Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Star Trek Online fulfills its promise to Klingon players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/star-trek-online-fulfills-its-promise-to-klingon-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/star-trek-online-fulfills-its-promise-to-klingon-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/star-trek-online-fulfills-its-promise-to-klingon-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Trek Online fulfills its promise to Klingon players
Klingon Defense Force players who have been crying out for years for a significant update to their unfinished faction will have their prayers answered when Star Trek Online's Legacy of Romulus expansion releases next week. Cryptic posted a blog telling these gamers that they have not been forgotten but will be vindicated with a complete experience from level 1 to 50.

"It was always promised that if Star Trek Online was ever going to add a third faction, we would make sure that Klingons would get expanded content first (or at the same time). With Legacy of Romulus adding Romulans as a playable faction, it was a matter of honor that the Klingons get their own content from level 1 to 50," Cryptic wrote.

The devs give slight spoilers to the new, reworked, and revised content that Klingons will be experiencing, such as how players will get their first starship and what iconic locations they'll be visiting (hint: a certain prison planet from Star Trek VI will come into play). The studio is also adding a pair of new KDF ships to the store when the expansion hits.

MassivelyStar Trek Online fulfills its promise to Klingon players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdev-diarydev-postexpansionf2pfree-to-playkdfklingonklingon-defense-forceklingonslegacy-of-romulusperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremusromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoFri, 17 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Combine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/combine-your-consoles-and-get-new-ships-in-star-trek-onlines-ex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Split and combine and split and combine and it's kind of tedious.
If you've already purchased the very expensive Legacy Pack for Star Trek Online's first expansion, there's good news to be had -- you just got more for your $125 investment. For one thing, you've got access to a new ship, the Haakona Advanced Warbird, an assault craft capable of separating into two units for maximum versatility. For another, you've got a set of uniforms based off of the Romulan outfits from the original series, if you want to really hit that "legacy" button as hard as you can.

Whether or not this entices you to drop some additional money, the latest development blog on the official site details the bonuses for slotting Romulan refit consoles together in Legacy of Romulus. These include buffs to turn rate, energy weapons, and defensive systems based on speed. The net result is that owners of both refit and retrofit versions of these vessels can access a new playstyle for the class, a new trick to surprise opponents of the Romulans. Which is apropos.

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

MassivelyCombine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosexpansionf2pfree-to-playgalleriesgallerylegacy-of-romuluslegacy-packnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpre-purchasepweremusromulussci-fiset-bonusessetsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoTue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ncsoft-clarifies-stance-on-guild-wars-2-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ncsoft-clarifies-stance-on-guild-wars-2-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/ncsoft-clarifies-stance-on-guild-wars-2-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion
During the most recent NCsoft earnings call, there was a slightly surprising statement regarding a possible expansion for Guild Wars 2. An NCsoft rep sent Massively an email to clarify what the publisher is thinking in regards to the future of GW2. The statement reads as follows:
"In regards to your recent post on a Guild Wars 2 expansion, there is a slight misunderstanding when interpreting the answer from the NCsoft earnings call. We are considering an expansion, but we are taking a wait-and-see stance. We are evaluating the performance of the game and deciding on when would be the best time to launch an expansion. But right now, our living story approach is very successful in keeping players engaged with new and exciting content. Launching boxed expansions are a great way to package content, but if we can do this on a more regular basis, something we've been doing since launch, it provides players with new content to explore and experience every time they log into the game."
So if you're trying to categorize this, an expansion to Guild Wars 2 should go in the "maybe, possibly, probably, some day, one day, soon, later, never, ignore the man behind the curtain" column.

MassivelyNCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playexpansionfantasyguild-wars-2gw2living-storyncsoftstatementTue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/captains-log-story-takes-center-stage-in-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

STO Mars Utopia Planitia Yards
Now that Star Trek Online's expansion, The Legacy of Romulus has moved into open beta on the Tribble test server, I think it's high time I wrote about one of the biggest changes the game has ever seen. It's not just about what will occur in the game's story; it's how the story is being told.

Players who create a Romulan faction character when Star Trek Online launches the expansion on May 21st will experience something that simply hasn't been seen before in the game. Fair warning: I'll be writing a fair amount about what happens within the first dozen levels of gameplay, so if you're holding out to be surprised, know that there are spoilers after the jump!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Story takes center stage in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boffbridge officerscaptains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdoffduty officerduty officer systemexpansionf2pfactionfactionsfeaturedfederationfree-to-playkdfklingonslegacy of romulusopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwereputationromulan republicRomulanssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarfleetstoStoryOfTheYearstorytellingtovan-khevMon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roguelikes inspire EVE Online's revamped hacking minigame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/roguelikes-inspire-eve-onlines-revamped-hacking-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/roguelikes-inspire-eve-onlines-revamped-hacking-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/roguelikes-inspire-eve-onlines-revamped-hacking-minigame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online hacking screen
June 4th is coming up fast, and with it EVE Online's new Odyssey expansion. The content drop will feature improved explorer pursuits, with particular emphasis on removing the "'sit and wait' aspect of exploration gameplay" in favor of "something interesting to do."

In the case of today's dev blog, the interesting thing to do is hacking, and CCP says that it drew inspiration from roguelikes for the new minigame's "procedurally generated levels, turn-based combat, and permadeath." You can read all about it on the official EVE Online website.

MassivelyRoguelikes inspire EVE Online's revamped hacking minigame originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdev-blogeveeve-expansioneve-hackingeve-onlineeve-online-odysseyexpansiongame-mechanicshackinginternet-spaceshipsminigamesodysseysandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlineMon, 13 May 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-road-to-mordor-a-wildermore-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor A Wildermore dev chat
Snow-covered zones aren't exactly new to Lord of the Rings Online, but the upcoming region of Wildermore is a little bit different than the normal Misty Mountain ski resorts. How so? Well, for one thing, it's not supposed to be snowy at all. So what's up with the premature winter in this area of Rohan -- and what are you, the player, going to do about it?

That's the basic setup for Update 11: Treachery of the White Hand. The update, which should be going live next week, is what I call the intermission zone: It's the region that Turbine adds between expansions to keep veteran players from bouncing off the walls due to boredom. Lothlorien, Enedwaith, and the Great River are past intermission zones, but Wildermore might be the most fascinating one yet.

Thanks to technical issues, I wasn't able to get a first-hand tour of the new region. Instead, I nabbed a heart-to-heart chat with the devs about the intricacies of Wildermore, the next step of the epic story, and plenty of assorted goodies coming with the update!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A Wildermore dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online's first expansion, Legacy of Romulus, is going to be launching in less than two weeks, and to build up some hype for the new addition, the folks at Cryptic have deemed this weekend a Tribble Test Weekend. Beginning tomorrow, players can log on to the Tribble test server and get their first look at the new content coming when Legacy of Romulus goes live on the 21st.

But if that's not enough to enthuse you to play on the test server, Cryptic is sweetening the deal. Any players who log in and play on the Tribble server for at least one hour over the course of the weekend will receive a special to-be-announced reward after Legacy of Romulus is released. For the full details on this Tribble Test Weekend, just head on over to the game's official site.

MassivelyStar Trek Online announces Tribble Test Weekend originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosexpansionexpansionsf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusopen-betaperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotribbletribble-test-weekendThu, 09 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making friends and recruiting officers in Star Trek Online's expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/making-friends-and-recruiting-officers-in-star-trek-onlines-exp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/making-friends-and-recruiting-officers-in-star-trek-onlines-exp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/making-friends-and-recruiting-officers-in-star-trek-onlines-exp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of those unique traits is backstabbing, presumably.
When Star Trek Online rolls out its Legacy of Romulus expansion on May 21st, you'll be playing a Romulan (or Reman) captain on a Romulan ship. But you will be allying with either the Klingons or the Federation, and so you might worry that you'll be surrounded by distinctly non-Romulan officers. Never fear, as the latest development blog makes it very clear that Romulan characters will be able to access a unique pool of Duty Officers and Bridge Officers unavailable to the other factions.

While Klingon or Federation characters may occasionally earn a Reman or Romulan Duty Officer, these are rare recruits that can only be obtained after exceptional effort. Actual Romulans will be able to recruit new officers of these races with unique traits simply by visiting New Romulus. They will also have access to recruitment from their allied factions, ensuring that the ship may have a mix of races while still remaining Romulan at its core.

MassivelyMaking friends and recruiting officers in Star Trek Online's expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bridge-officerscrypticcryptic-studiosduty-officersexpansionf2pfactionsfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusofficersperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremansremusromulansromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoWed, 08 May 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/watch-the-backstory-of-lotros-wildermore-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone
When Lord of the Rings Online's Update 11 drops next week, it will open the paths to a brand-new zone: Wildermore. While it's part of the Wold, Wildermore is definitely unlike anything seen in Riders of Rohan; for starters, the area is inexplicably covered in snow and jagged ice crystals.

So what's up with this area? Turbine's developers have put together a video to introduce the zone and explain the main storyhook behind it. It appears that Saruman has fused an ancient relic with a giant, creating a nasty foe that will be the main antagonist as players travel through Wildermore. Don't fret, as there are good guys as well attempting to fight the snow powers that be.

Check out the dev tour after the jump, and if you use the LotRO forums regularly, you may want to read up on the forum consolidation that's about to take place.

Continue reading Watch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone

MassivelyWatch the backstory of LotRO's Wildermore zone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved Ten years of EVE Online
Tomorrow marks a huge milestone in MMO history as sci-fi sandbox EVE Online officially turns ten years old. Released by a tiny icelandic development studio whose only previous release was a board game featuring Reykjavik's favourite cross-dressing mayor, EVE has slowly grown over the past decade to become one of the industry's biggest and most stable subscription titles. Following 2011's monoclegate scandal that led to around 8% of players quitting and CCP Games shedding 20% of its employees, this year saw EVE Online climb to new heights as it regained the playerbase's confidence and smashed the 500,000 subscriber barrier. As a special side-note, the EVE Evolved column also turned five years old last week; it has now officially been running for over half of EVE's lifetime.

The past year has been remarkably successful for CCP, with both of the year's EVE expansions being extremely well received and console MMOFPS DUST 514 finally starting to take shape. The Inferno and Retribution expansions fixed a staggering number of small issues that were broken in the game while also making big changes to bounty-hunting, piracy, and PvP across the board. We also saw huge emergent events like the Battle of Asakai, a $6,000 ship kill, and the five trillion ISK faction warfare exploit this year. With DUST 514 officially launching in just over a week on May 14th and players fired up about the upcoming Odyssey expansion, the future's looking bright for EVE Online as it heads into its second decade.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at some of year's top EVE stories, stories that touched real life, and what the future holds for EVE's second decade.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ten years of EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Ten years of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online dev diary details new species The Remans
Star Trek Online's Legacy of Romulus expansion is slated for release in just over two weeks from now, and if you've been keeping up with the onslaught of dev diaries, you know that means new ships, new fashions, and of course, new playable alien species. The most recent dev diary from the folks at Cryptic Studios focuses on the Romulans' slightly nastier counterparts, the Remans.

Players will be able to unlock Remans as a playable species in one of two ways: They can either purchase it from the C-Store (standalone or as part of the Legacy Pack) or "achieve Tier 5 in the New Romulus Reputation." Remans, of course, come with their own unique racial traits, including the powerful Mind Drain ability, described as "a powerful single-target psychic attack which drains vital essence from the victim to the caster." Sounds rather unpleasant to us. Remans also have access to two exclusive ship materials that can alter the appearance of any Romulan vessel they own, and they'll also gain access to spiffy Reman-only uniform variants. To check out the details on the new species, head on over to the official site for the full post, and remember that Legacy of Romulus will be going live on May 21st.

MassivelyStar Trek Online dev diary details new species: The Remans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdev-blogdev-diaryexpansionexpansionsf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremanremanssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoFri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online goes behind the scenes with Denise Crosby]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/star-trek-online-goes-behind-the-scenes-with-denise-crosby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/star-trek-online-goes-behind-the-scenes-with-denise-crosby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/star-trek-online-goes-behind-the-scenes-with-denise-crosby/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Yes, the face of the Romulans is only half-Romulan.
When Star Trek Online launches its first expansion, Legacy of Romulus, players will find themselves facing off against the formidable Empress Sela right from the start. The return of Sela also marks the return of veteran actress Denise Crosby to the game, and the community team behind STO had a chance to speak with Crosby about returning to the franchise and to the same characters she portrayed years ago on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Crosby mentions that while she enjoyed the chance to reprise the role of Tasha Yar (a character she jokingly says simply refuses to die), revisiting Sela is a chance to dive deeper into a character who was not fully realized during her first appearances. Sela's life is the Empire, and she feels that any means necessary to restore the power and prestige of her people is more than justified. Click past the break to see the full video and learn a little bit more about the face of the Romulan Empire in the expansion.

Continue reading Star Trek Online goes behind the scenes with Denise Crosby

MassivelyStar Trek Online goes behind the scenes with Denise Crosby originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingactorsbackstorycharacterscrypticcryptic-studiosdenise-crosbyempress-selaexpansionf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusloreperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremusromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestovideovideosvoice-actingvoice-overWed, 01 May 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/29/captains-log-more-romulan-ships-coming-in-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

STO D'Deridex HEADER
Late last week, Star Trek Online community manager Brandon Felczer posted an enormous dev blog delving into the details surrounding the influx of new ships heading into the game the moment the Legacy of Romulus expansion goes live.

So today I'd like to touch on these new ships and the new Legacy Pack and Starter Packs that were announced as being available for Star Trek Online!

Continue reading Captain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online

MassivelyCaptain's Log: More Romulan ships coming in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbrandon-felczercaptains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdaniel-stahlexpansionf2pfeaturedfederationfleet-shipsfree-to-playklingonlegacy-of-romuluslegacy-packneverwinteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweromulanRomulanssci-fishipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarter packstoMon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Helm's Deep calls!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/the-road-to-mordor-helms-deep-calls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/the-road-to-mordor-helms-deep-calls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/the-road-to-mordor-helms-deep-calls/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Helm's Deep
While I'm quite excited to hear the news of this year's Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Helm's Deep, there are two small nits that I must pick, two little peeves that I must pet before moving onward. The first is that Turbine could not have worse timing; I've been prepping for a vacation and pre-written a couple of weeks of this column, and now this announcement's forced me to scramble last-minute to write a new one.

The other issue is that Turbine's abandoned the "[something] of [place]" title structure it's had ever since Shadows of Angmar. A vain, egocentric part of me thinks that this might've happened because a developer read my expansion prediction column and decided to spite me.

With that out of the way, let's digest the official announcement and see what we'll be doing this fall when LotRO's fifth expansion hits!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Helm's Deep calls!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Helm's Deep calls! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do you want to fly technology that's two centuries old in game lore? Apparently some people totally do.
The Romulan faction in Star Trek Online will be unique in many ways, but exactly how the addition will work within the context of the game is still unclear. That's why many of the questions in the latest edition of Ask Cryptic focus on Romulans, such as what ships they will have access to from the C-Store (all ships from a player's chosen allied faction) and how Romulans with different allies will interact (they will not be able to group together for Romulan missions but can group for cross-factional content).

Other topics of discussion include the long-anticipated revamp to Exploration, which is being moved over toward encouraging the use of the Foundry to fulfill a similar niche. Klingon progression will be improved with a full leveling path, including episodes ported over and heavily tweaked from the Federation line as well as unique bits of content just for KDF characters. For the usual buffet of questions and answers you can check out the full installment on the official site.

MassivelyStar Trek Online's newest Ask Cryptic takes aim at revamps and Romulans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcommunity-q-and-acrypticcryptic-studiosexpansionexpansionsf2pfactionsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgroupinglegacy-of-romulusnewsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweq-and-aquestions-and-answerssci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoteamingFri, 26 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will Helm's Deep bring you back to LotRO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-daily-grind-will-helms-deep-bring-you-back-to-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-daily-grind-will-helms-deep-bring-you-back-to-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-daily-grind-will-helms-deep-bring-you-back-to-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Legolas and Gimli at Helm's Deep by John HoweLord of the Rings Online is one of those MMOs, at least for me. You know the ones I mean. They're great games for the most part, but for whatever reason you've quit and returned and quit and returned to them more times than you can count.

With yesterday's announcement of the forthcoming Helm's Deep expansion, I'm finding it harder than ever to keep to my pledge of staying away from Turbine's Middle-earth.

What about you, morning crew? Assuming you're a LotRO expatriate, will Helm's Deep bring you back?

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: Will Helm's Deep bring you back to LotRO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindexpansionexpatriatef2pfantasyfree-to-playhelms-deephelms-deep-expansionlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-expansionmmo-expatriateopiniontdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentThu, 25 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
About five years ago, on April 27th, 2008, I joined the Massively team and wrote the very first issue of the EVE Evolved column. Five years later, the column is still going strong and delivering its weekly dose of EVE Online to thousands of readers. I used to worry about running out of ideas to write about, but regular game updates and hilarious player shenanigans mean there's always something interesting going on in New Eden. When EVE hits its 10th anniversary in May, this column will have been running for just over half of the game's lifetime. In that time, I've written over 250 in-depth articles, guides, in-game stories and opinion pieces on EVE Online and a few on DUST 514.

As usual, I'll be celebrating this anniversary by rounding up this year's column highlights and giving away two 30-day Pilot's License Extensions to two lucky readers. To enter the competition, write a comment explaining which EVE Evolved articles from this year you liked best and what topics you'd like to see covered in the coming year. You will need an active EVE account to claim the prize, so be sure to include your character name in your comment if you want to be in with a chance. If you'd rather not give out your character name or don't have an EVE account but would like to give the game a go, you can sign up a new trial account and use the name of your new character.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the highlights from the column's fifth year!

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetanniversaryapocryphaasakaibaitingbounty-hunterbounty-huntingccpccp-gamesconsolecrimewatchcruisersdecadedustdust-514eoneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexplorationfeaturedfive-year-anniversaryfive-yearsfpsfrigatesgame-designguideguideshistoryhulkinfernolowsecmmofpsnyphurodysseyopinionopinion-piecepiracyplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvepvpretributionrisk-vs-rewardsandboxsci-fiship-fittingship-fittingsship-setupsshooterspeculationstoriesstorystorytellingthe-battle-for-caldari-primewormholewormholesSun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-road-to-mordor-happy-sixth-birthday-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-road-to-mordor-happy-sixth-birthday-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/20/the-road-to-mordor-happy-sixth-birthday-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Happy 6th birthday, LotRO!
Uh, seriously guys, it was just yesterday that I was celebrating the third anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online with you in this column. At least it felt like yesterday. Really, has it been six years already? I guess it must be. It just seems like time moves so rapidly in MMOs, especially ones you've been in for years.

Even if you don't count my first six months in the game prior to and after the game's launch, my current stint in LotRO is the longest period of time that I've ever played an MMO. It's been a little over three years now that I've been playing and covering this game for Massively, and my interest in it has yet to wane. That amazes me; just when I think I might burn out on it, I find something about LotRO to rekindle my interest and passion.

There's something special about this game world that I haven't found elsewhere, I've concluded. Perhaps it's the IP restrictions and continuity that makes Middle-earth more "real" to me than other virtual worlds. Maybe it's the sheer breadth of content or the goofy hats. I can't decide. But I'm happy to raise a glass to LotRO as it turns six and look back at some of my favorite moments over the years.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Happy sixth birthday, LotRO! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6th-anniversaryanniversaryexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorsixth-anniversarythe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online outlines the fine details of Romulan ship progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/star-trek-online-outlines-the-fine-details-of-romulan-ship-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/star-trek-online-outlines-the-fine-details-of-romulan-ship-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/star-trek-online-outlines-the-fine-details-of-romulan-ship-progr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Having Romulan allies is only slightly less disconcerting than having Cardassian allies.
The Romulan faction in Star Trek Online's upcoming expansion does not play like mirrors of the Federation or the Klingons. The race's ships are less diverse in some ways, but its cloaking devices that allow for stealth even in combat make it clear that this is a race about subtle manipulation and careful subterfuge. A new development blog outlines the fine points of ship progression including refit ships, retrofit ships, and small craft for the faction.

In addition to the cloaking devices, all Romulan ships feature a powerful Singularity Core that allows access to a different tier of special abilities for each ship. As with other factions, refits and retrofits of lower-tier ships can be purchased from the game's cash shop, complete with new customizable skins and new consoles for these variants. Players interested in seeing the full details should take a look at the development blog and get ready to remind the galaxy why the phrase "warbird decloaking" is never a sign things are going well.

MassivelyStar Trek Online outlines the fine details of Romulan ship progression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiescloakingcrypticcryptic-studiosexpansionf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemslegacy-of-romulusmechanicsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentprogressionpweremusromulussci-fiship-progressionshipsstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestealthstosystemsFri, 19 Apr 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR wraps up expansion class changes with the Sith Inquisitor and Jedi Consular]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/swtor-wraps-up-expansion-class-changes-with-the-sith-inquisitor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/swtor-wraps-up-expansion-class-changes-with-the-sith-inquisitor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/swtor-wraps-up-expansion-class-changes-with-the-sith-inquisitor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR wraps up expansion class changes with the Sith Inquisitor and Jedi Consular
Star Wars: The Old Republic has finished up the last of eight dev diaries featuring changes to the game's classes following Rise of the Hutt Cartel's release. On the docket for today is the Sith Inquisitor and Jedi Consular, mirrored classes that have mirrored adjustments.

Both classes now have stronger heals (Dark Heal and Benevolence), cooldown-free shields (Static Barrier and Force Armor), and class-wide access to 10 seconds of faster casting and interrupt blocking (Polarity Shift and Mental Alacrity). Both classes also have been treated to a new skill, Force Barrier, which offers total protection for up to 10 seconds of channeling.

There are plenty of other detailed changes to the advanced classes and roles, so check these diaries out if you're in tune with the Force in a way that makes the rest of us jealous.

MassivelySWTOR wraps up expansion class changes with the Sith Inquisitor and Jedi Consular originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassclass-changesclassesdev-diaryeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playhutt-carteljedi-consularlucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fisith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 19 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR reloads Bounty Hunters and Troopers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/swtor-reloads-bounty-hunters-and-troopers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/swtor-reloads-bounty-hunters-and-troopers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/swtor-reloads-bounty-hunters-and-troopers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR reloads Bounty Hunters and Troopers
The dev diary march to cover all of the changes to Star Wars: The Old Republic's classes continues, with today's twin postings focusing on the Bounty Hunter and Trooper.

Bounty Hunters should have an easier go at it now, as BioWare's handing out Hydraulic Overrides and Chaff Flares to everyone. The team also redesigned the Kolto Overload skill to give the class a huge bump to survivability when it activates. Over on the Trooper side of things, the team's brought the class' resource mechanic in line with the Trooper's Bounty Hunter counterpart. All Troopers now get Hold the Line and Diversion skills, as well as a more survival-happy Adrenaline Rush.

The smaller but still significant tweaks to the advanced classes are worth reading carefully if you play one of these classes, as there are plenty to note.

MassivelySWTOR reloads Bounty Hunters and Troopers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterclassclassesdev-diaryeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playhutt-cartellucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrooperThu, 18 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest's Shadow of Fear lets you hear the voice of Luclin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/everquests-shadow-of-fear-lets-you-hear-the-voice-of-luclin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/everquests-shadow-of-fear-lets-you-hear-the-voice-of-luclin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/everquests-shadow-of-fear-lets-you-hear-the-voice-of-luclin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Shadow of Fear screenshot
EverQuest's Shadow of Fear just launched; it's the update and second part to the Rain of Fear expansion that released in November. Yes, you read that right: This is the old-school MMO's 19th expansion. If that's not impressive enough for, the list of content that comes with the patch should hold over vets for a long time. If you're level 100, you'll be able to enjoy new zones and content and brand-new mechanics.

The essence of fear is literally raining down in the form of crystalline shards. While players fight to restore balance, an ancient city has been resurrected with no explanation. Mysteries? New content? New spells, items, missions, raids quests, and storylines to discover? Yeah, we wanted in on that. We hung out with producer Thom Terrazas, lead designer Jonathan Caraker, assistant lead designer Julie Burness, and assistant lead game designer and Douglas Cronkhite for a video tour of the new update. Read on to hear what we thought and catch the brand-new trailer too.

Gallery: EverQuest Shadow of Fear expansion screenshots

Continue reading EverQuest's Shadow of Fear lets you hear the voice of Luclin

MassivelyEverQuest's Shadow of Fear lets you hear the voice of Luclin originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Douglas-Cronkhiteeqeq1everquestexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playftpgalleriesgalleryJonathan-Carakerlaunchlaunch-daylaunchesluclinpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsshadow-of-fearSOEsonySony-Online-EntertainmenttrailertrailersvideovideosThu, 18 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Darkfall launch week diary: Day one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/massivelys-darkfall-launch-week-diary-day-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/massivelys-darkfall-launch-week-diary-day-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/17/massivelys-darkfall-launch-week-diary-day-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Darkfall Unholy Wars loading screen art
Darkfall Unholy Wars' April 2013 launch was quite a bit like Darkfall's February 2009 launch. For me, at any rate. One crucial difference was that this time I was actually able to purchase Aventurine's fantasy sandbox title even though I wasn't able to log into it.

Four years ago, finding a digital copy of Darkfall was damn near impossible. Fast forward to the present and AV has improved its billing apparatus but certainly not its delivery mechanism. After nearly three hours, DFUW's patcher managed to pull down 90 MB out of 6487. I switched to the torrent download, and while it was faster, I still had to leave it overnight. So technically this is day two impressions even though it's day one for yours truly.

Continue reading Massively's Darkfall launch week diary: Day one

MassivelyMassively's Darkfall launch week diary: Day one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonaventurinedarkfalldarkfall-diarydarkfall-first-impressionsdarkfall-hands-ondarkfall-impressionsdarkfall-launchdarkfall-launch-diarydarkfall-launch-weekdarkfall-unholy-warsdarkfall-unholy-wars-launchdfexpansionfantasyfeaturedhands-oninventorylaunchlaunch-daylaunchesopen-pvppvpsandboxunholy-warsWed, 17 Apr 2013 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hyperspace-beacon-why-i-dont-do-swtors-new-gsi-dailies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies
Nobody likes doing dailies. Dailies are a grind. Dailies are just something game designers use to keep players occupied until new content comes out. I've heard all those phrases before, and if dailies fall into one of those general categories, I don't do them. It is possible, however, that if doing dailies will help me acquire a significant reward (such as credits to buy that lightsaber hilt I've been eyeing), then I might overlook the grind to do the dailies anyway. But the key factor has to be time. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, time is your biggest investment. Despite what some players will tell you, there's a multitude of things to do at endgame. Unfortunately, a single player cannot do all of them all the time. You have to choose, and time to completion (or better yet, time to fun) weighs heavily in the decision-making process.

Let me help make one of those decisions for you: Don't do the GSI dailies.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Why I don't do SWTOR's new GSI dailies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredailieseaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playGalactic-Solutions-IndustriesGSIguidehutt-cartelhyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fiseeker-droidstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 16 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR brings Smugglers and Imperial Agents up to date]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/swtor-brings-smugglers-and-imperial-agents-up-to-date/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/swtor-brings-smugglers-and-imperial-agents-up-to-date/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/swtor-brings-smugglers-and-imperial-agents-up-to-date/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR brings Smugglers and Imperial Agents up to date
With Rise of the Hutt Cartel finally open for business, the folks at BioWare are doing their best to educate players on the significant changes in Star Wars: The Old Republic's first expansion. Today sees not one but two class dev diaries itemizing the tweaks and upgrades to the Smuggler and the Imperial Agent.

As both classes mirror each other and use similar skills, the twin dev diaries cover mostly the same basic topics. Alacrity has been buffed to genuinely speed up attacks, DoTs are cheaper to throw down, shields now absorb any type of damage, and accuracy's importance has been raised when you're fighting elite and tougher mobs.

The diaries also cover changes to specific advanced classes and skill trees. BioWare says that it will be releasing similar diaries for the remaining six classes in the near future.

MassivelySWTOR brings Smugglers and Imperial Agents up to date originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassclassesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playhutt-cartelimperial-agentlucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fismugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 16 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with RaiderZ's new Broken Silence expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hands-on-with-raiderzs-new-broken-silence-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hands-on-with-raiderzs-new-broken-silence-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/hands-on-with-raiderzs-new-broken-silence-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RaiderZ Broken Silence screenshot
I have to admit, I felt a combination of excitement and fear when I was tasked with covering the newest RaiderZ expansion, Broken Silence, because I knew that I would be challenged in a few ways. First, I had to get used to the game again. I've played it off and on and have enjoyed it until around level 10, but I am no expert. I had already experienced the fantastic non-instanced combat that the game is known for, but I still had a long way to go. Second, I knew that the game would physically punish me. After years of playing games, painting, and drawing, I can easily be forced to soak my forearms in icy water after a session of action-based gaming. Lastly, I knew I would be given a higher-level character and needed to get used to how that particular character performed. The brilliant thing about action-based games is that the person behind the keyboard matters as much as amazing armor or incredible spells. I'd have to sharpen up.

I logged into my character and discovered just how fun this game still is.

Gallery: RaiderZ Broken Silence screenshots

Continue reading Hands-on with RaiderZ's new Broken Silence expansion

MassivelyHands-on with RaiderZ's new Broken Silence expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-based-combataction-mmobeau-hindmanbroken-silencecowen-marshdungeon-crawlerexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreamperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentPWEraiderzraiderz-broken-silenceRoninstreamstreamingstreamteamvideoTue, 16 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/first-impressions-swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/first-impressions-swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/first-impressions-swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This image delivers exactly everything it promises.
How much of an expansion can you really get from one new planet and five new levels?

I've been subscribing to Star Wars: The Old Republic since launch day, so buying Rise of the Hutt Cartel wasn't exactly a difficult decision. I like the game, I'm pleased with it, and I'm going to pick up the expansion. But the pre-launch marketing for the expansion looked pretty sparse. A new planet was nice, and a level cap raise was great, but it seemed very low-key even for the price point. Ten bucks for one new area and more leveling felt thin.

After a week on Makeb, I can comfortably say that it was worth the price of entry. There have been a lot of changes made to the game with the expansion and its connected patch, and with only a handful of exceptions, those improvements make the game universally better. And it all starts with a reversal of the game's status quo.

Continue reading First Impressions: SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel

MassivelyFirst Impressions: SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfeaturedfirst-impressionsfree-to-playhands-onhutt-cartelimpressionslaunchlaunch-daylauncheslucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 15 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel is live on a server near you!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel-is-live-on-a-server-near-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel-is-live-on-a-server-near-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/swtors-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel-is-live-on-a-server-near-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel is live on a server near you!
It's the moment that Star Wars: The Old Republic fans have been waiting for: The game's first "digital expansion," Rise of the Hutt Cartel, is officially up and running. It includes Makeb (made famous as the "gay planet"), a raised level cap (you can go all the way up to 55!), and a heaping helping of new storyline. Macrobinoculars and the new Seeker Droid will allow players to unlock new rewards and story-driven missions.

SWTOR subscribers can pick the expansion up for $9.99, while the general public will have to fork over $19.99.

Not sure if this expansion is for you? Check back with us tomorrow; Massively's Larry has been delivering beta impressions in his Hyperspace Beacon column, and Massively's Eliot will be sharing his thoughts on the new content tomorrow.

MassivelySWTOR's Rise of the Hutt Cartel is live on a server near you! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playhutt-cartellucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorSun, 14 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/14/eve-evolved-massivelys-plans-for-eve-fanfest-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
There's just over a week to go until EVE Online's massive tenth anniversary Fanfest, and you'll be pleased to hear that Massively will be there this year to cover the action! CCP is aiming to make this the biggest Fanfest yet, promising huge reveals and announcements about EVE's summer Odyssey expansion and beyond. We can also expect to hear some big news about upcoming console MMOFPS DUST 514, and fans of Vampire: The Masquerade will undoubtedly get to see some of the year's progress toward making the World of Darkness MMO a reality.

Tickets to this year's Fanfest sold out in record time, so many players who really wanted to be there for EVE's tenth anniversary celebration weren't able to secure a spot. CCP is running its usual livestream of the main talks for those not in attendance, but only certain parts of the event are being streamed. Here at Massively, we plan to give you an inside look at Fanfest with ongoing news coverage from April 25th to April 27th and in-depth opinion pieces on what each announcement means for players.

In this week's short and sweet EVE Evolved, I lay out Massively's plans for in-depth coverage of EVE Fanfest 2013 and ask what you'd like to see reported on.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Massively's plans for EVE Fanfest 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversary10-year-oldccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeventevent-coverageeventsexpansionfanfestfanfest-2013fantasyfeaturedfpsgothichorroricelandlivestreammassivelymassively-event-coveragemmofpsnewsodysseyopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3reykjaviksandboxsci-fishooterspeculationsupernaturalten-year-anniversaryten-yearstwittervampirevampire-the-masqueradevampiresvideowhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessSun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New reputation in Star Trek Online takes the fight to the Tholians]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/new-reputation-in-star-trek-online-takes-the-fight-to-the-tholia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You have to wonder if Tholian captains ever get tired of the whole web thing.
Nukara Prime is not a pleasant place in Star Trek Online. It's covered in Tholians, for starters, and it's got all of the charming amenities of a warzone. Then it gets even worse when you realize it's a Class Y or "Demon" planet, and you don't get a nickname like "Demon" for being ideal beachfront property. So naturally players will be expected to head there when Legacy of Romulus launches in May, and they'll have plenty of extra incentive with the new Nukara Strikeforce reputation.

The new reputation will work much like other reputations in the game, giving players a variety of new ground and space item sets to earn in exchange for Nukara Marks. Players can also look forward to existing endgame activities involving Tholians to start giving out Nukara Marks, and they'll have the opportunity to exchange old rewards for large piles of marks as well. So your bridge crew probably won't be happy that shore leave is on Nukara Prime, but your captain will have plenty of new rewards to pick up.

MassivelyNew reputation in Star Trek Online takes the fight to the Tholians originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosendgameendgame-activitiesexpansionf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpreviewspweremusreputationromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoFri, 12 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online offers a crash course on Empress Sela]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/star-trek-online-offers-a-crash-course-on-empress-sela/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/star-trek-online-offers-a-crash-course-on-empress-sela/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/star-trek-online-offers-a-crash-course-on-empress-sela/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Trek Online offers a crash course on Empress Sela
If you plan on playing Star Trek Online, you're going to have to deal with Empress Sela no matter your faction of choice. She is the head and the will of the Romulan Star Empire, mastermind of secret alliances and conspiracies aimed at keeping the Romulans as unapproachable and dangerous as they were before the death of their homeworld. But who is she? If you're not up to date on all the details, the latest lore entry from the official site brings you up to speed on the origins of the Empress and her motivations.

The daughter of a Romulan admiral and a time-traveling Enterprise crew member from an alternate reality, Sela tried many times to take power, only to end up in exile before the nova that destroyed Romulus. Undaunted, the loss of her homeworld gave Sela a new means to seize control, ultimately rising to be the new Empress and a staunch enemy of the Romulan Republic. Get the full rundown in the official entry and start getting ready, because all factions -- Klingon, Federation, and Romulan Republic -- will have to deal with her before long.

MassivelyStar Trek Online offers a crash course on Empress Sela originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycrypticcryptic-studiosexpansionf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romuluslorelore-figuremajor-figuremajor-npcnpcperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremusromulussci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoThu, 11 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Shroud lifted [updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-shroud-lifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-shroud-lifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-shroud-lifted/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon SWTOR's Shroud lifted
I've been covering Star Wars: The Old Republic for going on three years now. My first full-time MMO was Star Wars Galaxies, although I had played a bit of Ultima Online before that. I have also played nearly every major MMO after SWG's launch, ranging from World of Warcraft to Lord of the Rings Online to City of Heroes to DC Universe Online. Although all those games had aspects that I really enjoyed, I was not able to stick with any of those other MMOs for more than a month.

But when I first started playing SWTOR regularly during beta, it had me hooked. Sure, there were many aspects that I didn't like; some areas made me question the strength of the game as an MMO, but I continued to play. Some people would say that it's the lightsabers that have kept me there. I would agree the hiss and buzz of a laser sword is part of the appeal. I have played through many of the class stories to a high level, and I've also watched every class story multiple times on YouTube to catch all the endings. I have personally played through the Sith Warrior and the Sith Inquisitor story twice -- not just to level up but to watch the story again. Some of the dialogue is shaky, but in my opinion, there had never been this level of storytelling in an MMO before. And I will continue to play as long as there is still story to experience.

Today, BioWare launches the next chapter in the story of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Rise of the Hutt Cartel. The majority of the story takes place on the Hutt-controlled world of Makeb, but we have also been given two major quest that take us all over the galaxy. Today, I would like to talk about one of those: the Shroud.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Shroud lifted [updated]

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's Shroud lifted [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a galaxy far far away, all surveillance is done through very small blinds.
Star Wars: The Old Republic's expansion is sending players into a three-way warzone between the Empire, the Republic, and the Hutt Cartel. Winning that war will require getting the right friends and eliminating the right enemies. Whether you're an early order getting to jump in tomorrow or a player waiting until the official launch, you can benefit from a crash course on some persons of interest on Makeb, courtesy of Imperial Intelligence.

Considering the focus on the Hutt Cartel, it's unsurprising that two of the most prominent figures are Hutts -- Szajin and Toborro. Szajin bucks the usual Hutt trend of self-serving greed, modeling himself as a partisan for his people across the galaxy without concern for profit. Toborro, meanwhile, sits at the top of all operations on Makeb, setting himself as a personal lord for the Hutts to rally behind as the Cartel expands its influence. Check out the full intel rundown for more details on the Hutts as well as other persons of note.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic looks at Makeb's movers and shakers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybiowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pflavorfree-to-playhutt-cartelimportant-peoplelorelucasartsnpcsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 08 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/07/eve-evolved-temporarily-fixing-starbases/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
With its exploration-focused Odyssey expansion on the way, EVE Online is about to be hit with a deluge of players (new and old) venturing into the unknown. The expansion will introduce the yet-to-be-revealed Discovery Scanner and will add a ton of new exploration content all across New Eden. Odyssey aims to follow the lead of 2009's Apocrypha expansion, which saw hundreds of corporations lead lucrative expeditions into uncharted wormhole systems. We don't yet know whether the expansion will open new systems for exploration, but when Odyssey goes live, the race will be on to find and lay claim to all the goodies hidden in deep space.

With no stations to dock at in wormhole space, corps currently have to store everything in destructible starbases that aren't really up to the task. Player-owned starbases were released in 2004 as sandbox-style tools for tech 2 industry and alliance territorial warfare. They were never intended to be the sole base of operations for an entire corporation, so they suffer from some pretty severe security and usability flaws as a result. Theft from ship and item hangars in wormhole space is commonplace, setting up corp roles for them is a nightmare, and living exclusively in a starbase provides a daily dose of frustration players could seriously do without. CCP has been planning to completely overhaul player-owned starbases for years, but some of today's issues can't afford to wait any longer.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the chronic problems faced by starbase-dwelling explorers and how CCP plans to temporarily fix some of them for Odyssey.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Temporarily fixing starbases originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccpccp-fozzieccp-gamescontrol-towercorpcorp-rolescorp-thiefcorporatecorporate-goalscorporate-infiltrationeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexplorationfeaturedfixhangarindustryminingodysseypatchplayer-ownedplayer-owned-starbaseplayer-owned-stationpospos-fuelpvepvprefiningrefining-arrayresearchrolessandboxsci-fistarbasestarbase-fuelstrategic-cruisersstructuretech-3temporarywormholewormhole-explorationwormhole-heistwormholesSun, 07 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-mog-log-dont-you-want-me-ffxi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DON'T YOU WANT ME, OHHH-WHOAAOH!
Final Fantasy XI has launched its fifth expansion, and yet I can't bring myself to be as excited as I should be. Longtime readers will recall that the account I've been playing on is younger and lacking in many of the higher-level conveniences such as airship passes and a white mage leveled enough to handle Sneak and Invisible. Put simply, I'm not in a place to just jump right into all of the content that Seekers of Adoulin has to offer right out of the gate.

On the plus side, I do have several conveniences that completely new players wouldn't have, not the least of which is an extensive knowledge of the game as a whole. A new player coming in straight would look at the game and just wind up baffled, and I can't blame him in the least. If you're starting fresh, the game is not welcoming you.

Longtime readers will also know that I've long been a proponent of making the game easier to get into. But is this even worth bothering with? Is the game for players starting at lower levels any more? Is there even a point to easing up the lower-level restrictions any longer?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI?

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Don't you want me, FFXI? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia Exclusive Aion 40 launches in June!
Good news! (Well, at least for my police record.) As it turns out, I didn't have to resort to kidnapping to convince someone from NCsoft to talk to me about Aion at this year's GDC. I swear, Sean Orlikowski, the game's associate producer, came willingly.

It does, however, appear that in the fine print of the meeting proposal, I agreed to be outfitted with a special electronic device that would send massive jolts of electricity through my system if I tried to speak about something I shouldn't. So let's see how much I can share with you before this apparatus leaves me unconscious.

Can I tell you that Aion has a special celebration planned for the first anniversary of the Truly Free conversion? So far, so good, folks. Hmm... can I add that the next big expansion has a North American launch date planned without going unconscious... oh, appears so! OK, let's push this a little further: How about if I happened to mention that 4.0 will hit servers in June 2013 -- would I be zapped? Nope! So there you have it, folks: 4.0 is indeed going live in just two short months!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AethertechaionAion-4.0Aion-4.0-patchascensionconconferenceconventioneventevent-coverageeventsexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013gdcgdc-2013Gunslingerinterviewinterviewsmassively-event-coveragemassively-ExclusiveMassively-exclusive-interviewncsoftnew-classesopinionpreviewpreviewsSean-OrlikowskiSong-Weavertruly-freewings-over-atreiaSat, 06 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/06/the-road-to-mordor-stepping-into-fangorn-forest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Stepping into Fangorn Forest
Without a doubt, Riders of Rohan is one of the best expansions Lord of the Rings Online has delivered to date. True, it's not without its rough spots, but overall I'm impressed. The storytelling is excellent, the landscape is engaging, the mounted combat is pretty fun, the music is incredible, and the amount of stuff to do is mind-boggling.

But it wasn't until a week ago when my slow-but-steady Captain finally encountered my favorite aspect of this expansion: the Eves of Fangorn. I wasn't expecting to be so enchanted and engaged, but LotRO threw me for a loop and there I was -- grinning at the zone design and happy that the game can still produce a sense of wonder and adventure in my soul.

Why is it so good? What won me over? If you're thinking, "He's got a tree fetish, he does," then you might not be too far off base.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Stepping into Fangorn Forest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks nice, like Alderaan with fewer insects and feuding nobles.
Players who pre-ordered Rise of the Hutt Cartel early enough are less than a week away from their first taste of Star Wars: The Old Republic's expansion content, and it's only 10 days for everyone else who purchased the expansion. That means it's time to start thinking about what conditions will be like on the surface of Makeb, something addressed in the latest development blog showing off the planet. Narrated by SIS agent Theron Shan, the entry outlines several landmarks and the environments to be expected there.

Several regions of the planet are already under the control of the Hutt Cartel, including a few spots that the Hutts have taken without having much use for at the moment. The capital city is especially fortified, prompting the use of small teams rather than a full strike force. But there are a few spots where the Republic can make an approach, spots players will doubtlessly be exploring as soon as the expansion launches and everyone can rush to the new planet.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic shows off some of the key parts of Makeb originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybiowareeaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playhutt-cartellorelucasartsmakebmakeb-layoutpreviewrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 04 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic details Legacy Achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-details-legacy-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-details-legacy-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-details-legacy-achievements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If there isn't an achievement for being a de facto tank as a Sentinel or Marauder, there should be.
Achievements aren't really a new addition to games any longer. Star Wars: The Old Republic isn't breaking the mold with their inclusion. What is different is the way that the game tracks achievements via your Legacy rather than individual characters, allowing all of your character accomplishments to work together. The latest development blog explains how the Legacy Achievements will work and what players can expect in terms of rewards for a life spent in the far reaches of the galaxy.

Progress on achievements is tracked across all of your characters, allowing you to complete part of the achievement on one character and the rest on another as needed. Veteran players will be happy to know that many of your existing accomplishments will be converted over to the new system, ensuring that you won't have to repeat your hard work. And the rewards for achievements include both titles and Cartel Coins, both of which should be quite enticing to players. For more details and a breakdown of the major categories, check out the full development blog.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic details Legacy Achievements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsbiowarecross-character-achievementseaelectronic-artsexpansionf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicshutt-cartellegacylegacy-achievementslucasartsrise-of-the-hutt-cartelrothcsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 03 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online sets the stage for Romulan expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-trek-online-sets-the-stage-for-romulan-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-trek-online-sets-the-stage-for-romulan-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/star-trek-online-sets-the-stage-for-romulan-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Trek Online sets the stage for Romulan expansion
A little confused as to how the Romulans fit into Star Trek Online now that their homeworlds have gone kablooey? Cryptic Lead Content Designer Scott Shicoff wrote a new dev blog to explain the setup for this May's Legacy of Romulus and how players fit into the scheme of things.

According to Shicoff, following the supernova that destoyed the Romulan homeworlds, the population split into three factions. The Tal Shiar is a dangerous sect led by Empress Sela that has no problems aligning itself with bad seeds. The Romulan Republic is a more peaceful group that seeks reunification and the end of xenophobia. And the final are survivors -- the players -- who are scattered everywhere and have yet to align with either of the two other factions.

Read up on the three factions over at Star Trek Online!

MassivelyStar Trek Online sets the stage for Romulan expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdev-blogdev-diaryexpansionf2pfactionfactionsfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusloreperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweremusromulussci-fiScott-Shicoffstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestoWed, 03 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST