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[Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
Creativity. It is expressed in so many ways in so many mediums. Art, literature, architecture, music, performance... I love it all, conventional and unconventional. Heck, I revel in it! Why do you think my work and recreation include gaming?

Wait, gaming?! You betcha!

Beyond the artistry of the developers, MMORPGs offer outlets for player creativity in a variety of ways. I am not ashamed to admit that the primary reason I delve into MMORPGs is not for the gameplay but to explore and experience the creative expression of others (and to express some of my own as well). In fact, finding and sharing that very creativity by championing and highlighting player-generated content is precisely what Some Assembly Required is about.

Between (or in lieu of) the hacking, the slashing, and the plundering, players seize proffered tools in myriad virtual realms to build works of art, pen masterpieces, construct edifices, compose melodies, and take the stage, all within the pixeled confines of a virtual world. Unfortunately, not all games have adequate tools for such creative expression. While inspired players can make do if they must, having supporting features exponentially enhances a game (and positively affects retention). Thankfully, some games provide a few standard-setting features that -- in my opinion -- should be included in every game on the market. Here are six of those must-have features.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-slotsbookbookscreativitydecoratingdungeon-makeremotesEQ2EverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedgame-mechanicshousingopinionperformancepgcplayer-booksplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingplayer-written-booksquest-builderroleplayRolePlayingrpsandboxsarSOEsome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesswgterraformingvanguardwritingxsyonxsyon-preludeFri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant
I don't like to rant. Really! Usually, ranting is full of emotionally charged rhetoric, and oftentimes it's riddled with inaccurate statements. I especially don't like to rant about something that I like a lot. For instance, Star Wars: The Old Republic has, by far, exceeded my personal expectations for any MMO; however, some missteps in production have tainted its perfection. (No, I'm not going to talk about Ilum again.) Of course, we are all looking for our version of perfection in an MMO, right? Unfortunately, no MMO will live up to that expectation. In fact, if I did find my version of MMO perfection, I would probably be the only one playing it. But I do believe I have ideas that those in my community could latch on to. They are also relatively simple. Yes, yes, I know nothing is ever as simple as it seems, but indulge me for a few moments.

As many of you know, I enjoy roleplaying in my MMOs -- character creation, really. I'm not one of those roleplayers who hang out in a pub all day never experiencing any gameplay. Although there's nothing wrong with that, I find it a be a waste of $15 a month.

I have complied what I believe will make the experience of SWTOR more enjoyable for those who enjoy playing the game like I do, and I think that those of you who don't necessarily like to roleplay per se but do like to create unique characters in the MMO space will agree that these are a must. I did set some personal criteria when compiling the list. For instance, I didn't want to break BioWare's general vision for the game. I also wanted to use existing items in the game so that my expectations were realistic -- no guild capital ships or image design system. And all of these items have been mentioned in print someplace before, so I'm not the only one who believes these should be implemented.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorBaraslanBioWarechatchat-bubblesclothingcompanionscustomizationEAElectronic-Artsemoteemotesemotingfeaturedgeorg-zoellerLucasArtsroleplayRolePlayingsitting-in-chairsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 24 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: The twelve days of Solorius]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wings-over-atreia-the-twelve-days-of-solorius/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wings-over-atreia-the-twelve-days-of-solorius/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wings-over-atreia-the-twelve-days-of-solorius/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
Aren't I thoughtful? As my present to you, I am going to help banish those Solorius tunes that got stuck in your head a couple of weeks ago. How shall I accomplish this? No, not with a home-delivery amateur lobotomy or a plethora of psychotropics (though these could alternately be helpful I concede) but by replacing them of course! Yes, let's round out the season with a rousing rendition of The Twelve Days of Solorius.

Last year, I shared my first ever Aion holiday wish list. Although nothing from that hopeful list was granted in 2011, there is promise of at least two of those items being introduced to Atreia next year! So while some may have considered my brazen declarations of wants an exercise in futility, I shan't abandon hope! After all, what is a holiday season without hope?

Is there a little something special you'd like to see in Aion? Make your list then check mine twice past the cut.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: The twelve days of Solorius

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: The twelve days of Solorius originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealliancearena-ticketsemotesf2pf2p-conversionsfeaturedfree-to-playholidayhousingimmersionmanastonesncsoftncsoft-aionpetssoloriousuiuser-interfaceWings-Over-Atreiawish-listwishesMon, 26 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise of Immortals MOBA launching September 12th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/rise-of-the-immortals-moba-launching-september-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/rise-of-the-immortals-moba-launching-september-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/rise-of-the-immortals-moba-launching-september-12th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rise of the Immortals - combat screenshot
Ready for another MOBA title? Ready or not, there's a new one on the way, and Petroglyph has just announced that Rise of Immortals is set to launch on September 12th. The game is currently barreling through the final days of its open beta test, and as such you can still sign up and get a free preview as well as take home 1,000 Petroglyph coins and an exclusive immortal skin.

Rise of Immortals is free-to-play, and the dev team is looking to expand the MOBA genre by adding features like social hubs, emotes, persistent character progression, and collectible combat and vanity pets. That's not all, either, and we'll have more details for you in next week's edition of Not So Massively!

MassivelyRise of Immortals MOBA launching September 12th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-arenabetacombat-petsemotesf2pfree-to-playimmortal-skinlaunch-datelaunchesmobaopen-betapetroglyphpetspress-releaserise-of-immortalssocial-gameplaysocial-hubvanity-petsThu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/will-the-door-open-ccp-opens-up-about-the-future-of-eves-av/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tactical Gamers has a lot of nice things to say about EVE Online's latest expansion, Incarna, but more than just fawning over the truly revolutionary ability to make avatars who walk around in a room, the site roped in two of the game's leads, CCP Soundwave and CCP Flying Scotsman, to jaw about the latest and greatest in the game.

The first, and probably biggest, question for the devs was, "Will the captain's quarters doors ever open to allow avatars to interact with other players?" The devs confirmed that, yes, such a day is coming and will take place over a series of phases. The first stage is to include what CCP is calling "Establishments" in which players can mingle and take part in "various activities."

Interestingly enough, the topic of emotes is a divisive subject among the CCP staff, with some arguing for their inclusion and others fearful that emotes will turn EVE into World of Warcraft, what with the dancing Elves on mailboxes and all. Emotes will be eventually added, but they will have "meaning" behind them.

For more on Incarna, super-capitals and the future of the game, give this interview a listen!

Massively'Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-quartersccpccp-flying-scotsmanccp-soundwavecustomizationdancing-elveselvesemotesestablishmentseveeve-onlineincarnasuper-capitalssuper-capssuper-carrierstactical-gamerswalking-in-stationsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars ups the ante for PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/guild-wars-ups-the-ante-for-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/guild-wars-ups-the-ante-for-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/guild-wars-ups-the-ante-for-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"This has been a longstanding problem with our competitive formats," the June Guild Wars dev diary bemoans. "There are a great variety to try, but many people haven't found enough reasons to jump in."

Hence the impetus behind Guild Wars' June update, which contains a number of new incentives to entice players into the PvP arenas. Some of the biggest changes include the ability to trade Z-coins, new PvP quests, and additional formats that award Zaishen Strongboxes.

Another significant change to Guild Wars is that Alliance PvP formats now award Imperial faction. Imperial faction can be converted to one of three types, depending on the player's need: Luxon, Kurzick or Balthazar. This way a player can fight for one side but earn points toward the other, which should go a long way to increasing the frequency of matches. ArenaNet hopes that these changes will encourage players to branch out into different types of PvP instead of sticking to one format that's tied to specific rewards.

There are plenty of other tweaks in this update, so be sure to read the full dev diary to learn about changes to titles, the Codex Arena, GvG emotes and more!

MassivelyGuild Wars ups the ante for PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetBalthazarcodex-arenadev-diaryemotesguild-vs-guildguild-warsgvggvg-emotesgwimperial-factionjune-updatekurzickluxonpatchpvpstrongboxesupdatez-coinsZaishen-coinsZaishen-StrongboxesFri, 03 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Dungeon-running with Turbine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/the-road-to-mordor-dungeon-running-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/the-road-to-mordor-dungeon-running-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/the-road-to-mordor-dungeon-running-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As we talked about last month, Turbine's toting around a double-barreled shotgun full of content that it's preparing to unload. While the biggest blast will undoubtedly be Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, the team is working hard to provide us with plenty to do between now and then. Part of that effort is directed at Update 3, which is currently scheduled to go live on May 23rd in North America and after June 1st for Europe when the LotRO Global Service takes effect and all of the accounts are moved under Turbine's purview.

I eagerly sat down with Turbine's Aaron Campbell and Joe Barry for a play-through of Update 3's two new three-player instances, Halls of Night and Inn of the Forsaken. Both of these scalable instances will be available to a wide swath of players, and they feature mechanics and sights never before seen in the game.

Also, they're wicked cool.

So join me today as I take you on a brief tour of horrors and adventures beyond imagination. Has everyone used the restroom before we go? Are you sure? It's a long article; I don't want you leaving in the middle of it. OK, let's ride!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Dungeon-running with Turbine

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Dungeon-running with Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellangmarbarrowbarrow-downsddodreamdreamsdreamscapedungeons-and-dragons-onlineemoteseuropefeaturedforsaken-inngauntletglobal-servicegoonieshalls-of-nighthungry-spiritsindiana-jonesinn-of-the-forsakenjoe-barrylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-global-servicemay-updatemerrynightmareno-time-for-love-dr-jonespanicpippinriddle-doorrise-of-isengardterrorthe-gooniestomb-guidestortured-soulsturbineturbine-entertainmentuminupdate-3waterslideFri, 13 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/hyperspace-beacon-luminous-beings-are-we-not-this-crude-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/hyperspace-beacon-luminous-beings-are-we-not-this-crude-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/hyperspace-beacon-luminous-beings-are-we-not-this-crude-matter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's interesting: When I'm intrenched in the news of Star Wars: The Old Republic, I tend to forget sometimes what people know and don't know. For instance, I love what I've seen of Guild Wars 2, but if you were to ask me, "Who is that tiny race with the big machines?" I would have to look it up. So it shouldn't have surprised me when I received an email a couple of days ago asking about non-combat activities in SWTOR. I know there has been talk of non-combat activities, but it's usually pushed to the side so that combat can take the forefront. I certainly don't blame anyone for that. Most players are interested in combat, and BioWare's marketing is, of course, going to focus on that.

This message I received from Isaiah was concerning his whole guild. He asked the following:
We are primarily interested in the RP aspects of the game. I theorized that the RP elements and player interactions on the RP servers will be community-regulated, meaning the players drive the RP as opposed to BioWare. BioWare briefly touched on crafting months ago, but nothing new has been revealed. What about mounts? Player housing and the ability to name our ships? What about non-armor clothing options and general RP immersion into the universe? I know it's a rather open-ended line of questioning, but do you have any insights or theories about non-combat activities in game?
Beyond the break, I will answer these questions, and since he asked me about my theories, I will do a bit of that, too. See you on the other side.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1v1BioWaredancingdejarikEAElectronic-ArtsemoteemotesfeaturedHands-of-DarknessIsaiahjames-ohlenKandycaneLucasArtsmini-gamespazaakracingroleplayRolePlayingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 19 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Hero Squad Online shows some /emote-ion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/super-hero-squad-online-shows-some-emote-ion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/super-hero-squad-online-shows-some-emote-ion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/super-hero-squad-online-shows-some-emote-ion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is at it again: swinging from the rooftops, snapping the next great shot for the Daily Bugle. But what is he capturing this time? It's certainly not a picture of himself saving the day. He's taking pictures of all his superhero friends posing in the streets of Superhero City.

Super Hero Squad Online isn't all about saving the day every minute. Sometimes you just need to relax or maybe show off to your friends. Gazillion Entertainment and The Amazing Society have put together a trailer of all your favorite characters of SHSO showing off their emotes. From Black Panther playing with a ball of yarn to the Wasp riding a wild rodeo pigeon, superheroes know how to have fun, and in Super Hero Squad Online, these heroes are yours to command.

Jump past the break to see the trailer for yourself, then fly on over to HeroUp.com to sign up for the beta, today!

Continue reading Super Hero Squad Online shows some /emote-ion

MassivelySuper Hero Squad Online shows some /emote-ion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotesgazillion-entertainmenthero-upMarvelnuff-saidSHSOspider-mansuper-herosuper-hero-squad-onlinethe-amazing-societytrailervideoTue, 22 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/wings-over-atreia-anticipation-part-duex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/wings-over-atreia-anticipation-part-duex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/wings-over-atreia-anticipation-part-duex/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A bonding experience. Love ya man, really.

Last week's article seems to have struck a nerve. I feel like I know more of you now on a more personal level. And that's not just because I skulk around Atreia spying! The thoughts and comments you have shared have reaffirmed how universal our experiences are; what we think is a slightly unique situation is really just like so many others (OK, maybe not the legionmate who walks around in a duck suit, but others). You know the saying "You are unique dear, just like everyone else." Whether we have Black wings or white, whether we're a PvPer or even a carebear, many of our hopes for Aion are really quite similar.

But I digress. As promised, this week I continue with my happy rave (it's better than a rant, yes?) about some of the treats promised us in the upcoming 2.5 patch. And just like I would with a proper dessert, I saved the best for last. Or at least my favorite! This week, we look more in-depth at additional pets, additional instances, and additions to legions.

Relive that yearning experienced when anticipating Christmas mornings of yore and join me past the cut to sneak a peek at our hopefully-soon-to-be unwrapped update goodies for Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Anticipation, part deux originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5aionaion-gamebeshmundir-templeconsumablesdark-poetaemotesfeaturedfluffinstanceslegionlegion-warehouselegionsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnew-instancenew-instancespatch-2.5patch-notespetpetspotionsReshantascrollssocial-clothingstorageupdatesWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You know the feeling -- you learn about some upcoming goodness and you want it. Or do you crave it? You can fall anywhere along the spectrum of anticipation, provoked by things you just look forward to all the way to things that make you squeal in schoolgirl giddiness at the mere thought! It's a game in and of itself. Such is the way of Aion updates, which tantalize and tease players for quite some time before going live (and even longer if you can translate the original Korean patch notes yourself!). Not yet having a release date for updates is not dampening the anticipation of many Daevas but rather is fueling it instead.

So what brought about my musings on this topic? I squealed! More specifically, an announcement this week that put me right into the giddy mode: Winter is coming! George R.R. Martin's fifth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series will release in July. Now, while my fangirliness in its supreme is reserved for this outstanding literature, I also have things that I am looking forward to in game. However, there are those who have a virtual heart attack when new goodies for Aion are announced; I have one legionmate who will only re-sub when update 2.5 rolls around and brings with it all the little bells and whistles he is pining for. It is quite interesting to listen as he randomly pops into Ventrilo to trumpet the greatness of this upcoming gaming salvation, then disappears again into the night.

So what about 2.5 has my legionmate so excitable... and excited? Skip-to-my-lou past the cut to take a look at some of the upcoming features.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5aionaion-gameCasting-Speedcasting-speed-capemotesfeaturedgeorge-r-r-martingraphics-upgradehelper-systemincentiveincentivesnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnerfnerf-batnew-skillspatch-2.5patch-notesporgusskillsstealthupgradeupgradesventriloWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, OK, maybe Shakespeare is a bit melodramatic, but the idea of taking on a role and playing it out on a stage is not a foreign idea -- even in Aion. It just so happens that this stage is not under your feet but in virtual space instead. Besides, I happen to love Shakespeare, so props to me for mentioning him in a gaming column!

Now, I am the first to admit that NCsoft doesn't make it easy for a gamer to roleplay in Aion; there are scant few tools to support this style of play. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Despite this dearth, there is in fact a whole community comprised of legions both large and small as well as individuals. These players use personal connections and a player-created chat channel in-game as well as external tools such as the Aion Roleplayers website to bind themselves together and support the community as a whole.

So what exactly is roleplay, and how viable is it in the world of Atreia? Exit stage left (past the cut) to define RP, debunk some RP myths, and explore RP in general Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamecarebearCareBearscross-faction-communicationcustomizationdramaemoteemoteserpeventsfeaturedfluffhousingleet-speakLeetSpeaklive-eventlive-eventsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionplayer-created-contentplayer-housingplayer-run-eventplayer-run-eventspvprole-playingroleplayroleplayerRolePlayingRPrp-pvpWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your favorite emotes?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Emotes are one of the most ubiquitous features in MMOs and usually one of the most intuitive. It can be a little difficult for your first few games to grasp that "/cast "Fire Crash" !antiscript rand[0-20]" will provide a useful function, but typing "/dance" to do a little jig makes perfect sense. As time has gone by, emotes have gone beyond simply being tools for improved communication, with several games featuring emotes that have no other purposes except showing off and being neat to watch.

Final Fantasy XI has job-specific emotes, City of Heroes has costume-change emotes, and Star Trek Online lets you recreate a particularly Shatnertastic moment of acting. So what's your personal favorite emote? Is it a showy emote, something designed to look pretty? Or is it a more functional emote that's particularly well-handled, like a /point emote that actually points at your target intelligently?

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: What are your favorite emotes? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturedisplayemotesff11ffxifinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigraphicsopinionstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindvisualsMon, 21 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The home stretch: Trion posts RIFT's beta 7 patch notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/the-home-stretch-trion-posts-rifts-beta-7-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/the-home-stretch-trion-posts-rifts-beta-7-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/the-home-stretch-trion-posts-rifts-beta-7-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today marks the beginning of the end: the final beta event for RIFT, which also happens to be the first open beta as well. To kick off this six-day event, Trion Worlds posted another set of lengthy patch notes as the team feverishly works to refine the product before its February 24th head start. From new emotes to UI improvements, there's a little something for everyone here.

Probably the largest change overall is with the souls; a good deal of the game's 32 PvE souls received tune-ups and adjustments. Guild features were given a few passes as the team added a few new perks and replaced a number of guild banners. Trion also implemented in-game Twitter functionality, allowing players to tweet their in-game statuses and screenshots to the world.

And for the always-vain Dwarves, well, it looks as though RIFT finally got that latest shipment of Botox: "Male Dwarves no longer look so... weathered. Current male Dwarf characters will probably appear to have lost a few years off their face somewhere."

You can read the full patch notes on the official forums.

MassivelyThe home stretch: Trion posts RIFT's beta 7 patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-7beta-7-patch-notesbeta-eventbotoxdwarvesemotesguild-perksguildsopen-betapatchpatch-notesriftrift-planes-of-telarasoulstelaratwitteruiupdate-notesTue, 15 Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The evolution of /dance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-perfect-ten-the-evolution-of-dance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-perfect-ten-the-evolution-of-dance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-perfect-ten-the-evolution-of-dance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I recall when I was a wee... teenager and C+C Music Factory would blast through our Walkmans to demand that everybody (1) dance and (2) dance now. It was commanding, enthralling and extremely dorky, but the dance could not be denied. Dancing is in the soles of our souls as humans; we simply must boogie to a good beat.

I'm not quite sure when or where dancing in MMOs became all the craze, but these days it seems as though every game (except the dour ones with bears, bears, bears) prides itself on a good set of /dance emotes. For some players, it's the perfect way to unwind after a long raid or chew up a bit of time while one waits for SgtCuddlyMonkey to return from his refreshing bio break. For others, it's a legitimate career path with a long and distinguished history of gyrating on top of mailboxes while annoyed postal recipients long for a day when a pelvis will not be gesturing at eye level.

So this week, let's loosen up, let our hair down, and samba across the ballroom floor as we count down (up?) 10 incredible MMO dances.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The evolution of /dance

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The evolution of /dance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanallods-onlinebears-bears-bearsburning-crusadec+c-music-factorycarltonchicken-dancedancedance-emotedance-emotesdancingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineemotesentertainereverybody-dance-nowfallen-earthfeaturedfree-realmsfresh-prince-of-bel-airgibberlingsguild-warsirish-jigjukeboxkoboldmichael-jacksonmoonkinnapoleon-dynamiteottos-irresistible-danceowlbearperfect-10perfect-tenrealm-rolledrick-astleyrickrolledriftrock-the-casbahrunescapestar-wars-galaxiesstygianstygian-danceswgtabula-rasathe-chicken-dancethe-perfect-tenthrillervote-for-pedroworld-of-warcraftThu, 10 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: All I want for Solorius is...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/wings-over-atreia-all-i-want-for-solorius-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/wings-over-atreia-all-i-want-for-solorius-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/wings-over-atreia-all-i-want-for-solorius-is/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While admittedly they don't include two front teeth, there are definitely some things I would be thrilled to see in my virtual stocking this holiday season from the developers of Aion. At this time of year, you almost can't help but look ahead and dream about what things would make it a better world. Don't believe me? Name me one other time when you hear "peace on earth" more -- not counting a beauty pageant! But our desires for a better world need not be confined just to that real one we inhabit when our computers are shut off; in fact, wishing for a better Atreia (though peace among Daevas may be counter-productive) is right in the holiday spirit!

I am not looking for any "I win" or easy button -- just a few things that will make for a better and brighter Atreia, some things that will put more fun into my time in Aion. I'm making my list and checking it twice. After all, 'tis the season of miracles, right?

Sleigh ride past the break to take a peek at part of my Christmas... er, I mean Solorius... wish list!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: All I want for Solorius is...

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: All I want for Solorius is... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebind-on-equipBoEcraftingcrafting-systememoteemotesEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedfenrislotromiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionsoloriusstar-wars-galaxiesswgvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesWings-Over-Atreiawinter-holidaywinter-holiday-2010wish-listwish-listsMon, 20 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI shows off job emotes in a new trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/final-fantasy-xi-shows-off-job-emotes-in-a-new-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/final-fantasy-xi-shows-off-job-emotes-in-a-new-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/final-fantasy-xi-shows-off-job-emotes-in-a-new-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI's multiple jobs present a unique problem -- how do you convince the rest of your party that you're the experienced one with a level 85 Red Mage if you're grouped up as a level 16 Dragoon? If you said "by being patronizing," well, you knew the old route. But the brand-new job emotes coming in the December version update offer you another option for showing off your favorite job for anyone to see. It also gives players a new way to express themselves visually, but we're sure that part is secondary.

Square-Enix has just released a trailer showing off the 20 emotes available for characters to wield, with each unlocked via a quest at level 30. While level 30 isn't the apex of power, each emote can be wielded regardless of a player's job at the time, making them fun little visual toys that are at least more flexible than the frequently mocked bell emotes. Take a look past the cut for the trailer detailing the individual expressions for each of Final Fantasy XI's numerous but distinct classes.

Continue reading Final Fantasy XI shows off job emotes in a new trailer

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI shows off job emotes in a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-emotesclassesdecember-version-updateemotesffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflavorjob-emotesjobspreview-trailerpreview-videotrailervideoTue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-party-hardly/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I think by this point I have a well-established reputation as being a fairly positive guy on the subject of City of Heroes. It wasn't a conscious decision or anything -- it's just that I've been pretty happy with the game's development and content, and I do tend to be a bit of a developer supporter. I don't expect the game to be something other than what it is, and I enjoy what it is. Not to mention the obvious fact that the game has given me a lot of enjoyment over the years. So I usually come down as being part of the sunshine and light crowd.

But that's not by design -- it's just how things have shaken down. I hand out praise and criticism as the situation warrants. And this week I'm going to talk about something that most definitely deserves criticism. I'm talking, of course, about the Party Pack, the newest mini-addition to the game and one that's already produced more than a little fan rage. But it's deserved, and even if I can see why Paragon Studios went the route that it did, I find it a little hard to just dismiss it with the usual "if you don't like it, don't buy it" routine.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Party hardly originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsadditionscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxemote-packemotesfeaturedgoing-roguegrmicrotransactionsncsoftnew-piecesopinionparagonparagon-studiosparty-packpricepricespricingsuper-boosterWed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-road-to-mordor-pippins-top-five-plugins/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This past week in LotRO's been a bit like riding river rapids: There's been a lot of rapid ups-and-downs, violent lurches to avoid dangerous objects, and a whole lot of noise that's drowning out the calmer waters ahead. For every piece of good news and positive word-of-mouth, there's been a lot of unfortunate bumps, such as server queues, dynamic layers, mouthy trolls and Codemaster's launch delay. However, I believe it's all going to settle down in a couple more weeks, and LotRO will emerge the better for it.

So if this is your first week in Lord of the Rings Online, welcome! Find a great kinship, take time to smell the flowers, and hunt some orc for me.

Today I'd like to take a look at one of the unsung heroes of the recent content patch -- the ability to create and use plugins (also called mods and addons) to enhance your user interface. While the system is still in beta and has a rough-around-the-edges feel to it, it's already shown great potential, particularly though the creativity that mod designers are pouring into it. While there are only a small number of plugins available as of right now and Turbine has yet to expand the scope of these Lua scripts beyond constrained limits, it's not too early to beef up your UI with these spiffy additions. Read on, free peoples of Middle-internet!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Pippin's top five plugins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonaddonsbevy-o-barsbuffbuff-barscodemastersdebuffdebuffalo-billdynamic-layersemoemotesf2pfeaturedforumsfree-to-playhotbarhudlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-uilotrointerfacelotroplugins.comlualua-scriptmiddle-internetmodmodspalantirpluginplugin-managerpluginsquickbarquickslotserver-queuestonicbarstrollsturbineTurbine-Entertainmentuiworld-of-warcraftFri, 17 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Finding what I'm looking for]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/storyboard-finding-what-im-looking-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/storyboard-finding-what-im-looking-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/storyboard-finding-what-im-looking-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two weeks ago, I made something of an impassioned plea because, while I like to roleplay quite a bit and have had wonderful experiences doing so (even in World of Warcraft, which kind of got turned into the villain of the piece), roleplaying is essentially seen as a non-entity. It's unsupported and generally ignored by development teams, and part of that is our fault for not demanding that it be made more important. So this week I'm going to talk about some minimum and fairly reasonable baselines of roleplaying features, things that already exist in many games but aren't even close to being universal.

In response to one of the frequent comments from both sides, it's worth noting that yes, roleplayers are a minority. But then, so are extremely hardcore PvP players, and the people who will rush through all available endgame content in less than a week, and players who can multi-box with five different characters, and so on. The difference is that those minorities stay and grow, because they're given the tools they need. Roleplayers aren't. Sometimes by not creating the market, you're denying an audience you don't know is there, an argument so simple that articles could be (and have been) written just on that principle.

Continue reading Storyboard: Finding what I'm looking for

MassivelyStoryboard: Finding what I'm looking for originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncosmetic-equipmentemotesequipmentfeaturedhousinginteractionsopinionplayer-biosplayer-housingrantsroleplayingrp-elementsrp-toolssittingstoryboardvisualsFri, 17 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Party down with the new City of Heroes Party Pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/party-down-with-the-new-city-of-heroes-party-pack-embargoed-unt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/party-down-with-the-new-city-of-heroes-party-pack-embargoed-unt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/party-down-with-the-new-city-of-heroes-party-pack-embargoed-unt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's time to get down and party in City of Heroes. No, not just partying up to clear some of the remarkably difficult content available in Praetoria, although that's also a fine idea. The team at Paragon Studios has just announced the Party Pack, a collection of several emotes designed to enhance your game experience. No new costume parts, no new powers -- just a solid collection of fun emotes to break out in any situation.

Sound ridiculous? Maybe a little, but who can deny the enjoyment of breaking out some new dance moves in the middle of a party, or even kicking a soccer ball in Atlas Park? It's not for everyone, but the breadth of emotes available should be sure to impress several players, and it's only $7.99 for the pack. Take a look at the gallery, and there's a trailer past the cut showing the new emotes in action -- a fun addition for any dedicated City of Heroes player.

[Update: This is just for the announcement of the Party Pack,. It will go live on September 14th.]

Gallery: City of Heroes Party Pack emotes

/em giftopen/em airguitar/em discodance/em popdance/em basketball

Continue reading Party down with the new City of Heroes Party Pack

MassivelyParty down with the new City of Heroes Party Pack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxemotesgalleriesmicrotransactionsncsoftnew-emotesparagonparagon-studiosparty-packsuper-boostertrailersTue, 31 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Open beta brings changes for Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/30/open-beta-brings-changes-for-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Players who have longed for a chance to play Final Fantasy XIV and haven't been selected for the game's beta yet can take heart. The open beta will begin on August 31st, and players are already able to begin downloading the client. (With the latest patch at 1.24 gigabytes, we do mean "begin downloading." It'll be a while.) That means that you can see for yourself whether the outraged reaction to the fatigue system is entirely deserved, along with any other questions you might have about gameplay.

As has been the pattern for the game's testing, the newest build includes several updates to UI functionality and the implementation of further core features, although it's still unclear if this version is the same as the release version due out in a bit less than a month. Chat modes and friend list features have been implemented, as well as a further listing of emotes for various situations. FFXIVCore has put together a decent list of the beta changes, something that should be of interest to the many Final Fantasy XIV hopefuls due to start trying the game soon.

MassivelyOpen beta brings changes for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-changeschat-modesclientclient-downloademotesffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfriend-listfunctionalityfunctionsmenu-commandsopen-betasquaresquare-enixthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallinguiMon, 30 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Secrets of Hyboria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/the-anvil-of-crom-secrets-of-hyboria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/the-anvil-of-crom-secrets-of-hyboria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/01/the-anvil-of-crom-secrets-of-hyboria/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I thought we'd do a bit of a departure from our usual format for this week's installment of The Anvil of Crom. As the column is a long-term chronicle of my experiences in and out of game, it's occasionally appropriate to throw a guide or two in the mix. Age of Conan is developing into a pretty deep title, and as such it's got plenty of little nooks and crannies that aren't readily apparent to either the veteran skull-splitter or the bright-eyed newb fresh off the boat in Tortage.

Luckily for you, I've been making a list of the oddities I've encountered, as well as the various unanswered questions I've had since my return to Hyboria several months ago. By combining a little in-game and wiki research, I've put together this listing of a few of the game's notable quirks. Some of them involve combat, but as I'm really a PvEer at heart, you won't find much in the way of strategy or advice here. Most of this is along the lines of what I lovingly call fluff, i.e., it'll probably make your game experience more enjoyable, but it certainly isn't required reading if you just want to jump in and pwn face.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Secrets of Hyboria

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Secrets of Hyboria originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocemotesfeaturedfuncomguideshow-tohyboriaopinionpvescriptingsecrets-of-hyboriaslash-commandsthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 01 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lineage II: Freya PTS open, launch date and patch notes released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/lineage-ii-freya-pts-open-launch-date-and-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/lineage-ii-freya-pts-open-launch-date-and-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/lineage-ii-freya-pts-open-launch-date-and-patch-notes-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Lineage II Freya patch has been in the works for a while, and NCsoft let us know last week that it's nearing completion.

The company promised more information soon, and it arrived today along with access to the Play Test Server. The official release date for the Freya patch was given today -- Freya will be available to everyone on August 24th.

The full patch notes were released today as well, and if you want to read through them be prepared to spend some time. The list of bug fixes, new items, content additions, and so on is long enough to warrant 13 forum posts from the community manager. The notes may be long, but they're broken down into manageable sections this way, which helps quite a bit.

Until the August 24th release date, feel free to download the Play Test Server to get a feel for the patch. For a bit more of a preview, follow along after the jump for a new video depicting some brand-new emotes.

Continue reading Lineage II: Freya PTS open, launch date and patch notes released

MassivelyLineage II: Freya PTS open, launch date and patch notes released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityemotesfreyalineage-2lineage-iilineage-ii-freya-patchncsoftpatchpatch-notesplay-test-servertrailervideoThu, 29 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes launches the Mutant Super Booster]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/city-of-heroes-launches-the-mutant-super-booster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/city-of-heroes-launches-the-mutant-super-booster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/city-of-heroes-launches-the-mutant-super-booster/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With all the characters growing organic spines and shooting bio-electricity at foes, the new City of Heroes Mutant Super Booster seems like an addition that the game has long been awaiting. While yesterday saw a giveaway for several codes by the Paragon Studios team, today is the official launch where everyone can enjoy the new costumes, emotes, and bonus power. The first is the most eye-catching of the setup, naturally, and we've included a gallery of both the in-game art and concept art for the new Bioluminescent and Organic Armor costume sets.

New costume change emotes are also par for the course, with this booster adding a triad that includes the supremely freaky Rapid Boil emote. (The Facebook video does it justice in both accuracy and freakiness.) Last but not least is the new innate power Secondary Mutation, which allows you to unleash the latent power of your DNA for a random effect, usually involving self-buffs of varying duration. City of Heroes players will find plenty to enjoy with the newest booster, so check out the gallery and start boiling yourself a new costume.

Gallery: City of Heroes Mutant Super Booster

Concept art for the Organic Armor costume setConcept art for Bioluminescent setIn-game screenshot of Organic Armor setIn-game screenshot of Organic Armor setIn-game shot of Bioluminescent costume set

MassivelyCity of Heroes launches the Mutant Super Booster originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologicalcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconcept-artcostumescovcoxemotesmicrotransactionsmutantsncsoftnew-costumesnew-emotesnew-powersorganicparagonparagon-studiosreleasesscreenshotssuper-boosterThu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FFXIV gameplay footage explores cities, chocobos and emotes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/ffxiv-gameplay-footage-explores-cities-chocobos-and-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/ffxiv-gameplay-footage-explores-cities-chocobos-and-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/ffxiv-gameplay-footage-explores-cities-chocobos-and-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A lot of news has been coming out for Final Fantasy XIV lately, and we're quite happy to see it. Today we've got what appears to be (the first episode of what's sure to be recurring) in-game footage of players exploring one of Eorzea's cities on the game's official Japanese YouTube channel. There's a moment in the clip where the Japanese players speaking throughout are amazed to find a Chocobo and well, it's pretty entertaining to watch -- especially when the video gets to the part where it reveals that old Tarutaru emotes are fully intact. Panic!

We're also getting another tiny peek at the user interface for Final Fantasy XIV in the video. From what we can see here, Square Enix is keeping the memorable "Send/Receive" graphic, which blinks with a strange hypnotic rhythm. The mini-map and health/mana bars both look quite useful yet unobtrusive, too. Overall, everything about this game screams, "Final Fantasy XI, but newer and hopefully improved." We hope that proves to be wholly true in the coming months.

MassivelyFFXIV gameplay footage explores cities, chocobos and emotes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocobocityemoteseorzeaffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivin-game-footagejapanjapanesesquare-enixtarutarutraileruiuser-interfacevideoxbox-360youtubeWed, 31 Mar 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online launches animation contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/dc-universe-online-launches-animation-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/dc-universe-online-launches-animation-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/dc-universe-online-launches-animation-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


DC Universe Online is offering fans a chance to show off their animation skills in their DCUO Animation Contest.

You can choose to create either an animated cinematic trailer or in-game emotes, and the prizes for each category are well worth your time to enter: "Our director will determine which animators shots will be included in the final trailer. There will be approximately 60 final shots in the trailer. The creator of each animated shot chosen by the director to be included in the final trailer will be awarded $500, the inclusion of the animator's shot in the final trailer, a credit in the trailer and a copy of the DC Universe Online game when it ships in accordance with the Official Rules."

The rules for the in-game emote category are similar, except that there will be approximately 42 final shots and the cash prize is $150. DCUO provides a how-to video and the software to create your animations. The competition begins today, and all of the rules, entry information and tools can be found here. Good luck!

MassivelyDC Universe Online launches animation contest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animation-contestdc-universe-onlinedcuodcuo-animation-contestemotessoesony-online-entertainmenttrailerMon, 07 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Last chance to upgrade Aion from standard to collector's edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/last-chance-to-upgrade-aion-from-standard-to-collectors-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you've been holding off on upgrading your standard edition version of Aion to the full-fledged collector's edition, now's your last chance. NCsoft is extending the upgrade window by only 48 more hours from Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. PDT to Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. (Check the time in your area.) Here are the in-game goodies you'll receive for a $10 USD upgrade fee:

The original upgrade period ended a bit earlier than NCsoft intended due to an interneal error, which is why they are extending it until this Friday (or Saturday depending on where you live). Keep your eye on the NCsoft store if you don't want to miss out on this limited time offer. It's actually a pretty good deal because the price difference between the pre-launch standard and collector's editions was up to $20 USD depending on the merchant.

MassivelyLast chance to upgrade Aion from standard to collector's edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionblack cloudcollectors-editionemotesnc-westncsoftstandard-editionupgradeWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game has the best /dances?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-the-best-dances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-the-best-dances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-the-best-dances/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are tons of MMOs out there with /dance moves in them. Don't believe us? Search "mmo dance" on YouTube and you'll get an idea of all the various different ones out there. Sometimes they're easy to source, like all of the ones in World of Warcraft. Other times, they seem to have gone off and done their own thing, as perhaps with the video above from Aion.

With that said, some games do /dancing better than others - at least according to players. This morning we thought we'd ask you - which game do you think has the absolute best /dance emotes? Which has the absolute worst? If there are several different dances your character can do like City of Heroes and even Fallen Earth, which one is your absolute favorite? Alternately, if you can't decide, feel free to list all your favorites in the comments below!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What game has the best /dances? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bestdancedancingemotesopiniontdgthe-daily-grindworstSun, 20 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why you should be playing City of Heroes: Emotes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/why-you-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sure, almost all MMOGs have emotes. They've been there forever. But much like the incredibly involved character creator, City of Heroes boasts a wide range of very silly and fun choices, perfect for those who love to add in that little oomph when role-playing or just messing around with friends. Also, unlike the fire-and-forget-it emote development of many other MMOs, the City of Heroes developers continue to slowly add new emotes in to the game, both through patches and microtransaction packs. Some are easy to find through the chat menus, while others are a bit off the beaten path, and short of hunting down a listing, you may not have seen them all.

For those who haven't ever experienced the wide range of City of Heroes emotes, I've compiled a gallery of some of my personal favorites. That said, this gallery is nowhere nearly the entirety of the emotes in the game. In researching this, I realized there were quite a few I hadn't even seen yet - despite playing CoH for a couple of years now! There are also a few emotes that have multiple /em commands to activate.

That being said, there is really no substitute for seeing them in action. So, if you've been considering trying on some tights, there's no time like the present!



Gallery: City of Heroes Emotes

Perfect for that Police day jobI've heard of light reading, but this is ridiculousHey, what, no story about us?How do you frisk wings?Hmm, any trouble going on?

MassivelyWhy you should be playing City of Heroes: Emotes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxemotesfeaturedfun-things-to-doncsoftwhy-you-should-be-playingFri, 02 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Just /dance the night away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/07/just-dance-the-night-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/07/just-dance-the-night-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/07/just-dance-the-night-away/#commentsFiled under:


About how long are you in a new game before you decide to check out the emotes? These gestures have become an integral part of the personalities we ascribe to our characters - and perhaps none more than the /dance emote. Ravious over on KillTenRats recently explored dancing in MMOs since newer games without the dance animations have had to spell out why they opted to step off of the dance floor. Many games have more than one animation for dancing. In fact, RuneScape has moves that can only be accessed by paid members and Lord of the Rings Online has dances that can only be gained after completing festival quests.

It remains to be seen if dancing is what truly brings a sense of community to the city squares as Ravious seems to allude. But one thing's for sure - anything's better than sitting around watching the toy train set that never ends!

MassivelyJust /dance the night away originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancedancingemoteslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorunescapewarhammer-onlineSun, 07 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video of Warhammer Online's /special emotes pt. 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Empire /special




This is the special used for all three Empire classes: Bright Wizard, Witch Hunter, and Warrior Priest. We imagine eventually that talking hand is going to be covered by a puppet ... maybe? It looks like the character is taking something out of his pocket, but we can't be sure. We hope that additional specials highlight the intrinsic weirdness of some of the Empire classes; if our Bright Wizard /special doesn't set us on fire, I don't know what will!

The Dwarven /special




The Dwarves are a comptemplative lot, apparently. All three classes (the Engineer, the Ironbreaker, and the Rune Priest) currently use this pipe-smoking emote. We're thinking the Engie at least needs something more evocative. Maybe a nice "say hello to my little friend" moment with a handy turret? We're just saying ...
The High Elf /special




Right now the elves are missing their mirror, but you get the idea. We think the White Lion class definitely deserves it's own emote; we'd put money on something awesome like braiding the kitty's hair, or petting the giant man-eating death machine petitely on its head.

Obviously not all of the /special emotes are in the game yet, but they still have some time before launch to get them in. Others aren't finished, but those will take even less effort to to get them finished an into the game world. We hope you've enjoyed this unique look at one of Warhammer's special features!
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyVideo of Warhammer Online's /special emotes pt. 3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotesmythic-entertainmentspecialvideowarwarhammer-onlineFri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video of Warhammer Online's /special emotes pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Chaos Chosen / Marauder Special




Raaaa! These two fearsome warriors ripple and surge with energy when they /special. We're hoping the Marauder eventually gets some sort of tentacle-based hilarity here.

The Magus / Zealot Special




The arcane workers of the Chaos faction have a lot of power rippling through their frames. As a result, they've got enough to spare to just 'hang out'. Not only would that be fun at parties, but we think it'd be great for relaxing after a hard day of slaughter and soul-draining.

The Dark Elf Specials

... are not in the game yet. We imagine Mythic wants to put some polish on these savage raider's 'fun'.

Now click through to check out the specials of Order! A /special emote each for the High Elves, Dwarves, and Empire humans!

MassivelyVideo of Warhammer Online's /special emotes pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotesmythic-entertainmentspecialvideowarwarhammer-onlineFri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out video of Warhammer Online's /special emotes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In most MMOs, avatars have the opportunity to get down with their bad selves. The /dance emote is a perennial favorite emote, begun in the days of online gaming lore and arguably perfected by World of Warcraft's hilarious pop-culture shout-outs. Warhammer Online is a different sort of animal, though. You don't dance during war, damnit! When this was first announced back in March, people were a bit confused. Is Mythic anti-fun?

It turns out they're just anti-dance. Every race in Warhammer Online has at least one wacky antic they can do by typing /special. In fact, typing /dance actually prompts you with the text "[your character] doesn't feel like dancing, they feel like doing /special." Not all of them are in the game yet, and some of them still have to have some kinks worked out, but we have videos of everything in the game as of right now. Click on through below the cut to check out the first (and funniest) of the WAR /specials: The Greenskins!
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Check out video of Warhammer Online's /special emotes

MassivelyCheck out video of Warhammer Online's /special emotes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotesfeaturedmassively-goes-to-warmythic-entertainmentspecialvideowarwarhammer-onlineFri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa to get emote-tional at Comic-Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/tabula-rasa-to-get-emote-tional-at-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/tabula-rasa-to-get-emote-tional-at-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/tabula-rasa-to-get-emote-tional-at-comic-con/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With all the flaws we've seen in Tabula Rasa over the last eight months, one thing we'd never criticize the game for is a lack of creativity from the community team. They've consistently done their best to keep their community engaged, despite the fact that said community is disbursed around the internet due to the lack of an official forum. Their support team has pulled in similar praise in the past as well.

Continuing their reign of awesomeness, the Tabula Rasa community team is going to be spear-heading a new event at this year's Comic-Con. Critters and co. will be setting up a booth giving away free Tabula Rasa goodies, an exclusive Lumin pet, and filming fans performing their best real-world emotes. They'll take the footage back to their Austin offices and vote on which one is the best, and actually recreate it in-game. It's a pretty neat contest, and we recommend you check it out (booth #5209) if you're headed to Comic-Con this year.

MassivelyTabula Rasa to get emote-tional at Comic-Con originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-concommunity-teamcontestcrittersemoteslumin-pettabula-rasatrWed, 02 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exemplary conduct: WoW expansion adds over 80 new emotes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/exemplary-conduct-wow-expansion-adds-over-80-new-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/exemplary-conduct-wow-expansion-adds-over-80-new-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/exemplary-conduct-wow-expansion-adds-over-80-new-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There have been some leaks from the "friends & family" alpha test for World of Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. Our sister site WoW Insider has kept up with some of the finer details from the leak, but one recent bit of info got us thinking.

The info: WotLK will add over 80 new emotes to WoW players' social repertoire. That's awesome, but it leads us to ask a question: why don't social emotes get more attention in the MMO genre? In general, things like that are sporadically tacked on as small bonuses, if they get added at all. Developers don't make them a big priority. We understand the reasons; gameplay always comes first, right?

Well, maybe not always. MMOs are unique in gaming because of their social and community aspects. Emote animations play a part in social interactions. Maybe developers should think about more than just raid mechanics. Maybe they should consider devoting resources to expanding social interaction features. You don't have to be a Bartle Socializer to appreciate emotes, do you?

[Via WoW Insider]

MassivelyExemplary conduct: WoW expansion adds over 80 new emotes originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaanimationsbartlebartle-quotientblizzardemotesexpansionleakrichard-bartleslashsocialsocializerworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSun, 22 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC video guide to emote animations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Ten Ton Hammer has done it once again, providing us with one of the most entertaining guides we've seen yet on Age of Conan: a video guide to /emotes! If you're still apprehensive (which has its own /emote) about getting that pre-order for AoC, this might just do it for you.

Seriously though, these emotes are not only entertaining, they're a testament to the amount of detail that has gone into this game. Mostly, emotes are useful in social roleplaying situations, but to find a game that has this many otherwise seemingly-mundane character animations this early before launch shows that either they got the important stuff out of the way first, or they decided emotes are more important than anything else. Um, we're pretty sure it's the latter. May we suggest the /chicken?

MassivelyAoC video guide to emote animations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimationaocemotesfuncomguideten-ton-hammervideoWed, 14 May 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Footloose in WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/footloose-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/footloose-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/27/footloose-in-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you and your family move from big-city Chicago to a small town out west, you're in for a real case of culture shock. You try hard to fit in, but you can't quite believe you're living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. There is a glimmer of hope, however: a troubled but lovely blonde with an exceedingly strict father, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. You and your classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner. Only YOU have the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople!

Sound familiar? If you're a child of the 80's you might recognize this as the plot for the rebellious teen drama Footloose, but recently Warhammer Online announced that it will not include a /dance emote in their game. Is this the decision of EA Mythic, Games Workshop or an overly restrictive minister who oddly resembles John Lithgow? More importantly, how drastically will this affect the economy if players can't /dance for gold in town?

MassivelyFootloose in WAR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danceeaemotesfootloosegames-workshopmythicwarhammer-onlinewarhammeronlineThu, 27 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New content for Pirates of the Caribbean]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/new-content-for-pirates-of-the-caribbean/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As previously mentioned, Pirates of the Caribbean Online is the surprisingly fun corporate-giant-backed MMO that could. Refreshingly, the dev team on PotCO isn't resting on their brand name to keep them afloat (no pun intended -- well, okay, you got me), but instead continue to bring new content to their constituents. Currently, this takes the form of new emotes, hairstyles, tattoos, jewelry, and clothing, as well as the new 'Looking For Crew' feature, which lets other players know when you want a PUG.

Additionally, Unlimited Access Members can get their hands on a new skull bandana, available until midnight tonight from any tailor. Disney Online has additional content planned for 2008 including a new Black Pearl Boss Battle as well as the expansion of ship customization, extension of quest story lines, and the addition of more enemies and challenges.

More than ever, this is a great time for new users to jump in and ply the seas in search of tentacular adventure! If you want more information, our hands-on tour is available for your perusal.


MassivelyNew content for Pirates of the Caribbean originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-pearlclothingdisneydisney-onlineemoteshairstyleshands-on-tourjewelrylooking-for-crewnew-contentpirates-of-the-caribbeanpugskull-bandanatattoostentacularunlimited-access-membersSun, 02 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Express yourself, come on and do it...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/express-yourself-come-on-and-do-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/express-yourself-come-on-and-do-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/express-yourself-come-on-and-do-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Over the years, most of us have grown accustomed to the typical avatar gestures... /wave, /kiss, /kneel, and the like. Even some of the more outlandish emotes have their place, like /robot or /rude. Of course, this kind of thinking is not out of the box! Since most people labor under the assumption that the money is to be found out of the box, you can pretty well kiss the box goodbye! For Bob Moore of Terra Nova, the most unbox-like development in the MMO sphere is in what he calls "free gesticulation," a technology capable of reading the physical movements of a player and translating them on-screen to their avatar of choice.

The gesture system that exists in games today, coupled with a competent VOIP solution, is adequate for most of your basic communication needs. Standalone gestures like waves, nods, and bows do just fine by their lonesome, and informative pointing gestures work particularly well with VOIP software. But what of expressive or descriptive gestures? Moore suggests that these previously untapped lines of communication could open up whole new avenues of gameplay possibilities, particularly for role players. And best of all, the technology is extremely close to mainstream. All we need is for somebody to implement it. You can practically /kiss the uncanny valley goodbye!

MassivelyExpress yourself, come on and do it... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbob-mooreemotesfree-gesticulationgesticulationgesturesterra-novauncanny-valleyWed, 20 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST