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[MapleStory proclaims Alliance Eternal this week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/maplestory-proclaims-alliance-eternal-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/maplestory-proclaims-alliance-eternal-this-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/maplestory-proclaims-alliance-eternal-this-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MapleStory
With this week's Alliance Eternal patch in MapleStory, Nexon has returned the balance of the classes to where it should be. The final update in the Alliance trilogy focuses on Cygnus Knights and Explorer classes, retuning them and bringing their power levels back up to par with the classes that received developer love with the previous updates.

Alliance Eternal has a few other fun surprises for players. Level 120 characters can hop through a Dimensional Schism and take on the sinister-sounding Arkarium, while Cygnus Knights level 110 or above have new quest chains to investigate.

Nexon's also looking forward to the coming months. MapleStory will hit its seven-year anniversary in May, and players should expect a big bash when that happens. The devs also teased a "big summer content release" on the horizon with two new characters including the Phantom hero.

MassivelyMapleStory proclaims Alliance Eternal this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliance-eternalalliance-eternal-patchalliance-eternal-updatebalanceCygnus-Knightexplorerf2pfantasyfree-to-playmaplestorynexonnexon-americanexon-koreapatchrebalancingupdateMon, 23 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/flameseeker-chronicles-whats-your-golden-carrot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2: Electric Boogaloo
On the Sunday of the most recent beta weekend for Guild Wars 2, I found myself trying to figure out precisely what incentive my friends and I might have to go through the explorable mode of dungeons before we hit level 80. The question arose, in a roundabout way, because there's not a tremendous amount of XP available (you spend more time killing fewer things), which makes sense if you're a developer trying to discourage players from entering a dungeon they have no intention of completing in order to farm experience, but it left us wondering whether we'd feel compelled to participate in explorable mode dungeons as we progressed through the game. The point of the matter is, unless you're well and truly enamored of the armor attainable through a specific dungeon's tokens, there might not be much empirical motivation to get through a repeatable dungeon. This stood out to me because so much of the game's reward structure is so clear and well-designed.

Although I'll certainly never make the claim that the game will please everyone, or even that ArenaNet's fine folks are trying to please everyone, it is evident that they're building in support for a wide variety of play and reward styles.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: What's your golden carrot? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achieveranetarenanetascalonian-catacombsbartle-test-of-gamer-psychologycarrotcatacombs-of-ascalondungeonexplorerfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgolden-carrotguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betagwgw1gw2killerncsoftopinionsocializerthanks-for-the-pictures-guildcastTue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/eve-evolved-touring-a-galaxy-reborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/eve-evolved-touring-a-galaxy-reborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/11/eve-evolved-touring-a-galaxy-reborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title
EVE Online recently celebrated the release of its incredible Crucible expansion, noted as one of the most feature-heavy expansions in the game's history despite the majority of its features being produced in a period of just a few weeks. Two years' worth of graphical upgrades, features, balance upgrades and quality-of-life fixes hit Tranquility all at once, and the response from players has been incredibly positive.

Last week I rounded up all the information there is to know about the Crucible expansion, but reading articles and news posts is no substitute for hands-on experience. This week I took a tour around parts of New Eden to explore the incredible new graphics Crucible delivered. As I have a background in graphics programming, the graphical upgrades are obviously the most exciting change for me. The astounding background nebulae are even more impressive when you know just how difficult it would be to build a nebula system that looks this incredible from any location.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I explore a reborn galaxy and catalogue my adventures in a massive HD gallery.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Touring a galaxy reborn originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarrcaldariccpccp-eveccp-gamescrucibleengine-trailseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexplorationexplorerfeaturedgalaxygallentegallerygraphicsgraphics-enginegraphics-programminggraphics-updatehands-onhighseclowsecminmatarnebulanebulaenebulasnew-edennullsecscreenshotscreenshotsspacewarpwarp-drivewarpingSun, 11 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's Bartle-inspired paths offer players unique and shared content [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/wildstars-bartle-inspired-paths-offer-players-unique-and-shared/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/wildstars-bartle-inspired-paths-offer-players-unique-and-shared/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/wildstars-bartle-inspired-paths-offer-players-unique-and-shared/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar
Jeremy Gaffney recently opened up on the connection between WildStar's Paths and Richard Bartle's famous breakdown of playstyles. While Gaffney admits that WildStar drew inspiration from Bartle's categories, the team has tuned the four paths -- Explorer, Soldier, Achiever and Builder -- to fit the devs' vision for the game.

No matter which path you pick, Gaffney promises that there will be something meaningful for you to be doing at all times. The important part is that the game has a deliberate balance between path-specific activities and universal ones: "What we do is we take 70% of the world, and that's a mix of all the styles, and then about 30%, depending on the zone, swaps over and that's about you and about your path. So, as an Explorer you have your normal mix of stuff, but then an extra chunk on top of it that's all about exploring."

People from different paths have many ways, reasons, and incentive to interact as they progress through the zones. Gaffney says that WildStar will "pile on the layers" to keep players involved and active. He also assured fans that all paths will have plenty to do in the endgame so that the journey doesn't come to a crashing halt.

[Update: Carbine also released another WildStar Wednesday this afternoon; it features some community discussion all about events in MMOs.]

MassivelyWildStar's Bartle-inspired paths offer players unique and shared content [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achieverbartle-testbartle-test-of-gamer-psychologybuildercarbinecarbine-studiosexplorerJeremy-Gaffneyncsoftpathsrichard-bartlesoldierwildstarzonesWed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: WildStar panel discusses playing with paths the Bartle way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-wildstar-panel-discusses-playing-with-paths-the-bartle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-wildstar-panel-discusses-playing-with-paths-the-bartle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/pax-2011-wildstar-panel-discusses-playing-with-paths-the-bartle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'm lost at sea, don't bother me, I've lost my way.
Before Gamescom, WildStar was nothing more than a title without a hint of what the game would actually promise. But now that the game is being shown off, the combination of a unique aesthetic with a promise of uniquely focal gameplay has gotten a lot of people interested. The visuals, of course, have already been well-displayed by the trailers and preview shots, so this year's panel at PAX 2011 focused instead on the other half of the equation: the paths.

The panel began with a brief viewing of the game's cinematic trailer to kick things off, followed by an explanation of the game's core design philosophy. As the team from Carbine Studios (Jeremy Gaffney, Eric DeMilt, and Mike Donatelli) put it, most games are built with a basic set of design assumptions that push players in a fixed direction determined by the designers. WildStar was built from the ground up to let players enjoy the game when they want to, with whomever they want, and most importantly however they want. The paths are the key to that system -- multiple overlaid playstyles that ensure you have your own play experience no matter what class or race you pick.

Continue reading PAX 2011: WildStar panel discusses playing with paths the Bartle way

MassivelyPAX 2011: WildStar panel discusses playing with paths the Bartle way originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartles-typescarbinecarbine-studioseric-demiltexplorerjeremy-gaffneymike-donatellincsoftnewspathspaxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011player-typesplaystylespreviewsreal-world-eventsscientistsettlersoldierwildstarwsSat, 27 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Conventional MMO wisdom says that one should stick to the roads as much as possible when questing. Roads have become the "safe zone" of online games, a place where mobs are less likely to attack and adventurers are less likely to become lost. RIFT, however, turns this MMO convention on its head and does everything it can to break us of this predictable -- and boring -- habit.

For one thing, the roads in RIFT are not safe. At any moment, a rampaging invasion or event boss may be wandering down them, looking for easy prey. I've seen more than one jaded MMO vet express a type of dawning pleasure when this has happened, especially considering the reputation modern games have for coddling their populations.

For another thing, there are a lot of incentives to strike off the beaten path and explore the world instead of staring at a packed trail that's been walked a million times before. RIFT encourages players to do so in subtle ways, ways that I deeply appreciate as an explorer type.

In today's Enter at Your Own Rift, we're going to look at three reasons that blazing your own way in the wilderness is more fun -- and even beneficial -- than sticking to the highway. Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachieverartifactscollectionsenter-at-your-own-riftexplorerexploringfeaturedpuzzlepuzzlesriftrift-junkierift-planes-of-telarasilverwoodsparklesparkliestriontrion-worldsWed, 11 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

My journey around the world of Wurm Online continues on today through the second half of the trip. In yesterday's story, we explored the eastern and southern shores of the map's mainland, and now we get to see the western and northern shores in all their glory.

Although that southwestern-most tip of land is heavily populated, you're back to desolation when you make your way up into the cliff faces of the western shore. I spent one night in the side of a rocky mountain, only slightly protected from the elements as I chiseled my way into the rock just enough for a fire and shelter for the night. I decided to roleplay a bit during the trip, setting up proper shelter before I logged out of the game for the day. What's funny about this particular shelter is the fact that I discovered a very rare diamond only three squares into the cave. I've dug entire mazes of underground mines and never found a diamond before, so this was a sure sign that the rest of the trip was going to be bountiful. And it was! Follow along below for more.

Gallery: Around the Wurm Online world

Continue reading Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two

MassivelyAround the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part two originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurearound-the-worldboatsdiaryexplorationexploreexplorerf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalleriesgalleryhousingjourneylogonetwofree-absandboxscreenshotstravelwurmwurm-onlineWed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/around-the-world-in-eight-days-a-journey-in-wurm-online-part-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wurm Online is a unique MMO. I can't think of many other games that allow the freedom of Wurm, which may be why I still consider it my favorite online game to this date.

For anyone who hasn't tried the game or heard me yammer on about it on the Massively Speaking podcast, I'll explain the basics. Wurm Online is a sandbox game created to allow players unbelievable freedom. If you've played Minecraft, you have the basic premise of Wurm, but multiply that experience by about 100. In fact, Markus "Notch" Persson was the co-founder and co-creator of Wurm before moving on to Minecraft and world fame.

Wurm Online starts you off as a fairly inanimate and uncustomizable character whose goal is to simply build. Find a spot of unclaimed land, throw down a settlement token, and build to your heart's content. You cut down trees for wood, mine stone for ore, forage and fish for food, and use it all to create the world that lives within your imagination.

Continue reading Around the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one

MassivelyAround the world in eight days: A journey in Wurm Online, part one originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>around-the-worlddiaryexplorationexplorerf2pfree-to-playfreedomjourneylogMarkus-PerssonMojang-Specificationsnotchonetoofree-abonetwofree-abrolfsandboxtravelwurmwurm-onlineTue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/eve-spotlight-an-interview-with-eve-travels-mark/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Spotlight is a bi-weekly feature in which we interview prominent members of EVE Online's player community or development team. Every two weeks, we'll be shining the spotlight on a player or developer who has a significant impact on EVE to highlight the efforts of EVE's most influential people.

At the start of this month, the folks at CCP Games updated their Facebook page with a link to a fascinating blog. The aptly named EVE Travel serves almost as a holiday brochure for the many interesting places to visit in EVE. I'm sure some players would look at this as a waste of time, but to me it underscores everything that's great about EVE and sandbox games in general. The number of viable ways to play the game is constrained only by a player's imagination and motivation. Mark and the guest contributors on EVE Travel are all highly motivated to explore the visuals and lore surrounding every interesting thing you might come across in EVE. Where we see a pretty shipwreck, they see an ancient battle with its own motivations and politics.

In reading EVE Travel, I shared in Mark's sense of wonder and excitement about a vast universe that I had taken for granted. That sense of awe, of being lost in the deep and having to learn all about everything for the first time, is something a lot of us have lost over the years. When we run missions or complete exploration complexes, many of us just see the numbers involved -- how much damage we can deal or tank and what rate of ISK per hour we can generate. We look at these areas through the eyes of a player gaming the system, but EVE Travel shows them to us through the eyes of a true explorer. I was even inspired to set out on my own exploration adventure, delving into the lore of places I'd taken for granted and seeing them again for the first time.

In this edition of EVE Spotlight, I talk to blogger Mark from EVE Travel about exploring the collossal sandbox of New Eden and what can be done to help the storyline of EVE come alive.

Continue reading EVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark

MassivelyEVE Spotlight: An interview with EVE Travel's Mark originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-spotlighteve-travelexplorationexplorerexploringfeaturedinterviewliving-historymark726travelFri, 25 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Space: the final frontier... except for 4chan, which is a lot scarier to explore. These are the voyages of the Starship Massively. Its five-year mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and blow it out of the sky; to boldly exploit trade routes like no one has done before!

Erp, better stop there before I begin infringing on the Captain's Log's territory! In any event, we at The Game Archaeologist Institute for Fuzzy Nostalgia continue to forge ahead with the Earth & Beyond dig, carefully dusting off memories and screenshots to preserve in a blog-shaped museum.

It's one thing to talk of a game, but another to speak with one who was there at the time, so I went on a hunt through the dark recesses of the internet to find seasoned Earth & Beyonders. This search took me about two minutes before one of my associates practically opened the floodgates of fanboy gushing to drown me in his enthusiasm for this title. One interview, hundreds of screenshots and an Electronic Arts dev bible later, and we at the institute knew that we hit the motherlode.

Join us for a civilized discussion with an Earth & Beyond vet as he shares with us crumpets and recollections.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduacanadacaptains-logcelestial-horizonclaudia-christiancolumbia-disastercommand-and-conquerdev-bibleeaearth-and-beyondechoes-of-nonsenseelectronic-artseveeve-onlineexplorerfantasyfeaturedfederationinterviewirelandJenquaijump-to-lightspeedlord-of-the-ringsnet7sci-fiscience-fictionspace-shuttle-columbiastar-trekstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtea-and-crumpetsthe-game-archaeologisttitanwargameswestwoodTue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Losing yourself in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/06/eve-evolved-losing-yourself-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/06/eve-evolved-losing-yourself-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/06/eve-evolved-losing-yourself-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Of all the things EVE Online has to offer, exploration is perhaps its most attractive lure. With around 7500 solar systems to visit and seven years of history enshrined amongst them, EVE offers players a very real and tangible universe to explore. There's something inherently attractive about getting lost in the depths of space and being absorbed into the stories woven around those thousands of little points of light on the map. While the official storyline of most MMOs can be seen all across their respective worlds, the sandbox nature of EVE adds significant player-determined influences to the usual developer-created storyline. In the colossal sandbox of New Eden, key battles and events have drenched areas of the game in a player-made lore that's ripe for discovery.

In the past, several players have capitalised on EVE's potential for exploration in order to craft for themselves a truly unique gameplay experience. In 2006, a new player by the name of Innominate Nightmare went on a roaming tour of EVE's lawless nullsec regions. In his travels, he talked with the locals and reported on daily events as they unfolded. The intrepid explorer soon discovered a New Eden fraught with war but at the same time bonded by it. Every space station and alliance-claimed system held stories of the blood spilled over its liberation, the good times pilots had together there, and the monumental efforts alliances had undertaken to carve a home for themselves out of the void.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I immerse myself in some of EVE's most unique exploration experiences and look at how you can become lost in New Eden's awesome sights and stories.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Losing yourself in EVE Online

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Losing yourself in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-storyccpccp-eveccp-gamescloakCOSMOScovert-opseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-travelexplorationexplorerfeaturedliving-historylorelost-in-spacemark726nyphurplayer-created-contentplayer-developmentSun, 06 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the coolest place you've ever found while exploring?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/the-daily-grind-whats-the-coolest-place-youve-ever-found-whil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/the-daily-grind-whats-the-coolest-place-youve-ever-found-whil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/the-daily-grind-whats-the-coolest-place-youve-ever-found-whil/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you an explorer in MMOs? Do you relish taking the path less traveled, seeing just what's over the next hill, and jumping with reckless abandon into any and all mysterious pits you encounter? Then today's Daily Grind is for you, hearty adventurer!

So in all your journeys, in all your explorations, what's the coolest place you've ever found far off the beaten track? Was it a magnificent view from the top of a mountain that only a few have ever witnessed? Did you find an easter egg left by the developers that none of your friends know about? Did you even dare to cross into unfinished zones and parts of the world that were "forbidden" and supposedly closed off to normal traffic?

We want to hear from MMO spelunkers and rural hikers today -- what's the coolest place you've ever found while exploring in an MMO?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the coolest place you've ever found while exploring? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartlebartle-explorereaster-eggexplorerexploringmmo-spelunkingopiniontdgthe-daily-grindurban-spelunkingFri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: If the road goes ever on, I'm gonna need a GPS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/the-road-to-mordor-if-the-road-goes-ever-on-im-gonna-need-a-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/the-road-to-mordor-if-the-road-goes-ever-on-im-gonna-need-a-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/the-road-to-mordor-if-the-road-goes-ever-on-im-gonna-need-a-g/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently in our kinship chat, I asked my mates what they were most looking forward to in next week's patch. Scaled instances and the wardrobe were popular, but probably the most-cited change was simply the influx of new players. It's not that we were worried Lord of the Rings Online was dying, but that we love this game so much that we genuinely want others to experience it as well.

Plus, new players bring a rush of excitement for everyone involved. It's always a treat to look at an old game through a fresh set of eyes, and I hope that everyone logging in to LotRO for the first time will enjoy the sights of the Eriador, the quirkiness of the world, and the rich lore behind it.

In the spirit of welcoming these fledgling adventurers to Middle-earth, I wanted to hand out a few pieces of advice today that I would give to myself if I were just starting out (and I guess there'd be some sort of weird time travel paradox event going on there, but hopefully you catch my gist). What should you do in your first week in LotRO? Speak "friend" and enter.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: If the road goes ever on, I'm gonna need a GPS

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: If the road goes ever on, I'm gonna need a GPS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceah-monkeyauction-housebree-landcommunityered-luineriadorexplorerf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpkinshipslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthmordornew-playernew-playerssay-friend-and-entershireskillssmell-the-buckleberry-ferrytraitsturbinevirtuesvocationFri, 03 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Exploration -- Top tips]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/eve-evolved-exploration-top-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/eve-evolved-exploration-top-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/eve-evolved-exploration-top-tips/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Over the past two weeks, I've been giving an in-depth look at EVE Online's exploration profession. Exploration is one of the many PvE elements that players can get involved in right from their first week in EVE. By concentrating on astrometrics skills, a new player can be a more-than-competent prober within a week. Although some sites may require the help of an older player for the first few months, it's still one of the most fun PvE elements a new player can get into. In the first part of this three-part guide, I went over the basic equipment and techniques you'll need to scan down hidden complexes. In last week's second part, I went on to look at the different types of hidden site you can discover, what loot you can expect to find in each of them and what kind of challenge you'll face.

Since the exploration system was launched many years ago, I've picked up a few tricks and tips that can help any explorer. In this final part of the EVE Evolved guide to exploration, I run down my four top tips for budding explorers.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Exploration -- Top tips

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Exploration -- Top tips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesdotlaneveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexplorationexplorerfeaturednew-playernew-player-experiencenew-playersnewbieprobesprofessionspvescan-probesscanningtipstips-and-trickswormhole-explorationwormholesSun, 18 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CrimeCraft's executive producer talks on the game's strengths]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/crimecrafts-executive-producer-talks-on-the-games-strengths/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/crimecrafts-executive-producer-talks-on-the-games-strengths/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/crimecrafts-executive-producer-talks-on-the-games-strengths/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

CrimeCraft may have launched with a bang, but that bang appeared to be less of a gunshot and more of a car backfiring. Vogster Entertainment's MMOFPS was met with somewhat mixed reviews, moved to a free-to-play model, and found itself banned in Australia. But the game persists, and executive producer Matt McEnerney recently sat down with Warcry to discuss issues ranging from the Australia ban to the game's focus.

In a rather refreshing moment, McEnerney flatly states that the game is not for everyone, going on to state that those players who fall under Bartle's classification of Explorer or Socializer will be less likely to enjoy the game. It's a positive mark of candor, and certainly helps strengthen McEnerney's points on what the gae is trying to do and what it's best at. The interview also covers the current endgame option, whiich focus heavily on PvP amidst the game's warring families of gangs.

On the Australia ban, the producer's statement is essentially one that the government can ban the game from shelves but not hard drives -- which strikes us as a little criminal, but when you're talking about a game called CrimeCraft, do you really expect much different? Those interested in the game should take a look at the full interview, which is a bit more honest in places than we've come to expect from the genre.

MassivelyCrimeCraft's executive producer talks on the game's strengths originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cartoon Network has done fairly well for itself with its IP-centric FusionFall. In fact, the words 'wildly successful' may come to mind when you take into account that FusionFall has already gained over 4 million registered users since its January launch. Having a TV network to promote the game is advantageous, of course, but with that many kids running around in the game's world, it was inevitable that some of them would get up to mischief.

This topic came up in an interview conducted by MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh with FusionFall community director Richard Weil. It's interesting to note that some kids are basically testing the limits of the game world by finding ways into the "Wastelands" -- vast in-game areas where the developers test aspects of FusionFall. These players have managed to find holes in the game code and slip into these off-limits areas that were thought hidden and inaccessible to them in the first place.

Continue reading Kids exploring the Wastelands of FusionFall in ways devs never intended

MassivelyKids exploring the Wastelands of FusionFall in ways devs never intended originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carolyn-kohcartoon-networkcasualexploitsexplorationexplorerexplorersfusionfallgame-mechanicsinterviewskidsmischiefmmo-industrymmorpg.comrichard-weilthe-wastelandswastelandsMon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online player circumnavigates the game's world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/eve-online-player-circumnavigates-the-games-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/eve-online-player-circumnavigates-the-games-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/eve-online-player-circumnavigates-the-games-world/#comments
The game world of EVE Online is vast, a galaxy of over 5000 charted solar systems called New Eden. EVE's explorer-types, like Jeran Tek, have successfully visited every solar system in New Eden. Jeran Tek isn't alone in such pursuits, however. This past week saw another player establish a new exploration milestone; DevilDogUSMC of The Helicon Alliance circumnavigated EVE's galaxy. It took him four days, on a journey with 118 waypoints and 502 jumps in a covert ops frigate (capable of warping while cloaked).

DevilDogUSMC spoke with EVE's volunteer in-game reporters (Interstellar Correspondents), stating why he even attempted this. He said, "Since I became a pod pilot five and a half years ago I wanted to explore this universe, but I was put into action with fleet after fleet not ever having the chance. So I decided to take a break from... politics and working with our alliance fleet and went for it. This was a chance for me to show the rest of New Eden that anything can be done as long as you commit to it and work for it."

The full story on DevilDogUSMC's journey was reported by ISD Aeterna Vitae on the EVE Online site.

MassivelyEVE Online player circumnavigates the game's world originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest expansion for EVE Online is Apocrypha, which has added numerous exploration-intensive elements to the sci-fi game. Apocrypha brought drag-and-drop to the exploration system, making the discovery of hidden encounters (and now wormholes) a more visual process than the old system. However, for those players who are accustomed to the old methods of exploration, Apocrypha's revamped system can take some getting used to. EVE Online developer CCP Greyscale posted a dev blog earlier in the week which is a visual tutorial explaining how to find all that hidden content in the game. It's pretty much essential reading for any would-be explorers in New Eden.

We also came across a player-created video tutorial showing how it's done, by Espoir from TridentGuild. The video covers everything from exploration probe placement to how to focus in on the signatures you discover. We've got the YouTube embed of the Apocrypha exploration tutorial for you below the cut:

Continue reading Video tutorial explains EVE Online's new exploration system

MassivelyVideo tutorial explains EVE Online's new exploration system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Bartle Test of Gamer Psychology has long been a staple of the MUD and MMORPG community. We've ever mentioned it here a couple of times.

The Bartle Test (developed by -- you guessed it -- Richard Bartle) is a series of questions the answers to which result in the test-taker's Bartle Quotient. In your Bartle Quotient, you're told how closely you identify with each of four types of MMO gamer pychologies -- Achiever, Explorer, Killer, and Socializer. The final figure is a ranking -- from most dominant to least dominant -- of those types in your own gaming personality. For example, this blogger is an ESKA.

The test has been criticized over the years as an innacurate or insufficient measurement, but it's remained popular nonetheless. Take the test, and tell us where you stand. Do you feel it's accurate? If not, where did it go wrong?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your Bartle quotient? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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