Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Giving a shotgun to a bear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-mog-log-giving-a-shotgun-to-a-bear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-mog-log-giving-a-shotgun-to-a-bear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-mog-log-giving-a-shotgun-to-a-bear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Final Fantasy XI was my first MMORPG, and as such it's shaped a lot of my attitudes toward the genre as a whole. The problem was that inasmuch as one could be a typical player of the game, I was not. The details aren't relevant; what is relevant is that I would frequently look at patch notes, sort of squint a bit, and assume that any number of the features were aimed at the audience that I was not a part of. After all, there was no way the developers would add in a feature if literally no one in the game's community wanted it, right?

Time has made it clear that this was most definitely not the case. Maybe it's due to the difference between American and Japanese audiences, maybe it's something lost in the translation, or maybe it's just Square's periodic bursts of insanity manifesting itself, but Final Fantasy XIV carries on in the proud decision of listening to players and taking entirely the wrong message away. I'm incredibly impressed by the vast majority of Naoki Yoshida's work, but there are a lot of features that have been added or are being added that seem to have completely missed the point of player requests.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Giving a shotgun to a bear

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Giving a shotgun to a bear originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedfeaturesffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmisaimed-featuresmog-logopinionpatch-featurespatchessquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logwhat-is-this-i-cant-evenSat, 21 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: A week to sleep edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ask-massively-a-week-to-sleep-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ask-massively-a-week-to-sleep-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ask-massively-a-week-to-sleep-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tigers are the biggest kittens.
Last week, if you've forgotten, we had a big multi-person answer. This week, Mass Effect 3 released. Between those two factors, this week's column is aiming less at huge overarching answers to profound questions and more at producing some lower-key answers to some lower-key questions. I'm sure next week we'll have bigger answers and I'll go back to stretching out "maybe" over 200 words. For this week, maybe we can take a nap?

What? Animals do it all the time, and they seem pretty happy. Especially the orange killing machines in the picture.

Anyhow, this week's Ask Massively is briefer than the last installment, but it still covers some Massively meta-issues as well as the looming prospect of ArcheAge's hopeful release stateside. If you have a question for a future installment of the feature, send it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: A week to sleep edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: A week to sleep edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnarcheageask-massivelyfeaturedfeaturesglobal-chathumormassively-metametaopinionThu, 08 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/the-anvil-of-crom-quality-of-life-improvements-for-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Angry man header
This week's Anvil of Crom took a bit of thought because honestly, I haven't felt very motivated to play lately. It's one part burnout and two parts wandering eye, as there are a lot of MMOs out there that I keep hoping Age of Conan will emulate in the interests of becoming a more complete game.

It's certainly not a bad game as is; I've been traveling Hyboria for four years now (and writing about it for two), and you don't do that with titles you have to force yourself to play. Like most things, though, AoC could be better.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Quality-of-life improvements for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedchronomagiccodexfantasyfeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playfuncomhyborialorelore-codexopinionquality-of-lifequality-of-life-improvementsthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Here we are after the kick, and I have to say, thus far 2012 feels pretty much the same as 2011 but with fewer weather effects. But it also brings the opportunity to ask for a new round of features from City of Heroes, and as I think you've all learned by now, I'm always willing to ask for new stuff for the coming year. Just look at all my requests from last year and you'll see what I'm talking about.

So did I get what I wanted? Well, we got a big new dump of improved content after all, which sort of fulfilled my first request. There's been no word on any new archetypes, and we only got two full issues last year, unless you count the little half-issues in between. Let's call it an even half. But those weren't predictions, after all; they were just wishes. So what do I think we should wish for over the next year?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122012-wishlista-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxf2pfeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 04 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Glitch 'unlaunches' to add new features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/glitch-unlaunches-to-add-new-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/glitch-unlaunches-to-add-new-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/glitch-unlaunches-to-add-new-features/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Glitch
Tiny Speck's popular and unusual MMO, Glitch, is being unlaunched. What does that mean, exactly? Well, to put it bluntly, the developers -- including Katamari Damacy designer Keita Takahashi -- have recognized that there are some things that the game lacks. Namely, the team wants "to make the early game reveal itself more easily to new players" while also adding more robust creative tools that can be used "to change the world in more tangible ways."

In light of these realizations, Tiny Speck is taking Glitch back into the beta stage of testing. Why? As the press release notes, "making radical changes to core game mechanics is something that's a lot harder to do while the front doors are open and we have to focus on scaling to support growth, stability and providing the quality of service we aim to achieve for the live game." To round it all off, the team understands that this move will disappoint some people, especially those who have put money into the game. With that in mind, the devs will be giving a 100% refund to players who bought something from the Glitch store and who want their money back. For the full details, head on over to the announcement at the Glitch official site. And keep an eye on MMObility later this week, where our own Beau Hindman will be interviewing Tiny Speck's Stewart Butterfield.

MassivelyGlitch 'unlaunches' to add new features originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingdelaunchf2pfeaturesfree-to-playglitchtiny-speckunlaunchunlaunchesunlaunchingWed, 30 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion's Hal Hanlin and Mike Daugherty give details on RIFT's update 1.6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/trions-hal-hanlin-and-mike-daugherty-give-details-on-rifts-upd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/trions-hal-hanlin-and-mike-daugherty-give-details-on-rifts-upd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/trions-hal-hanlin-and-mike-daugherty-give-details-on-rifts-upd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Rift Ember Isle
RIFT has gained a reputation for its fast and furious pace of updates, and doesn't appear to be ready to shed that image any time soon. Players are currently participating in the Ashes of History world event, and learning some clues about a mysterious new island, which is due soon with Update 1.6. In addition to the launch of a new overland zone, Ember Isle, there will be new group content, new zone invasion mechanics, and a new feature called "Instant Adventures." Design Director Hal Hanlin and Content Lead Mike Daugherty took some time to talk to Massively about Update 1.6. Read on for highlights from the interview.

Continue reading Trion's Hal Hanlin and Mike Daugherty give details on RIFT's update 1.6

MassivelyTrion's Hal Hanlin and Mike Daugherty give details on RIFT's update 1.6 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashes-of-alaremberstormfeaturesgolden globesGoldenGlobeshalloweeninstant-adventuresKaren OKarenOMike ShanahanMikeShanahanriftrtrsyFri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Land and Hand rising]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/the-mog-log-land-and-hand-rising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header illustration by A. Fienemann
Two big pieces of news came out of the development pipeline for Final Fantasy XIV over the past couple of weeks. First, we're seeing a big streamlining process coming to crafting. Second, we're seeing a brand-new stealth ability for Disciples of the Land and only Disciples of the Land. Like clockwork, the former has already started prompting questions about dumbing down the game or stripping out the fun of crafting, and the latter has prompted all sorts of questions about balance and whether or not it's removing something integral to the game.

Of course, we've also seen no shortage of people happy about both of these changes; I don't mean to imply that there's some sort of uniform opposition to this approach. And these are big changes, without a doubt. Coeurl Step essentially removes monsters from the equation for all but the rarest gathering attempts, and changes to synthesis greatly simplify the system's overall level of complexity. It's easy to see both of these as negatives, but it's also easy to see both of them as positives when you look at the roles of the classes in the game and the overall thrust of the changes.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Land and Hand rising

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Land and Hand rising originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedfeaturesffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivopinionpatchessimplifyingsquaresquare-enixstreamliningthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 27 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you pay money for in-game housing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-money-for-in-game-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-money-for-in-game-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/06/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-money-for-in-game-housing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Champions Online recently unveiled its newest batch of hideouts, giving all players a chance for a virtual superhero lair... provided that said players can shell out the cash. There are definite arguments that can be made about whether or not the price is too high or the functionality of said hideouts too limited, but there's something to be said for the fact that housing is being offered at all. Despite the near-ubiquity of player housing in the early days of MMOs, these days any housing is a surprise.

On the one hand, it's a feature that frequently has limited to no utility, with the main advantage simply being a sense of connection to a virtual world. On the other hand, for many people, a sense of connection to a virtual world is a pretty significant function to begin with. So what do you think? Would you pay real money for in-game housing, or would you eschew the feature even if it were free?

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: Would you pay money for in-game housing? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecoculturefeaturesfunctionalityhousingmicrotransactionsopinionplayer-housingtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 06 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

A few weeks ago I wrote a Soapbox article that exposed the flaws in the MMO first kiss theory. It generated more discussion than I anticipated, much of it spiraling off into tangents like MMO design, sandbox and themepark elements, and the seeming incompatibility between a polished game and a feature-rich game.

It's this last bit that I'd like to discuss today, and you'll have to forgive me if we tread some familiar ground in the process. While there are many fascinating perspectives and debates in our bizarre hobby, none is as perplexing to me as the disconnect between gamers who want more game and those who want less game, highly polished.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdumbed-downdumbing-downeveeve-onlinefantasyfeature-richfeature-setsfeaturedfeaturesopinionpolishpolishedpolished-vs-feature-richriftsandboxsandparksci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-soapboxthemeparkwhat-is-polishWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 05 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-unrated-keep-up-with-the-joneses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-unrated-keep-up-with-the-joneses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/the-anvil-of-crom-can-aoc-unrated-keep-up-with-the-joneses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sooooo, City of Heroes and LEGO Universe caught the free-to-play bug this week. Fallen Earth did so the week before. What does this have to do with Age of Conan? Quite a lot, if you think about it, and that's what I'm given to doing every week around this time as I sit down to hum a few bars relating to Funcom's Hyboria.

In case you've forgotten (and it's easy to do thanks to the rash of announcements lately), Age of Conan is gearing up for its own version of freemium MMORPG madness. At this point it's anyone's guess as to when the big day will actually roll around, though, and the longer Funcom waits, the more it concerns me.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses?

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unratedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unratedf2pf2p-conversionsfantasyfeature-listfeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemsgameplayhurry-up-alreadyhyborianon-combatnon-combat-gameplayopinionsystemsthe-anvil-of-cromtimelinessSun, 26 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Tough decisions edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Today's Global Chat focuses on developer decisions. From business models to mechanics and even platforms, our readers had some interesting things to say. Follow along after the jump to read, then add your own thoughts!

Continue reading Global Chat: Tough decisions edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Tough decisions edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bulldozerftwccpcommenterscommentsdarkwalkerdust-514eve-onlinefeaturedfeaturesgame-featuresglobal-chatopinionopinionsSun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster on the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/raph-koster-on-the-legacy-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/raph-koster-on-the-legacy-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/raph-koster-on-the-legacy-of-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Amid all the internet commentary sure to be forthcoming over the next few days regarding Star Wars Galaxies and its upcoming swan-song, none of it is really as relevant as the thoughts of the man primarily responsible for designing the original game.

Raph Koster offers up a bit of commentary on SWG's demise via his personal website, and despite the brevity, he manages to touch on exactly why the game mattered to so many of us and why it will be sorely missed. "It gave us features that continue to amaze people who don't realize what can be done: Real economies complete with supply chains and wholesalers and shopkeepers, that amazing pet system, the moods and chat bubbles [...], player cities, vehicles, spaceflight," Koster says.

It also gave us dancing, and while many progression-focused gamers scoff at SWG's social features, Koster rightly concludes that they may well be the game's legacy since they allowed us to "stop saving the world or killing rats and realize the real scope and potential of the medium." In the end, Koster says that SWG's potential may have overshadowed the final product, but what remained was nonetheless a mold-breaking MMORPG. "I'd rather work on something with great potential than on fulfilling a promise of mediocrity. There's a reason people are passionate about it all these years later," he wrote.

MassivelyRaph Koster on the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dancingeconomiesentertainersfeatureskosterlucasartsnon-combat-gameplaynoooooooooraph-kostersandboxsocial-gamingsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsettingswgswg-shutting-downFri, 24 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rift-launches-patch-1-3-but-dont-bank-on-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rift-launches-patch-1-3-but-dont-bank-on-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/rift-launches-patch-1-3-but-dont-bank-on-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

After a great deal of anticipation and previewing, the latest patch for RIFT is finally on the live servers. Patch 1.3 brings with it a variety of improvements, including character transfers, a new raid, new world events, and of course the usual round of balance and general improvements. But there's a feature conspicuously missing from the whole affair, forecasted by the fact that the official patch notes simply say that more details on guild banks will be available when they are released.

Yes, it looks like the patch was getting just a little too big for its britches -- guild banks were found to have a couple of lingering issues and thus have been held back from the release. There's no specific timetable on when the feature will be implemented, as the announcement states mostly that the team didn't want to hold back the entire update for one feature. RIFT players might be a little miffed at the loss, but there is a full patch to explore anyhow, for however much that helps ameliorate the temporary loss.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

MassivelyRIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delayed-featuresdelayed-releasedelaysfeaturesguild-banksmajor-updatespatch-1.3patchesriftrift-patch-1.3rift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsupdatesWed, 22 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What "optional" features do you consider mandatory?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/the-daily-grind-what-optional-features-do-you-consider-mandat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/the-daily-grind-what-optional-features-do-you-consider-mandat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/the-daily-grind-what-optional-features-do-you-consider-mandat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Whatever your preferred style of gaming within the MMO sphere, there are certain elements that were once seen as essential to the genre that just aren't as important any longer. Blaming World of Warcraft for eliminating a lot of the depth from online worlds may not be fair, but when the market leader doesn't bother with player housing or endgames that aren't gear grinds, it's not hard to see why other games have followed suit. And even that game boasts some features -- like altering character features post-creation -- that others have yet to adopt.

Appearance tabs, social mechanics, player housing, player transports that do more than just increase speed -- all of these elements are now considered to be highly optional. But are they? From open-world PvP to simple roleplaying amenities, we all have certain features that are treated as optional by designers but aren't optional to our tastes. So what features are generally seen as not necessary to a game that are necessary for you to even consider playing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What "optional" features do you consider mandatory? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefeaturesgame-mechanicsgameplaygameplay-elementsopinionoptional-elementsoptional-featurestdgthe-daily-grindMon, 20 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/ultima-online-video-dev-diary-highlights-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The original PvP-centric version of Ultima Online may be dead, but the heart and soul of the sandbox MMORPG lives on thanks to a dedicated playerbase and the Mythic dev team that is continually pumping out the updates.

In a new video diary, producer Calvin Crowner talks about a return to Ultima's roots in 2011 and says that doing so necessitates moving away from the checklist mentality that often permeates development cycles. "If we go through a checklist, there's no way we're going to appeal to everyone, so instead of doing that we'd rather really get back to that feel and that flavor that brought players to Britannia every day."

Associate producer Bonnie Armstrong agrees and points out that Ultima is moving away from MMO-standard kill quests and focusing more on stories (which are often helped along by the dedicated event GMs on each shard). Lead engineer Derek Brinkman says this will work well with the newly optimized client and the new high-resolution environment assets. Finally, the dev team talks about the redesigned new player experience and how it is expressly intended to get players into the world quickly while the meat of the client download happens behind the scenes. Hit the jump for the full video.

Continue reading Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience

MassivelyUltima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calvin-crownerdev-diaryea-mythicfeaturesmythicMythic-EntertainmentpvepvpsandboxultimaUltima-Onlineuovideovideo-diaryWed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Same old song and dance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-soapbox-same-old-song-and-dance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-soapbox-same-old-song-and-dance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-soapbox-same-old-song-and-dance/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Our very first Soapbox column, you might remember, was one that I wrote. It was on the topic of World of Warcraft clones -- specifically, the fact that it's not really World of Warcraft's fault that a lot of developers have decided to copy an existing success rather than branch out into new territory. And the list of WoW-likes continues to grow rather than shrink, although naming games tends to produce frothing vitriol that isn't particularly helpful.

But there's more going on than simply a parade of copies. Games increasingly aren't just copying the lead of WoW; they're copying a wide variety of the game's design decisions, even if those decisions don't make much sense in context. I'm not fond of the claim that creativity is dead in the MMO industry, but we're definitely knee-deep in a design rut for a number of reasons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Same old song and dance

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Same old song and dance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A while back, I took the opportunity to talk about things that City of Heroes would do well to steal. After all, there's no reason that you can't make an existing awesome game even more awesome, right? It was a fun article, if a bit silly, and it leads naturally into this week's outing, because I'm feeling just a little bit silly this week, and I'm looking at other games with amazement. So many of them just don't get it.

Seriously. City of Heroes is approaching its seventh anniversary, and so many bits of brilliance in the design are not found in every game in the world. To be quite honest, it's ridiculous. I'm not just talking about little bits of clever design like attack tags to help differentiate defenses; I'm talking about parts of the game that just run so well and so intuitively that it's a wonder everyone hasn't copied them. So let's look at the stuff that the game gets so right that everyone ought to just use it as a standard.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Steal this tape

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Steal this tape originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncool-stuffcopycovcoxduplicatefeaturesgame-featureslaudable-featuresncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 23 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/enter-at-your-own-rift-creature-comforts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since RIFT's beta mushroomed in both population and presence, there's been an exponential increase of folks trying to get a handle on how they feel about the game. It's the same song and dance that you see with any new MMO: People come to it with a need to know whether they like it, whether it's worth their money, whether it should be defended or denounced as rubbish. It's extremely disconcerting when you can't match up your gut feeling with logical reasoning, such as when your gut tells you that you really, really like a game, but you have a hard time putting it into words. It's kind of like the "On paper, it should be a perfect MMO, but in practice, it sucks" effect (and vice-versa).

I've been amused by how many bloggers and commenters have echoed my own thoughts about RIFT when they say something to the effect of, "I know it's a lot like other MMOs and has a lot more of the same, but I'm actually enjoying it" -- as if the fact that RIFT shares commonalities with its contemporaries should be dooming it from the start.

Instead, today we're going to take a peek into why "more of the same" isn't necessarily a bad or even disreputable factor for an MMO, and why RIFT has struck the sweet spot of appeasement with so many of us. Except for you, Angry Commenter. We're not ignoring you, promise -- we're just having fun in our game.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Creature comforts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcar-metaphorconventioncreature-comfortsdetroitenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedfeaturesgame-mechanicsi-didnt-mention-world-of-warcraft-arent-you-proudnorth-american-international-auto-showpaxpax-2010pax-primeriftrift-planes-of-telarateratortured-metaphortriontrion-worldsWed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV updates official site with a guide to interactions and guildleves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/final-fantasy-xiv-updates-official-site-with-a-guide-to-interact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/final-fantasy-xiv-updates-official-site-with-a-guide-to-interact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/final-fantasy-xiv-updates-official-site-with-a-guide-to-interact/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Despite the in-game tutorial, players in Final Fantasy XIV aren't given a straightforward idea of where to go after the first few steps in the game. Early adopters have been gamely figuring out what comes next as they go, but Square-Enix has put together a small primer for new players covering two of the essentials -- interacting with objects (including the all-important aetheryte) and the specifics of acquiring guildleves and carrying out local leves.

Some of the facts within the most recent dispatch will be familiar to players who have been in the game since the beginning, but the guide still includes interesting facts for all players, such as a map of the NPCs required for materials for some local leves. Veteran players can also appreciate the newly implemented History feature for individual characters, allowing one to track the progress of a character across Eorzea. Final Fantasy XIV newbies still won't have a straight line to walk through the game, but the addition of another guide should certainly help.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV updates official site with a guide to interactions and guildleves originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivguidesguildleveslevequestslevesnew-playersnewbie-guidenewbiesofficial-site-featuresprimerssquaresquare-enixMon, 01 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I took over this past weekend's Week in Review column, I informed the usual steward that I would probably give the post some Dadaist nonsense title like, well, the exact title I used for this week's Ask Massively. I realized that the title was really too good to use for just a generic roundup. I have no idea who that man is, why someone painted him with a hat, or any of that. But he definitely has a pretty awesome hat.

This week we have a lot of administrative questions, talking about the comment system, the different types of MMOs, and the many different games which feature spaceships. And, as usual, we have the requisite silly question which I try to include every week, because you shouldn't click on a post with a ridiculous title without something to laugh at. Click on past the break for our answers for the week, and as always, leave further questions in the comment field, or send them along to ask@massively.com!

Continue reading Ask Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg flips the world all upside-down-like and examines the soft, warm underbelly of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The PvE side. He holds a mirror to some of the questions he's found himself asking in bad situations involving mean, unforgiving bosses, and he shows us all how not to play The Blame Game. Oh, and HAPPY SECOND ANNIVERSARY, Warhammer Online!!! Ahem, we now return you to our regularly scheduled Waging WAR content.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is primarily about the RvR. As such, we don't often discuss some of the things in the PvE instances throughout WAR that we've all experienced at least once (or at least most of us, anyway). Whether you're heading into Hunter's Vale in Tier 1, setting up for a boss in the Tomb of the Vulture Lord, or preparing for any number of instances in-between (I can name five major ones off the top of my head), we've all been there and done that. Things have inevitably gone south for all of us at least once. For some of us, things have gone south repeatedly, on the same boss, with the same group, in the same instance. Frustration and enmity start to set in, and people start wondering, "What is going on here?" What follows then is usually a series of questions tracing a certain pattern that we ask ourselves as we try to figure out what the problem is. I guess it is only human nature to enter into this type of internal dialogue when faced with problem solving in social situations.

Follow after the break to see what I'm talking about.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The blame game

MassivelyWaging WAR: The blame game originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bastion-stairbilerot-burrowsBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicblamebloodwrought-enclaveEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgunbadhunters-valelost-valemythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpvesigmars-cryptthe-blame-gametomb-of-the-vulture-lordwaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawarpblade-tunnelsSat, 18 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What cool feature was still a disappointment?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/the-daily-grind-what-cool-feature-was-still-a-disappointment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/the-daily-grind-what-cool-feature-was-still-a-disappointment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/the-daily-grind-what-cool-feature-was-still-a-disappointment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The problem with the barrage of information coming out before any major expansion or game is that you wind up with an idea of what the game will contain that isn't always accurate. Sometimes that's a matter of promotional materials containing features that were later quietly dropped (something Wrath of the Lich King suffered from), and sometimes the feature in question just winds up getting lost in the shuffle. At other times, the system is in the game -- but less cool than you imagined, even though it's functionally exactly what you were told it would be.

You might have been really looking forward to making the moral jump in City of Heroes, but when Going Rogue went live you were disappointed by the fact that shifting from rogue to hero (or vigilante to villain) is a notable jump. You might have really looked forward to Final Fantasy XIV's class-blending, only to find that the combat classes and the gathering classes are firmly segregated. It doesn't make a cool game bad, but it means that one of the things you were anticipating isn't there after all. What cool game feature have you heard about only to find that in practice, it's not quite as great as you hoped?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What cool feature was still a disappointment? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cool-featuresdropped-featuresfeaturesgame-featuresgame-mechanicsgame-systemsnot-as-cool-as-advertisedopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 13 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Taking the stand]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/waging-war-taking-the-stand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/waging-war-taking-the-stand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/11/waging-war-taking-the-stand/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg makes it personal and sticks up for himself and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. He draws his sword and board, holds the line, and explains in no uncertain terms why he still enjoys the game.

Recently, a few readers have suggested that my columns have essentially been slanderous. And while I'll admit that my writing about WAR hasn't exactly been all kittens and rainbows, imagine if it were. Would you be able to take me seriously if every week I came across as though I were a starry-eyed, adoring fan wearing rose-tinted glasses and playing the game through an internet connection made out of candy?

Although I recognize my responsibility for the game as a relatively well-exposed writer, I also recognize the ability of my readers to think critically about the things I say and to avoid knee-jerk reactions to the first sentence that doesn't exactly fit with their particular jigsaw puzzles of expectations. The simple truth is that, like many of you, I am simply a long-term player who cares very much about the future of WAR. I am affected by the same things that you are when you get frustrated by the games you care for. Sometimes, that care becomes concern or frustration. Sometimes, the truth hurts. Either way, all I ask is that if you choose to read this week's column, stick around to the bitter end, and save your comments until then.

So, in my defense, I'll take the stand and try to explain why I still enjoy the game, regardless of my recent frustrations.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Taking the stand

MassivelyWaging WAR: Taking the stand originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eabioware-mmorpgbioware-mythiccommunityEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesHierarchyOfNeedskarl-franzmaslowmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpvprvrtribute-to-warhammeruniverse-witch-hunterwaging-warwarWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineSat, 11 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg takes a look at Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning from a few different angles and goes in search of the proverbial "sandbox" in a game that contains neither sand nor boxes.

Somewhere along the line during my childhood, I developed a habit for playing games with nearly every game I've ever played. I can even remember a time in my early teens when I sat down with a few friends and collaborated on making our own version of battlechess. Pages of chicken-scratched rules and several dice results-tables later, and we were off and running for a solid week of the most entertaining chess matches I've ever played. Or there was that time with The Sims when I started creating experimental families and then leaving my computer on overnight and not interacting with them, just to see how successful they could be without my help. I could bore you for hours on end with examples of how I twisted the rules and made my own games from the games I've played.

I suppose I can blame my penchant for metagaming on my early introduction to pen-and-paper roleplaying (i.e., D&D 1st Ed., to be specific). All I had was a sheet of paper, a handful of dice, a description of the world around me, and my imagination. By its very nature, PnP gaming is sandbox gaming. The reason I'm bringing this up now is that, until WAR, I had pretty much been able to "find the sandbox" in any MMO I was able to get my hands on. Whether it was building hardcore Dungeons & Dragons Online characters, roleplaying in City of Heroes, or achievement-chasing in World of Warcraft, I've never really been troubled with finding something to do when the grind started to wear me down. But now, with WAR, I'm finding most of my old tricks for MMO metagaming just aren't working.

To read about what I've tried, and why it didn't work in WAR, follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox

MassivelyWaging WAR: Finding the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicchampions-onlinecity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainsddoddo-unlimitedDiabloDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgunbadhardcorehunters-valekeepersmass-effect-2mass-effect-2-pcmass-effect-dlcmythicmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentpermadeathPNPpvpRedEyerole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingrvrSandboxThe-Simstometome-of-knowledgetome-unlockswaging-warwarWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowSat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/waging-war-rvr-packs-the-wait-and-see-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This week Waging WAR rides the double rainbow of gameplay customization via downloadable content and takes a cursory glance at the RvR packs being teased by the folks behind the development of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Let's follow along and see what Greg can unleash this time.

It is difficult to talk about the future of WAR right now. Not because it doesn't have a future, but because the availability of information regarding it is not exactly easy to find. Actually, information on the future of WAR is all but non-existent, surrounded by controversy on all sides, and steeped in rumor, speculation, assumption and misinformation. The best I can put together is that we, as players, can look forward to some sort of set of three different "RvR Packs" allowing us to "customize" our gameplay experience moving forward. The packs have been called "Power," "Progression," and "Personality." What exactly each contains is a mystery, although the few talking points I was able to find regarding these RvR packs are speculatively disappointing at best. Although Carrie, Andy, and anyone else involved with the Mythic development team have said time and time again that they are not discussing moving toward the free-to-play business model, what they're proposing with these customization packs looks suspiciously like the item shop established by Turbine, implemented in Dungeons & Dragons Online and soon in Lord of the Rings Online as well. V.I.P. membership, anyone?

Although concrete information is scarce and difficult to find, let's take a look at the most commonly referenced points of interest after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition

MassivelyWaging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week, Waging WAR steps back from all the news and hype of Gamescom and GamesDay and focuses in on the healing archetypes in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. As we all know by now, Greg plays a healer and he's put together a guide for those who kill by mending the wounds of those who kill by bludgeon or blade.

In my time in WAR I've learned a thing or two. No, I'm not writing about my extensive knowledge of how various terrains taste (the sand on the beaches of Nordenwatch and the cobbled brick streets of Praag have become favored delicacies). I'm writing about how to be an effective healer in WAR. While I am by no means invincible or infallible, I do consider myself a decent, relatively resilient and capable PvP tank (let's not kid ourselves here -- who needs plate when you can wear robes, right?). I have some advice to share with those who are interested in endgame PvP/RvR healing, or even those who are already there but seek to add an edge to their game.

To achieve enlightenment, click the Read More button.

Continue reading Waging WAR: A healer's survival guide

MassivelyWaging WAR: A healer's survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ailmentsarchmageBioWareBioware-MMObioware-mythiccleansedetauntEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgearguideguideshealerhealer-survival-guidehealershealers-survival-guideinitiativelinimentsmobilitymythicmythic entertainmentmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentPositioningranged-healerrenownrenown-levelrenown-pointsrenown-rankrvrsurvivalSurvival-GuidetalismanswarWarhammer-OnlinewillpowerSat, 21 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/waging-war-gamescom-and-mythics-anti-hype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/waging-war-gamescom-and-mythics-anti-hype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/14/waging-war-gamescom-and-mythics-anti-hype/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In light of Gamescom coming next week (August 18th - 22nd), this week WagingWAR looks forward to what could be coming for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. But beware: Since Mythic has been so secretive about the future of WAR, we've been forced to compromise and offer mere conjecture. Unchained by reason or fact, we follow in the wake of that terrible beast known only as "Greg's Imagination."

With less than a week left until Gamescom, I find myself more and more excited by the potential of what Mythic could be set to reveal, regardless of the fact that it's given me nothing to chew on. I am hyped by the anti-hype. What follows is the result of that hype. There are no facts, rumours, hints, or tips to back up what amounts to totally unbarred speculation. I have organized the aftermath of my brainstorm in terms of what would excite me, from most to least, followed by why I believe these additions could make sense, and how they might be implemented. Keep in mind that some of what follows could simply be passed off as madness; it might be totally unfeasible, even by the most adept and well-financed of development teams. I'm fully aware of that. The point here was to just "let it go." And I did.

Crazy, or uncanny -- you decide. Follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype

MassivelyWaging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What happens when you take Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (which offers arguably the best PvP in any MMO currently available) and mix it with controversy, corruption, and a heaping helping of taboo? Well, for one, you get this week's topic for Waging WAR: cross-realming. Today's issue takes a look at the what, why, and how of it all.

Recently, during a conversation with a guildmate, it was suggested that achieving renown rank 80 was a simple matter, requiring little time or effort. At the time, I was flabbergasted. There I sat, at RR74 (after having spent innumerable months getting there), listening to someone tell me that all my effort was somehow misplaced. It was no coincidence that we were also talking about what my guildmate referred to as "organized dueling." It is my unwavering belief that WAR is not balanced nor designed to be a system of careers and classes based on 1v1 (or similar) odds. Thus, dueling in WAR has always seemed to me to be an effort in futility, and every time the subject comes up in the realm's general chat, I've been outspoken against it. I believe the addition of a duel mechanism would be detrimental to the base concept of RvR, and would inevitably detract from the very essence of group-based, organized combat. Indeed, my vision of dueling in WAR would resemble some sort of fight-club held in one of the old, abandoned Fortresses far away from any keeps, warbands or sieges, as combatants from both realms enter a pit from which only one will emerge as the victor (the other emerging a few moments later, after shaking off the effects of resurrection sickness).

"But Greg," you ask, "doesn't that sound more like cross-realming to you?" Indeed it does. Let's talk more after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The taboo of cross-realming

MassivelyWaging WAR: The taboo of cross-realming originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During the last three weeks, Waging WAR took a look at the shadow warrior career in Warhammer Online, in an attempt to gain personal experience and insight into the complaints that most players have with the class. Due to popular demand, this week we return (albeit briefly) to the shadow warrior class to touch up a few frayed ends. We also set our sights forward and look ahead to future issues of Waging WAR.

I felt that my review of the career was based on solid ground, given the scope, and taking the setting and focus into consideration, and considering the fact that I had to grind the levels relatively quickly in order to stay on-time and deliver the column promptly. Despite my original intention to simply gain personal insight and experience with the class in an effort to have greater understanding of its hot-button issues, many of the Waging WAR readers who left comments were disappointed with my experiment, as I didn't have time or space to have a serious look at the skirmish and assault trees. So, throughout the last week, I felt obliged to play my shadow warrior, focusing all of my mastery points in either skirmish or assault (starting at rank 30, there are more than enough points available to explore an entire tree, and even a few inter-tree synergies).

Follow along after the break to find out how things went for me.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, supplemental

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, supplemental originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesaction-pointsapEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesmythicmythic entertainmentmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentshadow-warriorshadow-warrior-stanceswaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 17 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/waging-war-the-nagaryth-chronicles-part-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/waging-war-the-nagaryth-chronicles-part-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/waging-war-the-nagaryth-chronicles-part-three/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week bears with it the final installment to Waging WAR's Nagaryth Chronicles, which took a long-term, in-depth look at the Path of the Scout mastery tree available to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's shadow warrior. Admittedly, Greg didn't have time to take his character all the way through to rank 40/40, but this past July 4th weekend's double XP and renown bonuses allowed him to level through Tier 3 relatively quickly. He's also promised us that he'll continue to play her casually as a break from his Archmage main, from time to time.

Again, I would like to take a moment to respond to some feedback left as reader comments to last week's column:

@Taawa -- According to my experience, festerbombs are absolutely deadly (think: "BOOM Headshot!"), possibly even moreso than any sort of infiltration attack by stealth-class melee-damage-per-second (MDPS) careers. If you're the type who enjoys sneaking around terrain and quietly selecting a target while taking time to prepare a guaranteed kill, you'll enjoy this build. I'll explain more after the break.
@Kyelthis -- Again with excellent feedback: the Steady Aim (SA) - Replenishing Strikes (RS) - Rapid Fire (RF) combination (a combination that had never occured to me until you pointed it out) is almost always as effective as Lileath's Forgiveness (LF). However, I feel that my use of SA is slightly more productive. I'll explain why after the break.
@Hal900x -- I'm pretty sure you're mistaking Unshakeable Focus with SA. Also, Shadow Sting (SS) is extremely short-range (45'). My ideal build (complete by rank 35) was focusing on extremely long-range, high-burst, sniping -- which is why I opted for Fell the Weak (FTW, 100') instead, since it has the same effect except instead of requiring an ailment, the "mortal strike" component requires Vengeance of Nagarythe (VoN, and is one second longer in duration to boot!). Finally, SA applies a 50% increased critical chance to damaging attacks, not to the overall critical chance of the character; thus, any attack during those six seconds has its critical chance treated like a coin flip: heads for a critical, tails for a normal hit.

So, why do I think that shadow warriors are fine and don't need the attention that everyone seems to claim they need? I'll discuss my side of the issue after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesaction-pointsapEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentshadow-warriorshadow-warrior-stancesshadow-warriorswaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 10 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth companion app released on Blackberry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/fallen-earth-companion-app-released-on-blackberry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/fallen-earth-companion-app-released-on-blackberry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/fallen-earth-companion-app-released-on-blackberry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fallen Earth has been pushing its mobile app with quite a bit of vigor ever since it was released on both the iPhone and the Droid a few weeks ago. And it's with good cause -- the app allows for players to take care of a number of more tedious play elements while on the go, freeing up in-game time for more exciting endeavors. While the functionality of the software hasn't been expanded, the user base certainly has, as the mobile companion is now available for Blackberry phones and devices as well.

Available via Blackberry App World for $2.99, the ported release offers all the functionality of the original Fallen Earth application. That means players can browse the auction house, check in on the world map, keep track of crafting, and interact with both friends and clan members. For a full picture of the features, players are encouraged to check out the official release and FAQ for the prior versions, which apply equally for the latest release. Whether you're wandering as much as your favorite clone or just want to browse auctions at work, the expanded potential user base is a good thing for the game's players.

MassivelyFallen Earth companion app released on Blackberry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseblackberrychatcraftingdroidfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefeaturesicarusicarus-studiosiphonemobilemobile-appmobile-functionsnew-releasessupportsupport-appsMon, 28 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon hands out details on next major update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/nexon-hands-out-details-on-next-major-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/nexon-hands-out-details-on-next-major-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/nexon-hands-out-details-on-next-major-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Exciting news, Mabinogi fans! Nexon America contacted us and asked to give you a sneak peak at an exclusive image from their upcoming update "Goddess of Light."

Not only will there be a brand new area called Tara, complete with the standard banks, general stores, smithies and clothing shops, but the newest addition will have players scrambling to get there: an auction house that will allow players to sell rare items to each other.

Tara is the capital city of the Aliech Kingdom and has such features as jousting grounds and another hub for shadow missions, as well as a small connecting gully called Correave. Not only will players find beautiful scenery like they have never seen inside the gully, but also special trees that will produce honeycomb which can be used to make royal jelly, honey and pollen.

Look for the update coming June 9th.

MassivelyNexon hands out details on next major update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresfree-to-playftpmabinogiNexonnexon-americaupcomingupdateFri, 07 May 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online and the breadth of content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/star-trek-online-and-the-breadth-of-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/star-trek-online-and-the-breadth-of-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/star-trek-online-and-the-breadth-of-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a fan of the franchise, there are things that you likely want to be in Star Trek Online that aren't there yet. Ship interiors, missions taking place on board the ship, improved ground combat, diplomatic missions... it's not a difficult list to fill out. Executive producer Craig Zinkievich conducted a recent interview in which he was taken to task on several of these points, which he responded to in a fairly straightforward fashion. The short answer is that it's not a lack of want from the team, just a matter of time and resources to be invested.

For example, as he points out, ship interiors (a much called-for feature) can post a slight problem due to the nature of the ships. Galaxy-class starships are the size of a small city, so they want to incorporate the feature in a way that makes it a meaningful use of a player's time. The interview covers a range of topics from exploration and diplomacy to shoring up the weaker points of combat (mostly ground combat, as players would expect). Take a look for a few more ideas about the future direction of Star Trek Online, up to and beyond the upcoming "Common Ground" content patch.

MassivelyStar Trek Online and the breadth of content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentcraig-zinkievichcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdiplomacyfeaturesinteriorsship-interiorsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineThu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: And I never never never do a thing about the weather...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-daily-grind-and-i-never-never-never-do-a-thing-about-the-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-daily-grind-and-i-never-never-never-do-a-thing-about-the-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-daily-grind-and-i-never-never-never-do-a-thing-about-the-we/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Weather is important in the real world. If you don't think it is, try driving in Connecticut during the winter, or living in Florida during hurricane season, or being anywhere near the fault line in California. (Okay, that last one isn't weather per se, but you get the idea.) And yet as we make our virtual worlds more and more involved, weather remains in the "effects" category. Sure, a gentle rain might fall at times, but when do you get snowfall so thick it's difficult to traverse, or winds that damage buildings and force you to shelter?

Of course, there's the ever-present question of how fun most of these effects would be to play -- after all, no one wants to log in only to find out that the sun is too hot for them to leave a tent for the day. So what do you think? Should weather affect more than just the visual feel of an area? Should real-world devastating weather patterns be programmed into games, or is that the sort of thing best left out of the world? Would you like to occasionally be inconvenienced by the environment, or are things fine as they are?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: And I never never never do a thing about the weather... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresgame-mechanicsopinionthe-daily-grindweatherSun, 11 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE social network COSMOS roadmap revealed, some features delayed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/eve-social-network-cosmos-roadmap-revealed-some-features-delaye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/eve-social-network-cosmos-roadmap-revealed-some-features-delaye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/eve-social-network-cosmos-roadmap-revealed-some-features-delaye/#commentsFiled under: , ,


COSMOS is the social network for EVE Online slated to arrive with this winter's Dominion expansion, which CCP Games describes as "EVE away from EVE". Ultimately, it's a way to extend the game experience into new platforms such as web and mobile, along with voice integration -- but this is the long-term plan. In the short term, they've announced a delay with rolling out some of the previously mentioned features when Dominion launches. The initial release will focus on the new in-game mail system being tied into COSMOS and laying the groundwork for other features to come in early 2010.

EVE Online developer CCP Caedmon explained the reasons behind this delay: "We think that this delay for the web application is the right move because we have always had our sights set on the long game for COSMOS. The first release, while crammed with good stuff, was always intended to lay the basis for the ground-breaking innovations to come. Rushing COSMOS out with less polish didn't make sense in this context, we want to impress from day one."

Continue reading EVE social network COSMOS roadmap revealed, some features delayed

MassivelyEVE social network COSMOS roadmap revealed, some features delayed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calendarccp-caedmoncontactscosmosdev-blogdev-blogsdominioneve-onlineexpansionsfacebookfeaturesmailsci-fisocial-networksocial-networkingMon, 28 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your top 5 MMO must-haves?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-top-5-mmo-must-haves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-top-5-mmo-must-haves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-top-5-mmo-must-haves/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As more and more MMOs release, our options grow. That said, most MMOs utilize the same basic features, styles, and mechanics. Almost all of them feature combat, RPG progression, questing, avatars, classes, etc. These are the things we usually judge when choosing which MMO to play. We will say to ourselves, "Hmmm, I won't play that because it doesn't have this or that feature." or "Oooh, I'm definitely playing that because the game has these specific qualities!"

What are your top 5 MMO must-haves? Do you only play fantasy-themed MMOs? Does a thriving player-driven economy make your list of requirements?

My personal list includes:

1. Polish and a general lack of bugs

I know -- I chose the wrong genre if this is my top must-have! Unfortunately, I get really annoyed paying an initial box price and then a monthly fee to support incompetence...

2. Meaningful PvP

"Meaningful" is a loaded descriptor and includes things like progression through PvP (gear and XP), ranking, consequence, and obviously a story- or design-driven purpose/reason for it all.

3. Class variety or variety within my class

Warhammer Online has 24 classes which are a little bit different from each other. That's cool. World of Warcraft has 10 classes but allows you to specialize through numerous talent combos. That's cool too!

4. Casual-friendliness

"With great age comes great responsibility." I had plenty of time to game/grind when I was in high school and college but now I'm pushing 30 with a family, job(s), and a house. I don't mind working for something, but please don't insult me with tedious design that makes things difficult for no good reason.

5. Interesting and diverse PvE

I'm a PvP-junkie first and foremost, but I still realize that variety is the spice of life. I enjoy PvE a lot more when it isn't mindless, repetitive, lazy, and generally grindy. For instance, I enjoyed WoW 1-70 but the raiding endgame and daily quests weren't my idea of fun.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your top 5 MMO must-haves? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresoptionspreferencesthe-daily-grindtop-5warwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 30 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Mission-running top five tips]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/12/eve-evolved-mission-running-top-five-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/12/eve-evolved-mission-running-top-five-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/12/eve-evolved-mission-running-top-five-tips/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

In the first two parts of this guide on mission-running in EVE Online, I explained the basics of mission-running and went on to give a race-by-race breakdown of the most popular mission-running ships. In this final instalment of the EVE Evolved mission-running guide, I dig up my top five tips and tricks for improving your standings, mission-running speed and general mission income in EVE.

Tip #1 - Gaining faction standing
As high faction standing unlocks the agents of every corp in an entire faction rather than just from one corp, faction standing gains are very desirable and often the ultimate goal of early mission-running. In addition to a few other methods discussed later in this article, faction standing gains can be had from COSMOS missions. These are special once-only missions, like quests in the standard MMO paradigm. They are given out by special agents-in-space located within EVE's COSMOS constellations, some at designated agent sites and some hidden away at moons or sites only able to be found with probes. Each of these missions counts as an important mission for the purposes of faction standing gains and their rewards can be extremely good. Using COSMOS missions, it's possible to boost your faction standings from around 4 to up to 6 or 8 in some of these areas.

Read on as I give my top five mission-running tips to maximise your income from mission-running.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Mission-running top five tips

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Mission-running top five tips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesCOSMOSeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturesgrindiskjoystiqfeatureslootmissionmissionsprofessionssalvagesalvagingskillsstandingsSun, 12 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What could be the next leap forward in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-be-the-next-leap-forward-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-be-the-next-leap-forward-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/the-daily-grind-what-could-be-the-next-leap-forward-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There has been much innovation in MMOs over the years. Instances were developed so multiple groups could experience the same content unfettered by mob and boss competition. Single-person and group quests have been one-upped by public quests. Closed grouping has seen an alternative with open grouping. Advancing technology now allows for tens of thousands of players to play on the same server.

Still, MMOs are full of elements that have been around for ages and may be getting stale. This could be the holy trinity of healers, damage dealers, and tanks. Quest-driven advancement was brought to the forefront of character progression in WoW, but is it time for something new to take its place? EVE has a very interesting free-form class system. Would this work in the mainstream and could it be taken even further?

We ask you this simple (or is it?) question: What could be the next leap forward in MMOs? Could it be a simple feature, a massive design shift, or a technological advancement we haven't even heard of yet?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What could be the next leap forward in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancementblizzardccp-gamesdesigneve-onlinefeaturesworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 15 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview reveals more juicy details on Earthrise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/interview-reveals-more-juicy-details-on-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/interview-reveals-more-juicy-details-on-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/interview-reveals-more-juicy-details-on-earthrise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

If you were just kinda "meh" about Masthead's Earthrise before, we have a little something for you that might change your mind. In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Masthead's CEO Atanas Atanasov speaks openly about the game's unique features, storyline, class-less system, PvP endgame and potential launch date, set for later this year.

While this sci-fi game will be classified as post-apocalyptic, Atanasov says that there will be more technology than your normal story set in the aftermath of civilization's collapse. "When designing the title we wanted to add more technology than typical post-apocalyptic settings because it brings more fun to the game," he said. "And we're designing a game, not writing a movie or a book. We want our players to have more fun with big weapons and blow up things, and use all kinds of special attacks."

MassivelyInterview reveals more juicy details on Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atanas-atanasovearthriseengameeurogamerfeaturesmasthead-studiospost-apocalypticsci-fiWed, 28 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What features are you anticipating most in Darkfall Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/what-features-are-you-anticipating-most-in-darkfall-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/what-features-are-you-anticipating-most-in-darkfall-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/what-features-are-you-anticipating-most-in-darkfall-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


With a game like the upcoming Darkfall Online, the opinions can become quite polarized. It is already labeled "The Fantasy EVE", in regards to its hardcore nature, and I think most people understand that it will be a niche game without wide appeal. But is that such a bad thing?

Over that Keen and Graev's blog, they've compiled a detailed list of the Darkfall features that they're looking forward to the most. This includes everything from the hardcore PvP to the degradable loot to the fact that the game has no levels. Don't forget about the crafting system! Personally, while I'll miss leveling a tiny bit, every aspect of this game excites me to no end. I'm looking forward to setting up shop as an expert crafter, and even throwing out a little security money to the local roughneck guild that will protect my shop from ruffians.

So check out their list and let us know your own in the comments below.

MassivelyWhat features are you anticipating most in Darkfall Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anticipatingaventurineaventurine-sadarkfalldarkfall-onlinefeatureshardcoreopinionWed, 07 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST