of the day when I was able to speak one-on-one with Creative Director James Ohlen.

Ohlen touches nearly every aspect of the game's development. It was important to me to find out why this game is as popular as it is and what BioWare was going to do to retain its current playerbase. The first stop was the latest game update, which should hit test servers really soon.

Continue reading Epic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future

MassivelyEpic in scope: SWTOR's James Ohlen explains plans for the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksone-sportseaelectronic-artsemmanuel-lusinchiendgameendgame-contentesportsfeaturedgame-testinggeorg-zoellerinterviewinterviewsjames-ohlenjeff-dobsonlevel-50lucasartspublic-test-serverPvPsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.2Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-shows-signs-of-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Diablo III saw its clearest signs of release ever this week after a succinct tweet from Jay Wilson and the announcement that PvP is being cut from release in favour of getting the game out sooner. Firefall revealed its plans for attending events and trade shows this year and showed off its world-building tools and talent in an awesome new video devblog. Blacklight: Retribution continued its open beta with the release of a new map set in a laboratory during a virus outbreak. Developers also revealed the game's newest hero, Grendel the heavy weapons and explosives specialist.

It's been a slow week for news in the MOBA world, with developers pulling out all the stops for GDC 2012 and planning for upcoming events at PAX East 2012 and beyond. This week League of Legends announced that several of the game's classic skins will soon be retired and are available temporarily for a 75% discount. Riot Games detailed plans for its upcoming events at PAX East, and the IntelEM tournament finals went off without a hitch. The latest Dota 2 patch added a new passive bot difficulty mode that forces bots to stay in their lanes and introduced a series of balance tweaks.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III shows signs of release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line - GDC 2012 Hi-Rez Interview, Tribes release date
It's been a crazy week at GDC, and though I've already gotten the skinny on both PlanetSide 2 and DUST 514, there's more on the way when it comes to online shooter news. Yesterday morning I headed over to the Hi-Rez Studios booth on the main show floor, where COO Todd Harris had some exciting news to share with fans of the firm's Tribes: Ascend title.

The free-to-play shooter will officially launch on April 12th, and Hi-Rez has also released a new parody trailer that pays homage to Dead Island and shows off the perils of the dreaded "llama capture" (if you're a Tribes newb, just know that speed equals survival when it comes to flag-grabs).

Join me after the cut for some Tribes-related chit-chat as well news of new content on the way for Global Agenda.

Continue reading GDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris

MassivelyGDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventiondead-islande-sporte-sportsexclusivef2pfeaturedfiring-linefpsfree-to-playgagame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012global agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosinterviewmmofpsonline-shootersci-fishooterspy-fithe-firing-linethe-firing-line-extrathe-firing-line-interviewsthird-person-shootertpstribestribes-ascendtribes-dead-islandtribes-release-datetribes-videovideoFri, 09 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: D3 launches European beta and HoN celebrates 100th hero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/not-so-massively-d3-launches-european-beta-and-hon-celebrates-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/not-so-massively-d3-launches-european-beta-and-hon-celebrates-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/05/not-so-massively-d3-launches-european-beta-and-hon-celebrates-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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League of Legends announced a new photo contest this week and continued its world tour series with a look at the game's French playerbase. Fans have also been preparing for the Intel Extreme Masters world championship. Dota 2 implemented a new co-op matchmaking mode that pits players against bots, and the studio released classic hero Atropos, the Bane Elemental.

The Diablo III beta grew significantly this week with the first round of European invites making its way to potential players. Blizzard confirmed that a big game announcement is almost here and discussed its recent layoff of over 600 employees. Blacklight: Retribution celebrated its open beta this week with a new an impressive new trailer filmed with entirely in-engine footage.

Heroes of Newerth celebrated its 100th hero this week with the gripping intelligence hero Kinesis, who deals massive damage by hurling trees and creeps at foes. Rise of Immortals released its spotlight on Kaos and revealed details of upcoming immortal Azcadelia.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3 launches European beta and HoN celebrates 100th hero

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3 launches European beta and HoN celebrates 100th hero originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgatroposAzcadeliabanebattlenetbeta-invitesbeta-keysblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportseuropeeuropeanf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfrancefree-to-playfrenchgothic-fantasyheroes-of-newerthhonIntel-Extreme-Mastersintelemkaoskinesisleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamestrailervideoMon, 05 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III expectations, polishing Torchlight II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-expectations-and-polishing-torchli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-expectations-and-polishing-torchli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-expectations-and-polishing-torchli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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This week Diablo III's Bashiok caused a stir over a cheeky forum post asking a fan to lower his expectations of the upcoming title. He continues posting rampantly to the forum this week to defend recent game design decisions. Dota 2 delivered its first test build using its new deployment system, and Gaming With Gizmoh raised over $1,000 US for Child's Play with a 24-hour marathon of the beta. League of Legends took a look at its Filipino playerbase, while Heroes of Newerth was struck by a massive exploit that saw the European servers taken offline for days.

Web show Extra Credits teamed up with Red 5 Studios to offer its support for the studio's ambitious development plans for Firefall. The month-long Blacklight: Retribution open beta started today, with the introduction of three beta events with prizes and a new video tutorial for the Heavy Metal map. Rise of Immortals celebrated its first anniversary of unveiling the game to the public this week and offered a sneak peek of its creepy new Immortal Azcadelia. Finally, Torchlight II developer Patrick Blank talks about polishing content and delivers an update on where the team is in development.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III expectations, polishing Torchlight II

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III expectations, polishing Torchlight II originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbashiokbattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgothic-fantasyheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpatrick-mackeyperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvppwered-5-studiosriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamessteamvalvevideozombie-studiosMon, 27 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III's rune system and new MOBA heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-rune-system-and-new-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-rune-system-and-new-moba-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-rune-system-and-new-moba-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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League of Legends discussed the Chinese community this week as part of its World Tour series. Dota 2 delivered three weeks worth of beta updates at once, including a new single draft game mode and matchmaking system. Heroes of Newerth released its latest hero this week, the fire-breathing dragon Draconis, who has massive farming capabilities. Rise of Immortals launched its latest immortal Kaos, a seemingly mortal US Marine lost in the game's fantasy land.

Diablo III took another step toward release this week by finalising a replacement for the scrapped rune stone system and cutting socketable runes from the list of potential features at the same time. Torchlight II teased players with six new screenshots, and Path of Exile discussed the design process behind the game's unique items. Finally, Blacklight: Retribution announced its public open beta, which is due to start next week.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's rune system and new MOBA heroes

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's rune system and new MOBA heroes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetbetablacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadraconise-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheroheroes-of-newerthhonimmortalkaosleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayeropen-betapath-of-exileperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgrunerunesrunestonerunic-gamess2s2-gamesskillstl2torchlight-iivideoMon, 20 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riot releases new League of Legends Nautilus spotlight video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/riot-releases-new-league-of-legends-nautilus-spotlight-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/riot-releases-new-league-of-legends-nautilus-spotlight-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/riot-releases-new-league-of-legends-nautilus-spotlight-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

We brought you Riot's new Nautilus reveal a couple of days ago, and now the company has released a second video featuring its latest League of Legends champion.

The clip features seven minutes worth of strategy and gameplay footage, all of it centered around the beefy new melee tank. Whether you make use of Nautilus' anchor (and its associated drag ability), or spread his damage around to multiple targets, you'll find him to be a worthwhile addition to just about any fight, according to Riot.

Head past the break to view the full video.

[Source: Riot press release]

Continue reading Riot releases new League of Legends Nautilus spotlight video

MassivelyRiot releases new League of Legends Nautilus spotlight video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends revealed Nautilus this week, continued its world tour with a look at the community in Singapore and Malaysia, and announced impending nerfs to Sona, Soraka and Vladimir. Dota 2 fans faced yet another week without updates as Valve was busy this week installing new servers. Bloodline Champions released a gameplay video of its new bloodline, Headhunter, and Rise of Immortals revealed that its next character will unexpectedly be a US marine. Upcoming FPS Firefall tackled the question of whether it's an MMO this week, while futuristic FPS Blacklight: Retribution released a new Intel Report video on its Piledriver map.

Diablo III revealed further details of the game's difficulty modes this week, confirmed a Q2 2012 release target, and launched the Battle.Net Balance service. We also discovered new map restrictions coming to the beta that will stop players from playing with the map permanently open. Torchlight II's website was overhauled this week, and Runic Games revealed that the game's beta will be starting soon. Dungeon crawler Path of Exile continued its own beta this week with patch 0.9.6 and showed just how complicated its passive skill tree is with a new calculator.

Continue reading Not So Massively: MOBAs, shooters, and dungeon crawlers

MassivelyNot So Massively: MOBAs, shooters, and dungeon crawlers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesleague-of-legendslolmark-kernmax-schaefermmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpoepvppwered-5-studiosriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamesstunlockstunlock-studiosvalvevideozombie-studiosMon, 13 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: D3 cuts death animations and HoN releases another broken hero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/not-so-massively-d3-cuts-death-animations-and-hon-releases-anot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/not-so-massively-d3-cuts-death-animations-and-hon-releases-anot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/not-so-massively-d3-cuts-death-animations-and-hon-releases-anot/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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Diablo III delivered 100,000 beta keys to North American fans this week, but it also revealed that the epic death animations from the game's first gameplay reveal were actually faked and won't be in the final game. Upcoming online FPS Blacklight: Retribution has challenged players to play 20 ranked matchmaking games by Thursday to win an exclusive golden helmet, and Massively still has beta keys if you'd like to get involved.

Heroes of Newerth released its potentially overpowered new hero Berzerker this week, placing Artesia into the free hero pool for legacy accounts a week early. League of Legends introduced its updated AI, adding 40 champions to the bot roster for both Summoner's Rift and Dominion co-op games. Dota 2 released a new test version to trial experimental changes without interrupting balance testing, and dungeon crawler Path of Exile showed off two new screenshots of its upcoming 0.9.6 patch. Finally, Bloodline Champions increased all XP gains by 50% this week in patch 2.3 and has launched a hilarious new photo content that's sure to get some questionable entries.

Continue reading Not So Massively: D3 cuts death animations and HoN releases another broken hero

MassivelyNot So Massively: D3 cuts death animations and HoN releases another broken hero originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgbattlenetberzerkerblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidominiondotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesheadhunterheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmark-norrismmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpoepvppweriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamessteamstunlockstunlock-studiosvalvevideozombie-studiosMon, 06 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/not-so-massively-why-are-all-these-games-still-in-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/not-so-massively-why-are-all-these-games-still-in-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/not-so-massively-why-are-all-these-games-still-in-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

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Dota 2 revealed its latest hero, Clinkz the Bone Fletcher, in this week's beta patch, while the Realm of the Titans beta was rudely interrupted by a security breach that saw thousands of passwords stolen. Blacklight: Retribution's fourth beta phase is now underway, and we have beta keys for those of you who haven't managed to get into it yet. Bloodline Champions celebrated the two-year anniversary of its first beta test this week, and developers revealed details of upcoming bloodline Headhunter.

League of Legends spilled the beans on its brand-new psychotic yordle champion Ziggs, the Hexplosives Expert, this week with a full gameplay reveal, art spotlight and patch preview. Diablo III seems slightly nearer to release this week with the news that Blizzard has cancelled BlizzCon 2012 in order to focus on getting the game to release as soon as possible. Heroes of Newerth player Fatmilk set a new world record by playing the game for 76 hours straight and raised pver $3,700US for charity as a result. Finally, the Rise of Immortals developers discussed the latest immortal, Ukkonen, and other topics in the first part of a new developer podcast series.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta?

MassivelyNot So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgaeria-gamesbattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasyheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesstunlockstunlock-studiosvalvevideoMon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: New hero edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/not-so-massively-new-hero-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/not-so-massively-new-hero-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/not-so-massively-new-hero-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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League of Legends revealed this week that 5% of Taiwan is now playing even though the game only launched there six months ago. We also got an in-depth look at new jungling tank champion Sejuani with a new champion spotlight video. Heroes of Newerth released its own new hero this week with ranged intelligence hero Gravekeeper, and Bloodline Champions teased fans with upcoming bloodline Headhunter.

The Diablo III beta saw some big changes this week to bring the gameplay back into the spirit of its predecessor, Diablo II. Wrath of Heroes began gearing up for its fifth beta session later this week, while Blacklight: Retribution explored the fine art of stealing your enemy's hardsuit in a new video release. Firefall announced its condemnation of the Stop Online Piracy Act this week, adding its name to the list of opposition to the proposed legislation. Finally, Rise of Immortals got a make-over this week with a brand-new logo, launcher and login screen.

Continue reading Not So Massively: New hero edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: New hero edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbiowareblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasygravekeeperheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesSejuanisteamstunlockstunlock-studiosvideowarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroesMon, 23 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: LoL talks Sejuani, D3 drops cash AH in Korea and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/not-so-massively-lol-talks-sejuani-d3-drops-cash-ah-in-korea-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/not-so-massively-lol-talks-sejuani-d3-drops-cash-ah-in-korea-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/not-so-massively-lol-talks-sejuani-d3-drops-cash-ah-in-korea-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

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This week, League of Legends revealed its upcoming tank champion Sejuani, a barbarian from the north who rides a boar and fights with the power of frost. Champion Jax was also completely remastered as part of the Sejuani patch, with his reliance on the dodge skill removed. Rise of Immortals released a champion spotlight on ranged damage-dealer Nyssus, and Firefall released a video of hilarious outtakes from last week's cosplay programme video.

The big news is that Diablo III has finally solved its dispute with the South Korean rating agencies by removing the cash auction house in that country only. Bloodline Champions celebrated its first birthday, and Heroes of Newerth's HoNWars tournament fired up its second season with a $10,000 prize pool. Blacklight Retribution talked tactics in its latest developer diary, highlighting tactical use of the HRV that lets you briefly see enemies through walls. Finally, the latest Wrath of Heroes beta has been extended until tomorrow morning, and End of Nations talked capture points in a new Warfront video devblog.

Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL talks Sejuani, D3 drops cash AH in Korea and more

MassivelyNot So Massively: LoL talks Sejuani, D3 drops cash AH in Korea and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetbiowareblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportseaelectronic-artsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasyheroes-of-newerthhonjaxleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayermythicmythic-entertainmentnewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvpriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesSejuanistunlockstunlock-studiostrion-worldsvideowarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroesMon, 16 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Hints of a Diablo III release date and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/not-so-massively-hints-of-a-diablo-iii-release-date-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/not-so-massively-hints-of-a-diablo-iii-release-date-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/not-so-massively-hints-of-a-diablo-iii-release-date-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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League of Legends kicked off the competitive year with the closing of 2011's final event and showed off some hilarious fan-made videos this week. Firefall continued its cosplay program video series with the inclusion of Hollywood actor Lee Reherman, and we finally got to see the finished mech suits for the game's signature characters Mourningstar and Typhon.

Has Diablo III's release date been accidentally leaked? This week we saw compelling evidence to suggest that the highly anticipated title has finally got a release date -- and it's not far away! Heroes of Newerth fans foamed at the mouth with Patch 2.5.4's introducing a potentially overpowered new hero but none of the crash fixes or balance tweaks the game desperately needs. Rise of Immortals announced the winners of its holiday competition and released a new spotlight on Ichorr. Finally, Wrath of Heroes announced the next stage of its ongoing beta, which is scheduled to begin this week.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Hints of a Diablo III release date and more

MassivelyNot So Massively: Hints of a Diablo III release date and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a quiet week for online gaming, with game studios around the world enjoying the holidays and gearing up for another year of development. The Diablo franchise celebrated its 15th anniversary this week, but that elusive Diablo III release date is still unknown. The game has run into legal difficulties with South Korea's rating agencies, but this shouldn't affect the global release.

League of Legends had a quiet holiday week, issuing a reminder to players that the dodge rune removal scheduled for last week is now complete. Bloodline Champions officially released its new bloodline Stormcaller and relocated its servers to Sweden in order to improve performance. Finally, Valve threw hundreds of Dota 2 beta keys into its holiday giveaway over the past week, and Massively managed to snag one.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: A quiet week in the land of MOBA

MassivelyNot So Massively: A quiet week in the land of MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasyleague-of-legendslolmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpvpriotriot-gamesround-uprounduprpgsteamstunlockstunlock-studiosvalvewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 02 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/not-so-massively-free-steam-games-and-promotional-gifts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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It's Christmas time, and what better way is there to celebrate than to smash some internet people to bits in your favourite MOBA? League of Legends leads the charge with a gift of 450 RP delivered to every nice player who hasn't been banned in the past two months, and it shows off upcoming champion Victor the Machine Herald. Heroes of Newerth gives all players two free Christmas alt avatars and has a limited-time offer to buy a pack containing every previously released hero for just $10.

Rise of Immortals takes part in Steam's Great Gift Pile promotion that gives you the chance to win discount coupons or free Steam games, and it releases an immortal spotlight on Kavashiir. CrimeCraft: Gang Wars also offers players a Steam prize for playing its festive Snow Brawl game mode. Firefall clarifies the beta process and reminds fans that the game will be "done when it's done," and Torchlight developer Runic Games announces a new armour design contest. Finally, of all the intellectual properties to be made into an online game, did you ever think Doctor Who would make the list? BBC Worldwide has released an open preview of Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, a team-based puzzle game by the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Spiral Knights.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts

MassivelyNot So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assistsbbcbbc-worldwidebrowsercompetitioncompetitive-gamingcontestcrimecrimecraftcrimecraft-gangwarsdotadr-whodr-who-worlds-in-timedungeon-crawlere-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfreefree-to-playheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvpred-5-studiosriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprunic-gamess2s2-gamessteamthree-ringsthree-rings-designtorchlighttorchlight-iivideoviktorMon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Cosplay is serious business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/not-so-massively-cosplay-is-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/not-so-massively-cosplay-is-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/19/not-so-massively-cosplay-is-serious-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

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It's been a busy week in the land of online games that aren't quite MMOs, with League of Legends releasing its long-awaited champion, Ahri the Nine Tailed Fox, in a massive Christmas-themed patch. Fans of the game also clashed with Rioters this week over the advice given in a new champion spotlight video for recently revamped champion Gangplank. Recognising the importance of cosplay to Firefall fans, developers announced a new cosplay programme featuring professional cosplay artist Crystal Graziano and Hollywood effects artist Steve Wang.

Blizzard revealed its new Battle.net Battletag system this week, giving thousands of fans RealID flashbacks. The new system will allow cross-game communication between StarCraft, World of Warcraft, Diablo III and other titles without disclosing players' email addresses. Blacklight: Retribution's development continued at pace as the game adds European servers to its third round of closed beta. Brawl Busters saw its official release this week, and the first ever standalone MOBA, the 2009-released Demigod, finally made its way to Steam. Finally, Bloodline Champions hosted a new competitive online tournament and... a bakery contest?

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Cosplay is serious business

MassivelyNot So Massively: Cosplay is serious business originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends title image
Back in September, Riot Games was so excited about an upcoming League of Legends champion it had barely begun working on that it released the concept to fans far ahead of schedule. The champion later became known as Ahri, the Nine-Tailed Fox, and last week we got a sneak peek at her abilities and the balance changes that would be accompanying her arrival. That patch went live this weekend, and Ahri has now been officially released.

In a new champion spotlight video, LoL's resident strategic expert Phreak discusses each of Ahri's abilities in detail and gives tips on playing the champion effectively. Ahri is a mage assassin, able to dish out considerable damage in a short space of time. After landing a number of spell attacks, Ahri's next spell will hit with a huge bonus to spell vamp. By sending an Orb of Deception through a whole wave of enemy creeps once the spell vamp buff is active, Ahri can heal herself for a significant amount. Her ultimate allows her to quickly dash around the field of play, either to chase down a fleeing champion or evade pursuit.

Skip past the cut to watch the full champion spotlight video in HD, and stay tuned to our weekly Not So Massively column every Monday for more LoL news and updates.

Continue reading League of Legends releases Ahri, the Nine-Tailed Fox

MassivelyLeague of Legends releases Ahri, the Nine-Tailed Fox originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahricharmcompetitive-gamingdotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfoxFox-firefree-to-playleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnine-tailed-foxnot-so-massivelynsmorb-of-deceptionpvpriotriot-gamesround-uproundupsoul-eaterspell-vampspirit-rushvideoSun, 18 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III news overload edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-news-overload-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-news-overload-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/not-so-massively-diablo-iii-news-overload-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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It's been a bumper week for online gaming news, with an absolute flood of new information from the world of game development. Rock Paper Shotgun gots some hands-on time with upcoming online FPS Tribes: Ascend and delivered a cautious preview. Blacklight: Retribution's massive character customisation options were detailed in a new dev diary video, adding smiley faces and rainbows (yes, rainbows) to this dark and brutal FPS. Diablo III opened the floodgates on news this week with details on the three artisan NPCs, news of the new Battle.Net Balance system, a new cinematic video, and the news that the unattuned runestone system has been scrapped.

Heroes of Newerth released its complex new hero Shadowblade this week, while three other MOBAs discussed their own upcoming characters. League of Legends revealed gameplay details on its highly anticipated Nine Tail Fox champion, who will finally make an appearance in the game with the next patch. The Rise of Immortals team revealed further details on upcoming support damage-dealer Kavashiir, and Bloodline Champions developers gave us the low down on their electrifying new bloodline Stormcaller.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III news overload edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III news overload edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionascendbattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbloodline-championscompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playfuncomgothic-fantasyheroes-of-newerthhi-rezhi-rez-studioshonleague-of-legendslolmmofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsroiround-uprounduprpgs2s2-gamesshooterstunlockstunlock-studiostribestribes-ascendtribes-mmotribes-universevideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowzombie-studiosMon, 12 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/league-of-legends-to-introduce-big-changes-with-the-ahri-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/league-of-legends-to-introduce-big-changes-with-the-ahri-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/league-of-legends-to-introduce-big-changes-with-the-ahri-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ahri Patch Preview title image
Riot Games has revealed that the long-awaited League of Legends champion Ahri the Nine Tailed Fox will be coming in the very next patch. In addition to heralding the arrival of the new champion, the Ahri patch will introduce some major gameplay changes. In a new patch preview video, lead champion designer Morello and spotlight announcer Phreak discuss the biggest balance and gameplay changes coming in the next patch.

Twisted Fate's attack range will be increased, and he'll now be able to manually pick a target for his attack once he locks a card. This should prevent cards hitting the wrong target and make him better able to harass in a lane without leaving himself exposed. Tryndamere receives a much-needed nerf to his self-heal as he tends to have a full rage bar when he's doing well in a lane and the heal ends up being much too powerful. The "perseverence" mastery in the utility tree is being removed and replaced with an old "strength of spirit" mastery that converts maximum mana into bonus health regeneration. With the removal of dodge runes, Phreak and Morello also discuss some new ones being added to make the game a bit more interesting.

Skip past the cut to watch the full patch preview video, and stay tuned to our weekly Not So Massively column every Monday for more LoL news and updates.

Continue reading League of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch

MassivelyLeague of Legends to introduce big changes with the Ahri patch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahricompetitive-gamingdotae-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfree-to-playleague-of-legendslolmobanerfnewsnsmpvpriotriot-gamesTryndamerevideovideosSun, 11 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think MMOs should be harder?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pic of chimp typing on a typewriter, public domain photo
For every person I see cheering the rise of accessible games, I see another lamenting the "dumbing down" of MMOs. And while I've always liked a good challenge, it seems to me that "challenge" is usually conflated with "tedium" -- most MMO "challenges" test my patience, not my skill.

I can understand not wanting a game to be a faceroll, but I'm also glad that we don't have to be professional e-sport champs to participate in this hobby. Still, there's plenty of room between those two extremes for upping the difficulty of combat and crafting without resurrecting obnoxious mechanics like corpse runs and experience loss. What do you think -- should MMOs be harder?

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: Do you think MMOs should be harder? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchallengeChimpanzeedifficultydumbed-downdumbing-downe-sportseasymodei-win-buttonopiniontdgtediumthe-daily-grindMon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New interview with Tony Park talks about Firefall's post-release path]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/new-interview-with-tony-park-talks-about-firefalls-post-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/new-interview-with-tony-park-talks-about-firefalls-post-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/new-interview-with-tony-park-talks-about-firefalls-post-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Look! That guy's flying! Better shoot him.
Firefall, the upcoming MMOFPS from Red 5 Studios, is aiming at heating things up with a release in the very near future. But perhaps you're not in the beta and still want to hear more information about the game before it goes live. You're in luck, then, as there's a new interview out today for future players and general enthusiasts to examine. Tony Park, head of the Singapore office, talks about where the team hopes to bring Firefall in the days and months following release as well as the current state of the game.

Among the more interesting takeaways are the addition of a new class in the roster (the Dreadnaught) and talk about potential future e-sports participation within the game. Considering the activity level of e-sports in the eastern gaming world, it certainly makes sense that the team would have its eye on that as a potential future element of gameplay, especially with the game's setup lending itself to competitive play. While the release is just around the corner, it looks as if the game will still have plenty for players to anticipate even after launch arrives.

MassivelyNew interview with Tony Park talks about Firefall's post-release path originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitive-gaminge-sportsesportsf2pfirefallfree-to-playlaunchmmofpspreviewsred-5-singaporered-5-studiosshootersingaporesingapore-studiotony-parkupcoming-launchTue, 01 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall brings on Frag Dolls founder as head of e-sports division]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/firefall-brings-on-frag-dolls-founder-as-head-of-e-sports-divisi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/firefall-brings-on-frag-dolls-founder-as-head-of-e-sports-divisi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/firefall-brings-on-frag-dolls-founder-as-head-of-e-sports-divisi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Firefall
Firefall has made no bones about its desire to fill the niche of a competitive e-sports game, but the team's most recent update certifies its sincerity on the matter. Red 5 Studios announced in a press release today that Morgan "Rhoulette" Romine, founder of the all-female gaming clan the Frag Dolls, has joined the team to head up Firefall's e-sports division.

Red 5 CEO Mark Kern said of the decision, "We're thrilled to have Morgan join the Red 5 'Tribe' and know that with her caliber of experience and deep community roots, Firefall is poised to take the world of e-sports to the next level." Morgan herself has high hopes for the game's e-sport potential, claiming, "I believe this game has awesome e-sports potential because Red 5 is committed to creating a competitive experience that is as fun to watch as it is to play." So if you're the competitive type, keep your eye on Firefall as it gears up for launch.

[Source: Red 5 Studios press release]

MassivelyFirefall brings on Frag Dolls founder as head of e-sports division originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-sportsf2pfirefallfrag-dollsfree-to-playmark-kernmmofpsmorgan-rominered-5red-5-studiosrhouletteTue, 20 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We who are about to PvP salute you: Guild Wars 2 to partake in e-sports at Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/we-who-are-about-to-pvp-salute-you-guild-wars-2-to-partake-in-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/we-who-are-about-to-pvp-salute-you-guild-wars-2-to-partake-in-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/we-who-are-about-to-pvp-salute-you-guild-wars-2-to-partake-in-e/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
If we aren't warring between guilds, it's not a Guild Wars title, right? Fortunately, ArenaNet thinks so too, and the studio has great plans for the PvP portion of its upcoming Guild Wars 2. Conventioneers heading to this month's Gamescom will not only get to check out the game in its shiny glory, but have the opportunity to participate in bloodthirsty PvP matches for the world to see.

The Electronic Sports League (ESL) will be hosting PvP matches of Guild Wars 2 in its arena during the trade show, and everyone is invited to tune in to watch. Matches will take place between individuals and guilds, with a few developers mixing it up as well. These PvP bouts will then be broadcast on the ESL website, and developer showmatches will be followed by Q&A sessions about the PvP portion of the game.

Guild Wars 2 has a busy schedule at Gamescom, with plenty of developer panels, demos, and prize giveaways planned.

MassivelyWe who are about to PvP salute you: Guild Wars 2 to partake in e-sports at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenaarenanetdeveloper-showmatchese-sportselectronic-sports-leagueeslesportsgamescomgamescom-2011guild-warsguild-wars-2gw2pvppvp-arenaq-and-ashowmatchesFri, 12 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively Extra: Dota 2 to be unveiled with $1.6 million US tournament]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-dota-2-to-be-unveiled-with-1-6-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-dota-2-to-be-unveiled-with-1-6-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/not-so-massively-extra-dota-2-to-be-unveiled-with-1-6-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The MOBA (Massively Online Battle Arena) genre has absolutely exploded in the past year, with several hugely successful titles released based on the gameplay of popular Warcraft 3 mod Defense of the Ancients. The original DotA mod remains one of today's most played competitive online games, and games based on it have begun to pull in millions of players. The big players of the industry have definitely taken notice of this fledgling genre's success, with Valve even going so far as to acquire the DotA brand and start work on a true sequel aimed for a 2011 release.

We heard last month that Dota 2 is due to be previewed in a competitive tournament at August's Gamescom 2011 in Germany. In a new announcement on the official Dota 2 blog, Valve has now revealed the incredible details of this massive tournament. 16 of the world's top classic DotA teams will clash in a bid to win a staggering $1,000,000 US top prize. Confirmed commentator Tobi has been referenced as saying that the total prize pool is actually $1.6 million US, leaving a potential $600,000 for runner-up prizes. This tournament will be the first time Dota 2 is publicly shown, and every match will be streamed live across the internet in four languages. The five-day tournament will run between August 17th and August 21st.

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: Dota 2 to be unveiled with $1.6 million US tournament originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitivecompetitive-gamingdefense-of-the-ancientsdollarsdotadota-2e-sportsesportsgamescomholy-crap-a-million-dollarslive-streamingmillionmobanot-so-massivelynvidiaprizepvptournamentvalveWed, 03 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks becomes an e-sport]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/world-of-tanks-becomes-an-e-sport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/world-of-tanks-becomes-an-e-sport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/world-of-tanks-becomes-an-e-sport/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The phrase "serious business" is often used to poke fun at gamers who take their MMORPGs, well... too seriously. World of Tanks players are having the last laugh, though, as their game is now officially an e-sport with the potential to repay their time investment with a bit of real-world cash.

Wargaming.net's latest press release has the details, which include the fact that WoT is now a part of the Electronic Sports League Major Series -- also known as the largest gaming league in Europe. ESL boasts over 3 million registered members and upwards of 740,000 registered teams, making it a good fit for the hardcore World of Tanks community which holds the single-server player concurrency world record.

Head on over to the ESL World of Tanks portal to sign up for the first official event.

MassivelyWorld of Tanks becomes an e-sport originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitione-sporte-sportselectronic-sports-leagueeslesl-europef2pfree-to-playhistoricalmmo-industrypress-releaseserious-businesstournamentswarwargaming.networld-of-tankswotTue, 02 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: E-sports are serious business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/not-so-massively-e-sports-are-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/not-so-massively-e-sports-are-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/25/not-so-massively-e-sports-are-serious-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Defense of the Ancients, Bloodline Champions, and more.

E-sports are becoming increasingly popular in the West, with top teams receiving corporate sponsorship deals and tournament organisers fielding prize funds worth thousands of dollars. Last week saw the start of Dreamhack 2011 in Sweden, featuring competitive tournaments for MOBAs like LoL, HoN, Bloodline Champions and more. Last week we also checked out Aida Arenas' Arena Hustle mode and got the first information on new online World War II RTS Operation Gamma 41.

In this week's Not So Massively, the Dreamhack tournaments come to a close as their winners carry giant sacks with dollar signs on them to the nearest bank. For those of you who have always wanted to know what high-end competitive play looks like in League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth or Bloodline Champions, videos of the tournament action are now available. This week we also check out League of Legends' new champion spotlight on Yorick to gravedigger and Realm of the Titans' hero spotlight on HaZ'zard. Finally, we get a look at a new dev interview with Rise of Immortals' lead designer Amanda Flock and more server troubles for Heroes of Newerth.

Continue reading Not So Massively: E-sports are serious business

MassivelyNot So Massively: E-sports are serious business originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanda-flockcompetitioncompetitivecompetitive-gamingDreamhackdreamhack-2011e-sportsesportsfeaturedheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslolnewsown3d.tvPetroglyphrealm-of-the-titansriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsrois2S2-gamesstunlock-studiosvideoYorickSat, 25 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively revisits Bloodline Champions and gets pwned]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/massively-revisits-bloodline-champions-and-gets-pwned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/massively-revisits-bloodline-champions-and-gets-pwned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/massively-revisits-bloodline-champions-and-gets-pwned/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The last time I visited Stunlock Studios' Bloodline Champions, I was impressed but not very turned on. Sure, it worked well, and despite its only semi-original art design, it looked good enough. It just wasn't really my game. I'm not a PvPer, and I'm certainly not an arena-combat type of guy. Yes, I enjoy a good romp in the pits once in a while, but arena-type games just seem repetitive.

Well, that was back in the early release or beta of the game. Now that I have returned, I have found a much improved, smooth, and more full-featured game. I can even say that I had (gasp!) quite a bit of fun. Granted, I was not able to play many games, simply because during the day it seemed that only the European players had any games available -- and even those were generally locked out -- but I played a few that made me feel, well, kind of tough. Click past the cut and let me explain.

Continue reading Massively revisits Bloodline Champions and gets pwned

MassivelyMassively revisits Bloodline Champions and gets pwned originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arena-Combatbeau-hindmanbloodline-championsCapture-the-flagcash-shopcompetitionctfe-sporte-sportsesportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpfuncomplayer-versus-playerpvpstunlock-studiosThu, 03 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews the Bloodline Champions crew]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/massively-interviews-the-bloodline-champions-crew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/massively-interviews-the-bloodline-champions-crew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/massively-interviews-the-bloodline-champions-crew/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Bloodline Champions is an exciting arena-based PvP game brought to us by Stunlock Studios -- pretty darned impressive stuff for such new developers, if we do say so ourselves! We took a quick look at it a while back, if you want to catch up first. While our abilities were nowhere near up-to-snuff, it was still obvious that many players were already enjoying the heck out of the game. In fact, if you look at the game's Facebook page, it's obvious that many gamers are enjoying it.

But we wanted to know more, so we fired off some questions to the team. Luckily, they decided to answer our questions before hacking us to pieces. Read on!

Continue reading Massively interviews the Bloodline Champions crew

MassivelyMassively interviews the Bloodline Champions crew originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenabeau-hindmanbloodline-championscompetitione-sportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftppvpstunlock-studiosMon, 25 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: FreeJack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-freejack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-freejack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-freejack/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FreeJack is a new MMORPG brought to us by Gamerkraft. It's based on parkour, a sport that pits human against pavement -- a ballet performed upon rooftops and railways. Well, that's the theory, at least. In reality, parkour is sometimes very cumbersome to watch. If you are ever fortunate enough to catch a televised parkour competition, you'll see that there is almost no fluidity involved at all. Instead, players perform flips and spins on a perfectly laid-out track. It feels clunky, especially when the runner pauses to set up a killer move.

FreeJack, I had hoped, would give back some of that fluid movement to the sport. After all, a fall in a video game does not end your life -- greater risks can be taken. When we picture parkour in our heads, we see superhero-like movements, leaping between buildings, or balancing on wires. In most ways, FreeJack delivers this experience. It also features some really cool graphics, fantastic customization and great social systems.

But in the middle of all that fun, the game can just stop you and make you feel more human than ever.

Gallery: Freejack screenshots

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: FreeJack

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: FreeJack originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balletbeau-hindmanbetae-sportsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreejackfreejack-mmoftpgamerkraftmultiplayer-demoParkourRacingrise-and-shinysportsSun, 19 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes a little crazy with LOCO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/massively-goes-a-little-crazy-with-loco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/massively-goes-a-little-crazy-with-loco/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/09/massively-goes-a-little-crazy-with-loco/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

As I ran up to the disgusting-looking tower, several floating squid monsters attacked me. No worries -- I hit a number key corresponding to one of my special abilities and filled the monsters with hot lead from my twin six-shooters. They were dead in seconds, and I took the opportunity to help out my teammate as he attacked the tower with a pair of swords. I punched my uber-ability into action and riddled the fleshy tower with beans of death until it exploded.

We moved on to the inner areas of the enemy territory, destroying defenders as they appeared. Soon, we were pressing down on the main building -- the headquarters of the opposite side. Our foes attempted to stop us, but we were rolling downhill, straight at 'em -- our inertia was too great. We destroyed the building and the giant that defended it. We had won, but not without facing a challenge.

This is what a game of LOCO feels like to me. It's fast, strategic and fun. It looks amazing and is free-to-play -- that's a winning combination right there.

Continue reading Massively goes a little crazy with LOCO

MassivelyMassively goes a little crazy with LOCO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayabeau-hindmancash-shopcompetitione-sportseasy-to-play-hard-to-masteresportsf2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playftphorrorland-of-chaos-onlinelocommofpsraidingThu, 09 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST