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[The Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-firing-line-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-matchmaking/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - World of Warplanes producer interview
Last week I talked a bit about a couple of flight sim shooters coming soon to a PC near you. One of them is World of Warplanes, the followup title to Wargaming.net's ubiquitous World of Tanks hit.

The World War II action MMO masters are slipping the surly bonds of earth with a new lobby-based battler that's currently flying through the early phases of its global alpha test. I had a few burning questions for the devs, including specifics on the matchmaking system, progression, and the possibility of historical scenarios. Producer Anton Sitnikau was gracious enough to answer those and more, so head past the break to see what he had to say.

Continue reading The Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression

MassivelyThe Firing Line: World of Warplanes producer talks matchmaking, progression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anton-sitnikauexclusivef2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playhistoricalinterviewinterviewsmassively-exclusivematchmakingmmofpsopinionplaneplanespvptflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpswarwargaming.netwargaming.net-matchmakingwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplanesworld-of-warplanes-interviewworld-of-warplanes-matchmakingworld-of-warplanes-producer-interviewwowpwowp-interviewwowp-matchmakingFri, 18 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/wings-over-atreia-the-skinny-on-housing-from-ncsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/wings-over-atreia-the-skinny-on-housing-from-ncsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/wings-over-atreia-the-skinny-on-housing-from-ncsoft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia
We spoke; NCsoft listened.

Don't look so surprised! Is it really so far-fetched to think that developers care about and want to keep an eye on the thoughts and reactions of their playerbase? Well, other than to just laugh at us of course. *wink* I kid, I kid.

In all seriousness, though, when I shared my first impressions of the long anticipated Aion: Ascension, I noted some letdowns amid the greater aspects. My opinions were formed from what information could be gleaned from actual in-game play during those first days after release. Of course, not all of Aion's new features could really be explored and enjoyed in that short span of time, so that, coupled with a lack of published information (shocking!), meant I wasn't even close to a comprehensive understanding. But my disappointments in the temporary aspects of some housing and other items as well as the high cost of housing struck a chord with others as well.

To our benefit, NCsoft was listening. Producer Adam Christensen and Associate Producer Sean Orlikowski quickly addressed some of the concerns noted, sending us more information to share. Along with clarification, we received an exclusive look at the housing release schedule for both the Asmodian and Elyos factions. If you know which real estate you want, check the schedule below to see when your spot hits the market. (And don't forget to save your kinah!)

Gallery: Aion housing

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: The skinny on housing from NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-3.0ascensionAtreian-Atlasexclusivef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-giftsfree-to-playfurnituregalleriesgalleryhousinghousing-schedulemassively-exclusivencsoftopinionplayer-housingPlayer-housing-Informationschedulescreenshotscreenshotswings-over-atreiaMon, 23 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion: Ascension launches and class begins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/aion-ascension-launches-and-class-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/aion-ascension-launches-and-class-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/aion-ascension-launches-and-class-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Aion screenshot
And we have lift off! Aion Ascension has launched at last, and finally, some of those tidbits we were teased with in the notorious Visions Trailer are in-game. Housing! Mounts! New Zones! Choirs of winged Daevas singing!

Not only are these much anticipated features available, but the new Truly Free business model has now made its way to another NCsoft title. Edward Chang, Director of Product Management at NCsoft, states,
"We started converting current players to the new business model late last week in preparation for today's launch and we couldn't be happier with the response, tripling concurrency in a matter of hours. We spent a considerable amount of time focused on optimizing Aion Ascension for the Truly Free business model, and early feedback from the community indicates that we made the right decisions."
What more could be added to this good news? How about a free introductory course of helpful hints to offer Daevas a little boost! It just so happens we have the syllabus for Ascension 101 right here, penned by none other than Producer Adam Christensen. Read on for Adam's very own tips and tricks for the 3.0 patch. Don't worry -- there won't be a quiz at the end!

Continue reading Aion: Ascension launches and class begins

MassivelyAion: Ascension launches and class begins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adam-ChristensenaionAscensionexclusiveexclusive-guidef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesncsoftnewspatchpatchestruly-freeWed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/massively-exclusive-trion-previews-end-of-nations-armory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

End of Nations - armory
Trion's super-secret End of Nations is moving right along in its alpha cycle, and today Massively has an exclusive piece of news for you regarding the upcoming MMORTS.

The game differs from traditional real-time strategy titles because it doesn't have base-building, but what it does have is something called an armory. Trion tells us that players will "set their loadouts, create companies, modify units, customize skins, and more" inside the armory. The dev team has just revamped the armory mechanics, and you can get a good look at the armory window in the image after the cut (click on it to zoom in!).

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Trion previews End of Nations' armory originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armoryend-of-nationsend-of-nations-armoryeonexclusivef2pfree-to-playmassively-exclusivemmortspetroglyphpetroglyph-gamesrtssci-fitriontrion-worldsuiuser-interfacewarThu, 05 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Revisiting Origins of Malu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/some-assembly-required-revisiting-origins-of-malu-an-intervi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/some-assembly-required-revisiting-origins-of-malu-an-intervi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/some-assembly-required-revisiting-origins-of-malu-an-intervi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
Many moons ago when the air just started to cool from summer's heat (aka, last September), Some Assembly Required had the opportunity to talk shop with a new outfit that is developing a promising new sandbox MMORPG, Origins of Malu. And you know me: Sandbox is the magic word! As skeptical as I knew I should be, I still came away from that interview with renewed hope that a game with some of the features for player-generated content could exist again.

Back then, Burning Dog Media made the bold statement that it would absolutely release its flagship game in 2012, with a target of early 2012 to boot. But as the first quarter of the year quickly drew to a close with scant information available, it became pretty clear the game is still a ways off. In the realm of games, no news is not necessarily good news... and we definitely hit a drought in news.

Now that drought has ended. In our second exclusive interview, we spoke with Michael Dunham, Producer, Jason Mitchell, Senior Developer, and Dave Cruikshank, Art Director, to learn what's been going on behind the scenes and get the scoop on more details about those very features that have sandbox lovers salivating.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Revisiting Origins of Malu

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Revisiting Origins of Malu originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burning-dog-mediaconstructioncraftingDave-Cruikshankeconomyexclusiveexclusive-interviewfaction-warfarefactionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsguildsinterviewinterviewsJason-Mitchellmassively-exclusive-interviewsmichael-dunhamopinionorigins-of-malupgcplayer-contentplayer-economyplayer-generated-contentPvEPvPsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredFri, 30 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind
In my opinion, one of the best aspects of MMO gaming is the communities that form around these titles (and MMOs in general). The excitement and passion of these games can foster spirited discussion and a sense of belonging for those looking to connect with like minds. Friendships can and are formed, groups band together for a shared purpose, and game communities develop their own lingo and histories.

Yet these communities can also be one of the worst aspects of MMOs. They've been known to turn forums into pits of decomposing humanity, trolling and ranting with no end in sight. They can turn on an individual who doesn't know all of the mores and unwritten rules of how things are said and done. They can certainly rank a person's importance based on how long and how involved he or she's been with the game, relegating newbies to an eternal kiddie's table of condescension.

So which of these do you find to be true more often? Are MMO communities -- especially ones surrounding your current games -- accepting and inclusive to newcomers, or are they elitist and exclusive?

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: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitiescommunityculturedaily-grindelitistexcludingexclusivegame-communitiesincludinginclusiveopiniontdgthe-daily-grindWed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Join the RaiderZ alpha test with a key from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/join-the-raiderz-alpha-test-with-a-key-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/join-the-raiderz-alpha-test-with-a-key-from-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/join-the-raiderz-alpha-test-with-a-key-from-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yellow Wolf Mount - RaiderZ
Have you been keeping up with the latest info on Perfect World Entertainment's upcoming action MMO RaiderZ? If so, and if you find yourself drooling for a hands-on with the free-to-play title, we have just the thing for you.

Starting today, we're giving away 5,000 keys to get you guaranteed access to RaiderZ's alpha and beta testing. The alpha starts this Wednesday, March 14th, so you won't be able to get in before then, but the keys will be available until they're all gone.

In addition to this exclusive guaranteed access, these keys grant each recipient a special exclusive yellow wolf mount (shown above), available in the closed beta test. Just click the link below to access the giveaway page, head over to the official RaiderZ website to register or log-in with your Perfect World account, enter your alpha key, and bam, you're all set. You will be notified by email when the client is ready to download.

GET YOUR KEY

MassivelyJoin the RaiderZ alpha test with a key from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsexclusivefeaturedgiveawaygiveawaysperfect-world-entertainmentpweraiderzyellow-wolf-mountMon, 12 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: Forty minutes with Derek Smart and Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-forty-minutes-with-derek-smart-and-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-forty-minutes-with-derek-smart-and-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/gdc-2012-forty-minutes-with-derek-smart-and-line-of-defense/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Line of Defense - Fighter banking over Frostbite base
"I didn't want to make another Derek Smart game because usually when you mention 'Derek Smart' and 'game', gamers tend to run in the opposite direction," Smart told us when we asked about Line of Defense.

That's quite a candid intro, and it set the stage for an interesting 40-minute interview that featured plenty of insights into 3000AD's latest offering. Smart, of course, has something of a notorious reputation in the online community, and while we won't go into that here, it is worth noting that he's focusing on the work and letting his game do the talking.

Continue reading GDC 2012: Forty minutes with Derek Smart and Line of Defense

MassivelyGDC 2012: Forty minutes with Derek Smart and Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3000adconconferenceconventionderek-smartexclusivef2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012indieindie-mmofpsindiesinterviewline-of-defensemmo-shootermmofpsonline-shootersci-fishooterSun, 11 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: Wargaming.net on World of Warplanes, clan wars, and taking over the world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-wargaming-net-on-world-of-warplanes-clan-wars-and-ta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-wargaming-net-on-world-of-warplanes-clan-wars-and-ta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-wargaming-net-on-world-of-warplanes-clan-wars-and-ta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wargaming.net had a huge presence at this year's GDC, and why not? The firm is growing at an exponential rate, and we're not just talking about the fact that it has World of Warplanes and World of Battleships coming down the pike.

CEO Victor Kislyi told me that over the past year the firm has expanded to include 700+ employees and a global presence that features development centers in Kiev, Ukraine, and Russia. The firm's flagship World of Tanks title currently boasts 18 million players worldwide, and it is paving the way for the second and third entries in a World War II trilogy.

Its clan wars mode is also the starting point for a grand vision of military combat at the squad level.

Continue reading GDC 2012: Wargaming.net on World of Warplanes, clan wars, and taking over the world

MassivelyGDC 2012: Wargaming.net on World of Warplanes, clan wars, and taking over the world originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aviationclan-warsconconferenceconventionexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012historicalintegrated-clan-warsinterviewplaneplanespvpvictor-kislyiwarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplanesworld-war-2world-war-iiwowpFri, 09 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-the-firing-line-talks-release-dates-with-tribes-ascend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-the-firing-line-talks-release-dates-with-tribes-ascend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/gdc-2012-the-firing-line-talks-release-dates-with-tribes-ascend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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[GDC 2012: SOE's PlanetSide 2 gunning for the big time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/gdc-2012-soes-planetside-2-gunning-for-the-big-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/gdc-2012-soes-planetside-2-gunning-for-the-big-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/gdc-2012-soes-planetside-2-gunning-for-the-big-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2 - TR minigun
Our PlanetSide 2 bootcamp didn't start on the war-torn planet of Auraxis. It started on a plushly appointed hotel terrace in the middle of downtown San Francisco. Sony Online Entertainment brought its A-game to GDC 2012, and though its MMOFPS sequel is still undergoing internal alpha testing, the demo was striking enough to make us feel like battle-weary soldiers returning from the front.

Executive producer Josh Hackney kicked things off with a short spiel that touched on what made the original PlanetSide unique (truly massive combat, ambitious open-world design, and a passionate/enduring community, in a nutshell). Hackney then turned the microphone over to creative director Matt Higby and a team of SOE devs who proceeded to wow the gaggle of game journos with an hour of pure awesome.

Continue reading GDC 2012: SOE's PlanetSide 2 gunning for the big time

MassivelyGDC 2012: SOE's PlanetSide 2 gunning for the big time originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconferenceconventionexclusivef2pfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012game-mechanicsgdcgdc-2012interviewjosh-hackneymatt-higbymmo-shootermmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2ps2sci-fishootersidegradessoesonysony-online-entertainmenttrammelWed, 07 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with End of Nations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-end-of-nations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

End of Nations
Real-time strategy games aren't exactly in vogue at the moment. The genre is far from dead, but modern RTS games, with the notable exception of StarCraft, don't tend to appeal to as broad an audience as do MMOs. Trion Worlds and Petroglyph's proposed answer to genre stagnation is the upcoming MMORTS End of Nations. In fact, Trion thinks that what's really lacking in the RTS genre is a persistent world, one filled with robots and post-apocalyptic fascism.

The team behind End of Nations has some serious industry cred. Publisher Trion Worlds is notable for its remarkably smooth-launching MMO, RIFT. Developer Petroglyph's pedigree is no less respectable (if a little dated), with titles like 1992's Dune II (widely credited for having inspired the Warcraft series of RTS games) and the original 1995 Command and Conquer under its belt.

My time with this game was spent during the alpha testing phase, and many things might change between now and launch. Still, the bones of the game were there, and I'm happy to share my findings with you, discerning readers. From what I saw and experienced, End of Nations just might have what it takes to become the first "triple-A" MMORTS.

Gallery: End of Nations

Continue reading Hands-on with End of Nations

MassivelyHands-on with End of Nations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetabetasCommand-and-Conquerend-of-nationseonexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsmmortsorder-of-nationspatriotpetroglyphPetroglyph-Gamespreviewpreviewsriskrtsstarcrafttriontrion-worldsvoice-chatvoipWed, 29 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/the-firing-line-derek-smart-on-line-of-defense/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome to a special interview edition of The Firing Line, folks. True MMOFPS titles are few and far between these days, though 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year for the genre thanks to games like PlanetSide 2, DUST 514, and possibly even Firefall. There's another massive FPS on its way, too, and even though it hasn't had quite as much press coverage as the aforementioned titles, 3000AD's Line of Defense project is worth a look.

Join me after the break for a conversation with lead designer Derek Smart as he talks about what makes the game massive as well as what sets it apart from its competitors.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Derek Smart on Line of Defense originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3000-ad3000adalganoncertificatesderek-smartderek-smart-interviewexclusivef2pfeaturedfiring-linefpsfree-to-playgame-designgame-mechanisinterviewline-of-defensemassively-exclusivemmo-shootermmofpspvpquestquest-onlineshooterthe-firing-linethe-firing-line-interviewsFri, 17 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - architecture banner
Hello, sandbox faithful, and welcome to a special interview edition of Some Assembly Required. We recently had a chance to pitch some questions to the team behind Seatribe's upcoming Salem title, and creative director Björn Johannessen was kind enough to answer them.

Salem is being advertised by publisher Paradox as "the crafting MMO," but it's also rife with throw-back mechanics including a huge amount of player freedom and a permadeath/punishment system similar to the one in Johannessen's Haven & Hearth.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bjorn-Johannessencash-shopcraftingemergent-gameplayexclusivef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgriefinghaven-and-hearthinterviewitem-shopno-tradeparadoxParadox-Interactivepermadeathpermadeath-prevents-griefingplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsalemsandboxseatribeskill-systemsome-assembly-requiredsoul-boundtradeskillsFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Lime Odyssey premieres the Muris opening cinematic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/massively-exclusive-lime-odyssey-premieres-the-muris-opening-ci/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/massively-exclusive-lime-odyssey-premieres-the-muris-opening-ci/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/massively-exclusive-lime-odyssey-premieres-the-muris-opening-ci/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lime Odyssey
When trying to describe the Muris, one of three races for Aeria Games' Lime Odyssey, the phrase "cute as a button" pops into mind more than once. The Muris are a diminutive, "mischievous" people who spread chaos and giggles wherever they go. Players who choose a Muris character will have access to all four of the game's classes, and will begin their journey in the town of Pripet in the Shimmering Island.

We have a treat for you today: the world-exclusive premiere of the Muris introductory cinematic as well as several new screenshots of these bite-sized troublemakers!

Lime Odyssey is scheduled to release sometime in 2012.

Gallery: Lime Odyssey Core Gallery

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Lime Odyssey premieres the Muris opening cinematic

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Lime Odyssey premieres the Muris opening cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamesbetacinematicexclusivef2pfree-to-playgallerylime-odysseymassively-exclusivemurismuris-cinematicmuris-raceopening-cinematicscreenshotstrailervideoThu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line Extra: Tribes' Todd Harris on class customization and base gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-firing-line-extra-tribes-todd-harris-on-class-customizatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-firing-line-extra-tribes-todd-harris-on-class-customizatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-firing-line-extra-tribes-todd-harris-on-class-customizatio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tribes Ascend - Blood Eagle vs. Diamond Sword rock, paper, scissors
Today's a big day for fans of Tribes: Ascend, and it's also a big day for Hi-Rez Studios, the Atlanta-based indie firm behind the upcoming online shooter.

You see, today is patch day, and while that's not terribly unusual (Hi-Rez has updated the Tribes beta client early and often since the start of closed testing last November), the latest tweak is a bit of fan service that will likely bring smiles to the faces of franchise die-hards waiting in the wings to see what becomes of their baby.

Continue reading The Firing Line Extra: Tribes' Todd Harris on class customization and base gameplay

MassivelyThe Firing Line Extra: Tribes' Todd Harris on class customization and base gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-eagleclass-customizationclassesdiamond-swordexclusivefeaturedfiring-linefpsgame-mechanicsgameplayhi-rezhi-rez-studiosinterviewloadoutsmmo-shooteronline-shootersci-fishazbotshooterskiingthe-firing-linethe-firing-line-extratodd-harristribestribes-ascenduiui-upgradeThu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/some-assembly-required-a-mortal-online-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/some-assembly-required-a-mortal-online-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/some-assembly-required-a-mortal-online-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - blueprint header
I recently had the opportunity to fire off a few questions to Henrik Nystrom, and the Star Vault CEO was kind enough to provide some interesting insights into the firm's Mortal Online fantasy sandbox.

Though Mortal is thus far renowned for its full-loot PvP ruleset, it's also got a number of nifty features that you may be unaware of, with more on the way. Join me after the cut for a lengthy discussion of the new Awakening expansion as well as a glimpse into Nave's future.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awakeningawakening-expansionexclusiveexpansionfeaturedfluffhenrik-nystromimmersioninterviewmapmortalmortal-onlinemortal-online-awakeningnavenon-combat-gameplayplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-made-mapsplayer-mapspvpsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredstar-vaultuser-generated-contentFri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Storybricks team talks art, animation, and non-combat design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/massively-exclusive-storybricks-team-talks-art-animation-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/massively-exclusive-storybricks-team-talks-art-animation-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/massively-exclusive-storybricks-team-talks-art-animation-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Storybricks - inspired by Disney animation
Namaste Entertainment is working away on Storybricks, and the company has just released a new exclusive video dev diary featuring CEO Rodolfo Rosini, art manager Oliver Bermejo, and a glimpse of the game's art style and animations.

Rosini talks at length about the inspiration behind the art; one of the chief influences is a book called The Illusion of Life by early Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Rosini also name-checks Generation X geek icons like Dragon's Lair and The Secret of Nimh as well as more recent properties like the Fable series, and he says that the Storybricks team aims to convey emotion in a similar manner to these epics.

"We want to capture some of the Disney magic without necessarily making a game for kids," Rosini explains.

Rosini also talks a bit about the game design philosophy behind Storybricks. In current MMOs, he says, NPCs have two states: They either serve as quest dispensers or as targets. Namaste is aiming for a new type of gameplay that isn't built exclusively around combat. "Don't get me wrong -- murder works fairly well. There are 12 million murderers in World of Warcraft," Rosini says. "I've been one of them for many years, and I think it's a great game. But there has to be something different."

Enjoy the full dev diary after the break.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Storybricks team talks art, animation, and non-combat design

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Storybricks team talks art, animation, and non-combat design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydirk-the-daringdragons-lairexclusivemassively-exclusivemmo-storynamastenamaste-entertainmentnon-combat-gameplayoliver-bermejoplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-storyrodolfo-rosinisandboxsandparkstorystorybricksthe-secret-of-nimhvideovideo-diaryMon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2's dungeon diary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2s-dungeon-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2s-dungeon-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2s-dungeon-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Windslayer 2
What separates MMO avatars from we mortals in the real world? Other than a surprising tolerance for 60-pound shoulder armor, we'd have to say, "the near-suicidal tendency to continually dive into long-forgotten caves, castles, and other dungeons of doom," although perhaps there's a few of you who do pull off the side of the road while driving in order to run into an open sewer pipe. We don't know.

What we do know is that MMOs wouldn't be the same without the classic dungeon dive, and WindSlayer 2 is on board with that concept. In the latest exclusive developer diary from Ignited Games, the team talks about the advantages of forming adventuring parties to go danger spelunking and what the risks and rewards might come out of such actions.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2's dungeon diary

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2's dungeon diary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBeuritaniaclosed-betadev-diarydeveloper-diarydungeondungeon-divingdungeonsexclusivef2pfree-to-playignited-gamesopen-betawindslayerwindslayer-2Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/massively-exclusive-age-of-wushus-launch-trailer-flips-over-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/massively-exclusive-age-of-wushus-launch-trailer-flips-over-th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/massively-exclusive-age-of-wushus-launch-trailer-flips-over-th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Age of Wushu
Tomorrow, Snail Games USA will officially announce its newest title, Age of Wushu -- but we've got an exclusive sneak peek to share with you before that happens!

Sporting heavy Chinese themes and aesthetics, Age of Wushu is designed to allow players to pull off mystical, physics-defying martial arts moves like those you would see in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (or, really, any Kung Fu film).

The official trailer for the title, which you can see after the jump, showcases Age of Wushu's beauty and grace... as well as its lethal underpinnings. Characters attack in slow-motion while performing seemingly impossible Matrix-like jumps through space.

We'll be looking forward to seeing if the allure of fantastic martial arts will be enough to set Age of Wushu apart from the pack, but considering that the devs are promising that we can run up the sides of buildings, we suspect it might be one to check out no matter what. Plus, "wushu" is way fun to say.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wushucrouching-tiger-hidden-dragonexclusivef2pfearlessfree-to-playkung-fulaunch-trailermartial-artsmatrixmovieslow-motionsnail-games-usathe-matrixtrailervideowushuThu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Setting the record straight: Massively's interview with Pando Networks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/setting-the-record-straight-massivelys-interview-with-pando-ne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/setting-the-record-straight-massivelys-interview-with-pando-ne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/setting-the-record-straight-massivelys-interview-with-pando-ne/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pando Media Booster
In a recent installment of The Daily Grind, we mentioned the use of third party downloaders for MMOs, asking your opinions on the topic. The general consensus seemed to be an overall negative opinion of these clients, including a (sometimes quite strong) dislike for Pando Media Booster -- a piece of software that's mostly known in MMO circles from games like Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online.

After the post ran, Pando Networks contacted Massively hoping to clear up some of the questions and concerns surrounding the Pando Media Booster. We called up CEO Robert Levitan, who was eager to set the record straight with much to say about the technological features -- both real and misunderstood -- about his company's product.

Follow along after the jump for the complete interview.

Continue reading Setting the record straight: Massively's interview with Pando Networks

MassivelySetting the record straight: Massively's interview with Pando Networks originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceoexclusiveinterviewpandopando-media-boosterpando-networksrobert-levitanMon, 02 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: World of Warplanes producer talks mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massively-exclusive-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massively-exclusive-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/massively-exclusive-world-of-warplanes-producer-talks-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Wargaming.net is working overtime of late, and how could it not? The company is responsible for three separate MMORPGs, beginning with 2011's successful World of Tanks and ending with the recently announced World of Battleships. Sandwiched in the middle is World of Warplanes, an ambitious aerial arcade shooter married to traditional MMO progression mechanics. The game is currently in closed alpha testing and looks to be on track for a 2012 release.

This week saw the release of the game's first advancement tree, and we took the opportunity to ask producer Anton Sitnikov a series of questions covering everything from game mechanics to player perceptions regarding the pay-to-win stigma.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: World of Warplanes producer talks mechanics

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: World of Warplanes producer talks mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anton-sitnikovaviationbusiness-modelsdamagedamage-modelexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicshistoricalinterviewinterviewsmassively-exclusivemmo-shooterpay-to-winpayment-modelspvpshooterwargaming.networld-of-warplaneswowpWed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/massively-exclusive-the-story-and-presents-behind-rifts-fae-yu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

RIFT
All in-game holiday festivals were not born equal, but they do seem to share a family resemblance when it comes to being merry and bright. RIFT's Fae Yule is but one of many, many Christmastime MMO holidays that we're witnessing this month, but the team at Trion Worlds is looking to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd with its depth and sense of fun.

So why do the inhabitants of Telara celebrate Fae Yule and take time out of their busy schedule of slaughter and soul-absorbing to decorate the town and scarf down bucketfuls of eggnog? What do they sing about when gathered around a crackling fire? What kind of present is appropriate for the fellow who already has the gift of immortality?

It's time to sit on Trion's lap and ask for your greatest wish in game while jolly St. Hartsman tells you all about the lore and in-game goodies behind RIFT's festivities. Ho-ho-hit that jump and let's get started!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundbackstorychristmaschristmas-eventexclusivefae-yuleholidayholiday-eventIlluminariain-game-eventloreriftscott-hartsmanstorytriontrion-worldsVaiyuuTue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-vi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Water, water everywhere, and it wants to eat your soul.
All good things must come to an end, and that's the case for Drowning in Snow. We've been bringing you the chapters for several months now, but it's time for the story to fade off into the sunset, with the heroes riding off in triumph...

Wait, no, that's not right at all. When we last left the adventurers Kira and Uriel, they weren't riding off in triumph. They were knee-deep in betrayal, which throws the entire story up to this point into question. So it does seem they've got a little adventuring left to do, doesn't it?

Click on past the break for Prone Meridian, the final chapter in this exclusive piece of RIFT fiction, brought to you by the team at Trion Worlds and (of course) the team here at Massively. Or take a look at the previous five chapters if you've missed them before now, since this one won't make much sense otherwise.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorydrowning-in-snowexclusivefictionloremassively-exclusiveriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsTue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on impressions of The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Scary monster dude in The Secret World
Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

MassivelyHands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorcash-shopchakrascollisioncombatcraftingdemodouble-dippingdragonsequipmentexclusivefactionsfeaturedfuncomgearhands-onhiveilluminatiimpressionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmontrealpreviewpvepvpquestingquestsRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskillsstatssubscriptiontemplarsthe-hivethe-secret-worldthree-queststswweaponswheel-of-skillsMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/massively-exclusive-elsword-reveals-new-eve-playable-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/massively-exclusive-elsword-reveals-new-eve-playable-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/massively-exclusive-elsword-reveals-new-eve-playable-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Elsword - Eve, mistress of destruction
Elsword's ancient Nasod queen has awakened, and boy is she pissed. Eve is the side-scrolling manga title's newest playable character, and Massively's got your exclusive first-look video that shows her in action.

According to the clip, Eve is bent on avenging her kingdom's destruction and restoring its former glory. To do so, she relies on player-controlled robotic guardian troops and a couple of seductively titled job classes. Though we don't rightly know what exactly Code Exotic: Mistress of Destruction or Code Architecture: Master of Guardian Nasods means, they sure do sound cool.

We do know that Eve is coming out on November 23rd, so you've got just under a week to go until you're able to unleash her particular brand of melee whoop-ass on Elsword's various mobs. Don't forget to watch the vid after the break.

[Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>code-architecture-master-of-guardian-nasodscode-exotic-mistress-of-destructionelswordeveexclusivef2pfantasyfree-to-playkill3rcombomangamassively-exclusivenasodnasod-queennew-playable-characterside-scrollertrailervideoFri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/amazing-eve-online-video-tells-epic-tale-of-wormhole-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/amazing-eve-online-video-tells-epic-tale-of-wormhole-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/amazing-eve-online-video-tells-epic-tale-of-wormhole-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Clarion Call 3 title image
PvP in EVE Online is more often likened to a game of strategy than of action. If that's true, then Rooks and Kings' impressive track record for tactical genius makes the alliance undeniably a grandmaster of intergalactic chess. The group's instructional video Clarion Call: Triage Special in early 2009 was released to wide acclaim, and the tactics demonstrated in the video became core strategies replicated by military corporations throughout the game. The follow-up video Clarion Call: Pantheon evolved those strategies to counter opponents prepared to come up against triage carriers.

Massively is proud to exclusively reveal Rooks and Kings' third and undeniably most impressive video to date. Clarion Call 3 moves the stage of Rooks and Kings' normal hunting grounds in nullsec and lowsec to the undiscovered lands of wormhole space. But star Alazais says "one does not simply walk into a wormhole," noting that the tight restrictions on the mass of ships that can enter a wormhole presents new challenges. The group fought outnumbered and outgunned against an enemy possessing an ability that later became known as "the infinity gun."

Skip past the cut to learn more about the infinity gun exploit and to watch the full film. Don't forget to set it to 1080p for the full HD experience.

Continue reading Amazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict

MassivelyAmazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080palazaisaperture-harmonicscapitalcapital-shipscapitalscarrierccpccp-eveccp-gamesclarion-calleveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-video-cornerexclusiveexploithdinfinite-guninfinity-gunk162newspiracypvppvp-videorooks-and-kingssandboxsci-fitriagevideowormholewormhole-explorationFri, 18 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/massively-exclusive-planetside-2s-new-conglomerate-qanda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/massively-exclusive-planetside-2s-new-conglomerate-qanda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/massively-exclusive-planetside-2s-new-conglomerate-qanda/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PlanetSide 2
With the cold war in PlanetSide 2 quickly turning hot, potential players have to ask themselves: Which side will they join? Today SOE is making a bid on behalf of the New Conglomerate, painting them as the scrappy underdogs of the war with plenty of attitude to go around. We sat down with Creative Director Matt Higby to see if we could figure out what makes this faction tick.

Massively: As an introduction for new players, what's the philosophy behind the New Conglomerate?

Matt Higby: The New Conglomerate are an insurgent guerrilla force fighting against pretty stacked odds: an enormous military machine in the TR on one side and the vast technological superiority of the VS on the other. This forces the New Conglomerate to be adaptive, use creative tactics and take advantage of every possible opportunity they can to accomplish their goals. Their weapons run the gamut from conventional to experimental, and they're not willing to say no to anything that might give them an edge.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusivefactionfactionsinterviewmatt-higbymatthew-higbyncNew-Conglomerateplanetsideplanetside-2psps1ps2q-and-asoeSony-Online-EntertainmentFri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter V]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/massively-exclusive-rift-drowning-in-snow-chapter-v/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Run, run! Or you'll be well-done! Or frozen.
For the past several months, Trion Worlds and Massively have been bringing you installments of Drowning in Snow, a special fiction piece for RIFT following two Defiants as they trek across frozen tundra on a rescue mission. We've waited a bit longer than normal since the last chapter, and it's been a wait made all the worse because the last chapter ended on quite a cliffhanger, implying that Uriel and Kira had a traitor to contend with.

The wait for the next part is over as of today, however, and we can promise you that this installment will indeed answer the question of who the traitor is. But it might very well not be who you had expected. Take a look past the cut for the fifth chapter of Drowning in Snow, and keep your eyes open for the next installment.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter V

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter V originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorydrowning-in-snowexclusivefictionloremassively-exclusiveriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsSat, 05 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Tribes impressions and a visit to Hi-Rez]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-firing-line-tribes-impressions-and-a-visit-to-hi-rez/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-firing-line-tribes-impressions-and-a-visit-to-hi-rez/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/the-firing-line-tribes-impressions-and-a-visit-to-hi-rez/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Header with various shooter characters
What's up folks, and welcome to The Firing Line. We've been branching out our coverage lately, first with MMO-specific columns and then with Not So Massively and MOBAs. Now we're doing something similar with online shooters. This genre is positively huge, and while there's a lot of room for debate in terms of what constitutes an MMO shooter, there's also no denying that all of the games hovering around the periphery of that designation are a lot of fun.

So what will we be talking about in The Firing Line? Well, this is the part where I rub my hands together in anticipation! Naturally we'll spend a lot of time with the genre's big guns (sorry, I had to use that at least once), so I'll be playing huge amounts of PlanetSide 2, DUST 514, Firefall, Global Agenda, and the semi-obscure free-to-play titles crowding the market -- all in an effort to bring you the very best news and views from the world of pew pew.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Tribes impressions and a visit to Hi-Rez

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Tribes impressions and a visit to Hi-Rez originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-testbetaclassesdisc-jumpingexclusivef2pfeaturedfiring-linefpsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsglobal-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosjetpacksmmo-shootermmofpsmmotpsopinionsci-fishootershootersskiingsmitespin-fuserspinfuserspinfusersstudio-visitthe-firing-linetodd-harristribestribes-ascendtribes-universevideoFri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: GamersFirst on yesterday's layoffs and the future of APB]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/massively-exclusive-gamersfirst-speaks-out-on-yesterdays-layof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/massively-exclusive-gamersfirst-speaks-out-on-yesterdays-layof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/massively-exclusive-gamersfirst-speaks-out-on-yesterdays-layof/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

APB Reloaded banner
It's been a whirlwind couple of days for the folks at GamersFirst. Yesterday we broke the story of layoffs at the company, and today the free-to-play firm has come forward to chat with us about what exactly is going on (and what exactly it's thinking in regard to the new Occupy Free2Play promotion).

We talked with Rahul Sandil, G1's senior vice president of marketing and business development, and he had some interesting things to say about the future of both APB Reloaded and Fallen Earth.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: GamersFirst on yesterday's layoffs and the future of APB

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: GamersFirst on yesterday's layoffs and the future of APB originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedbusiness-modelscrimeexclusivef2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-to-playg1gamers-firstgamersfirstlayoffsmassively-exclusivemmo-industryrahul-sandilsci-fiFri, 28 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2-developer-diary-looks-at-range/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2-developer-diary-looks-at-range/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/massively-exclusive-windslayer-2-developer-diary-looks-at-range/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The cannon is not a class.
WindSlayer 2 has kicked off its closed beta, giving a select group of players the chance to see how the game plays before it goes live. But for everyone else, the game's previews are the only clues as to how the game will play once you can log in. Here at Massively, we've been posting a series of exclusive diaries straight from the team over at Ignited Games to show off what the game will have to offer players fond of the side-scrolling sprite format.

Our last diary, of course, dealt with the game's three classes devoted to getting within arm's reach of monsters and pounding them senseless -- the melee classes, to be more prosaic. So it's appropriate we have a new exclusive today previewing the game's three ranged classes. Click on past the break for discussion of the Archer, Mage, and Priest -- what they're able to do, how they're meant to play, and what players can expect from each.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-mechanicsclassesdeveloper-diariesexclusiveignitedignited-gamesmassively-exclusivepreviewsrangedranged-classesupcoming-titleswindslayerwindslayer-2Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Trooper with BFG 9000
Hey Star Wars fans, what say we recap my recent beta experiences in The Old Republic? I know what you're thinking (because it's the same thing I thought after BioWare's marketing folks sent along an unsolicited invitation): Here comes a giant anti-themepark rant and zomgwtf call someone who cares!

Surprisingly though, I had a decent time. I managed to get a Republic Trooper off the Ord Mantell starter planet and firmly entrenched in a few Coruscant quest lines, and I logged over 10 hours of gameplay in the process (in the comfort of my own home, mind you, and not under the watchful eye of a PR droid at a convention).

To be frank, TOR's not half bad. It's had a lot of money thrown at it, there's a ton of what passes for modern-day MMO content, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll no doubt enjoy yourself for a time.

Continue reading A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta

MassivelyA certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurebeshbetabiowarecodexeaea-biowareelectronic-artsexclusivefeaturedfierfekfourth-pillargrindkill-10-separatistskill-ten-separatistsmassively-exclusivemmo-storynot-the-mmo-youre-looking-forord-mantellrepublic-troopersci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtor-codexswtor-hands-onswtor-impressionsthe-old-republicthemeparktor-impressionstrooperThu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Trickster Online's Songs of Love and Fate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/exclusive-trickster-onlines-songs-of-love-and-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/exclusive-trickster-onlines-songs-of-love-and-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/exclusive-trickster-onlines-songs-of-love-and-fate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Trickster Online
Heads up, Anime fans: SG Interactive's Trickster Online is on the verge of releasing what it's calling "the largest episode in the history of Caballa Island." The cutesy, free-to-play, 2-D isometric MMO out of South Korea aims to launch Episode VI, the grand finale of its second season of content, on October 6th. The episode, titled The Songs of Love and Fate, includes a new escort system, 18 new characters, 23 new maps, 17 new monsters, 15 new normal quests, and 41 new scenario quests. And as you might guess from the title, the update will tell a love story rather than focus on the mysteries of the island itself. Who says a game has to be 3-D to tell a good story?

Past the cut, we've got an exclusive teaser video with the highlights from this upcoming content patch. Enjoy!

Continue reading Exclusive: Trickster Online's Songs of Love and Fate

MassivelyExclusive: Trickster Online's Songs of Love and Fate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-danimeepisode-viexclusivef2pfree-to-playisometricntreevseason-2sg-interactivesongs-of-love-and-fatetrailertrailerstrickster-onlinevideovideosMon, 03 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively exclusive: Rusty Hearts prepares for the Awakening]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/massively-exclusive-rusty-hearts-prepares-for-the-awakening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/massively-exclusive-rusty-hearts-prepares-for-the-awakening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/massively-exclusive-rusty-hearts-prepares-for-the-awakening/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rusty Hearts
Open betas are always a heady time for players and MMO studios alike, and Rusty Hearts is proving to be no exception to this. The fast-pace action title has been in open beta for a little under a month at this point, but Perfect World Entertainment is already putting the final touches on its first major content update, Awakening.

Perfect World promises that Awakening contains not only some ideas the developers thought would be good to get in the game but also several features that came as a result of player feedback. With a higher level cap, additional quests and dungeons, and weapons galore, Rusty Hearts players are going to have their plates full when the update hits on October 11th.

For an exclusive sneak peek at all of the details of this exciting update, hit the jump and find out what's in store for a very rusty future!

Continue reading Massively exclusive: Rusty Hearts prepares for the Awakening

MassivelyMassively exclusive: Rusty Hearts prepares for the Awakening originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awakeningbetacontent-patchcontent-updateexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalleryhair-forgingmassively-exclusiveopen-betapatchperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwerusty-heartsupdatevoodoo-cowTue, 27 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: World of Darkness interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/massively-exclusive-world-of-darkness-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/massively-exclusive-world-of-darkness-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/massively-exclusive-world-of-darkness-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

World of Darkness header
The 2011 Grand Masquerade in New Orleans is over, and the monsters have all gone home. In their wake, we're left with a series of exciting revelations relating to the upcoming World of Darkness by CCP Games. While it's only in pre-production, it has already sent fans of the World of Darkness setting into a frenzy of anticipation. The new details only give rise to more questions, however, and speculation has run rampant, especially given how radically CCP's new game departs from the standard MMO model. Thankfully, Massively has some answers.

Shane Defreest, the Community Developer for CCP North America and White Wolf Publishing, was kind enough to take the time out of his hectic schedule to answer a few of our questions relating to the game. He sheds a bit of light on World of Darkness, discussing the choice of setting, player factions and playable clans, the business model, and how he views the experience of the game. Enjoy!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: World of Darkness interview

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: World of Darkness interview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpevent-coverageexclusivefeaturedinterviewshane-defreestthe-grand-masqueradevampire-the-masqueradevampiresworld-of-darknessThu, 22 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: ArcheAge's Jake Song on consensual PvP, inflation, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massively-exclusive-archeages-jake-song-on-consensual-pvp-inf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massively-exclusive-archeages-jake-song-on-consensual-pvp-inf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massively-exclusive-archeages-jake-song-on-consensual-pvp-inf/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

ArcheAge - newbie coast CBT3
ArcheAge news has been a bit sporadic of late, and it's also been quite some time since we talked to the devs or took a spin through one of the game's closed beta phases. Like many of you, we're dying to know more about XL Games' forthcoming fantasy sandpark, so we went straight to the source to see if we could drum up anything new.

Lead designer Jake Song was kind enough to field a few of our burning questions, and we're pleased to present you with another Massively ArcheAge exclusive that touches on everything from localization and story to consensual PvP and item decay. Join us after the break for that and more.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: ArcheAge's Jake Song on consensual PvP, inflation, and more

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: ArcheAge's Jake Song on consensual PvP, inflation, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebetabeta-testscbt4consensual-pvpcraftingeconomyexclusiveexclusive-interviewfantasyfeaturedffa-pvpinflationinterviewitem-decayjake-songjake-song-exclusivekorean-betalocalizationloot-dropsprisonpvpsandboxsandparkstoryxlxl-gamesWed, 21 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive TERA lore: A day in the life of a Naga Clawrider]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-naga-cla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-naga-cla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-naga-cla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TERA screenshot
Yesterday, we teamed up with En Masse Entertainment to unveil TERA's Naga Clawrider and Naga Bloodscale, two "big ass monsters" that players will face off against come the game's launch in the U.S. next year. Today, we'll give one of those baddies a bit more character with a tale spun by one of TERA's own writers. This exclusive day-in-the-life story is told from the perspective of Silvatuhr, a typical Naga Clawrider -- one of the elite Naga soldiers who do battle from the backs of massive crabs. Silvatuhr explains the extreme risks he took with his own offsprings' lives in order to become a Clawrider, and then he cavalierly outlines the penalties he doles out to those who disrespect his race and his order.

Don't take our word for it -- skip past the cut and let Silvatuhr himself fill you in.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: A day in the life of a Naga Clawrider

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: A day in the life of a Naga Clawrider originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bambamsbig-ass-monsterbig-ass-monstersblueholebluehole-studioclawriderday-in-the-lifeen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusivelorenaganaga-clawriderscreenshotscreenshotsteraWed, 21 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pando Networks trumpets global download data]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/pando-media-trumpets-global-download-data/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/pando-media-trumpets-global-download-data/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/pando-media-trumpets-global-download-data/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pando Media global download infographic
Whether you're a fan of Pando Networks or you're still trying to scrape its last vestiges from the dark corners of your poor, beleaguered computer, there's no arguing that it collects some interesting usage data while doing... whatever it does that MMO companies can't seem to do on their own. In fact, Pando has released to us an eye-catching infographic and interactive chart to illustrate its compiled statistics on download speeds gleaned from 27 million downloads on 20 million computers across the globe. The victors won't surprise most gamers. "South Korea has a faster download speed than Great Britain, Turkey, Spain & Australia combined!" declares the chart, letting it slowly dawn on the reader that the United States doesn't fare quite as well as we might hope. Pando's also included a handy map breaking down speeds by state, the better for you to go forth and mock your neighbors.

There's a whole host of socioeconomic and political reasons for these data over which armchair gameologists can salivate, but we should note that Pando is by definition tracking only game-related downloads, not the greater internet. Why not click past the cut to check out the charts for yourself?

Continue reading Pando Networks trumpets global download data

MassivelyPando Networks trumpets global download data originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datadownload-speedexclusiveinfographicnewspando-networkssouth-koreastatisticssurveyWed, 21 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Batman and Robin PvP
For those of us who lack Batman's financial resources, maintaining several monthly MMO subscriptions can be a challenge. Sony Online Entertainment recognizes this, and as a result, the company has just announced that DC Universe Online will be officially joining the freemium revolution toward the end of October.

The new business model will feature a familiar tiered access plan with three membership levels. The Free, Premium, and Legendary plans feature full access to the current game while offering different levels of "convenience and flexibility." Free players will be limited to two character slots, and new "downloadable game packs/updates, additional character slots, powers, and more" will be available for purchase via microtransactions.

Premium players, i.e., folks who have spent at least $5 US on the game (including former subscribers and in-game item purchasers), will receive additional character slots, inventory slots, and higher cash limits. Legendary players will take home "maximum features and benefits" including free DLC, more than 15 character slots, and more than 80 inventory slots, all for the regular $14.99 monthly fee. DCUO will also continue to be available on SOE's Station Pass (and subscribing to the monthly all-in-one service nets you Legendary status in DCUO as well as access to all of SOE's MMORPGs).

Finally, Massively sat down with SOE president John Smedley and producer Lorin Jameson to chat about the new model, and you can find that transcription after the break.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbreakingbusiness-modelcash-shopcomicsconveniencedc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgotham-citygreen-lanterninterviewitem-shopitem-storejohn-smedleylegendarylorin-jamesonmassively-exclusivemetropolismicrotransactionsnon-recurring-paymentplaystion-3premiumps3rmtsoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosupermantiered-accesswonder-womanMon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST